Hazel’s Treehouse by Zanni Louise, illustrated by Judy Watson

Title: Hazel’s Treehouse

Author: Zanni Louise, illustrated by Judy Watson

Genre: Fiction

Publisher: Walker Books Australia

Published: 1^st November 2024

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 160

Price: $19.99

Synopsis: Acclaimed author, Zanni Louise and illustrator Judy Watson have created “an Australian Winnie-the-Pooh” with a collection of warm and whimsical stories in a beautifully produced hardback edition.

Hazel is nine years old, as long as her bunk bed and as kind as a marshmallow. She and her friends – Odette, a pademelon, Walter the wombat, Tiny, a honey possum and Poky – an echidna who changes colour depending on Hazel’s mood – live together in a treehouse in the bush. Every day brings new adventures, sometimes mistakes … and always, always, imagination and friendship.

Acclaimed author, Zanni Louise and illustrator Judy Watson have created an Australian ‘Winnie-the-Pooh’ in this delightful, whimsical celebration of childhood.

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Winnie-the-Pooh has been a staple of children’s bookshelves for almost 100 years. And now, Zanni Louise has created a book, set in Australia with Australian icons that much like Wurrtoo, has the same feeling and joy of Winnie-the Pooh and his wonderful friends.

Meet nine-year-old Hazel and her friends Odette, a pademelon, Walter the wombat who is a little grumpy, a honey possum called Tiny, and Poky, a colour-changing echidna, who changes colour based on Hazel’s mood. They all live in a magical bush treehouse where they’re growing together, making mistakes, experiencing life, and enjoying their days together as they play and explore, and go on wonderful adventures. This is a story where imagination and friendship come together, and where diversity, joy, and helping each other is celebrated.

Hazel’s Treehouse has the same innocent and playful quality that Winnie-the-Pooh has, and having an Australian version of it is magical. It invites children to imagine their own world where they live in a treehouse with animal friends, and uses the familiarity of stories like Winnie-the-Pooh to create something new, but also beautifully nostalgic for people who have read other books like this. Zanni’s books are always delightful, sensitive and magical, and this time her story is accompanied by the beautiful illustrations from Judy Watson that bring Hazel’s world to life vibrantly.

Each chapter is its own story as well, a moment in Hazel’s life as she enjoys time with her animal friends. They learn a lot about their world and the bush, and little lessons that teach them about sharing, joy, and listening to each other. Or simply finding the delight in imaginative play in a world untouched by the modern world. I found this to be absolutely charming and just the thing readers need in this fast-paced world of on demand entertainment. Hazel’s Treehouse celebrates the imagination, which is beautifully communicated throughout as well, and I loved reading a story where technology wasn’t constantly present. Whilst it has a place in some books, it can be refreshing to read a book where it doesn’t dominate or have a large role in the story, because it shows readers that the everyday things are just as wondrous and just as important.

Everything in this book is charming – it can be read in a sitting, or read over a period of days, revelling in the simple yet powerfully magic language that evokes and sparks the imagination. And it is reassuring and comforting, a book that is like a warm hug on a cold day. It’s come at a time when life is getting hectic and gives all readers of this book a chance to slow down and take time to sit and relax with this wonderful gem of a novel.