Hazel's Amazing Mother

by Rosemary Wells

A heartwarming story about the power of a mother's love from the bestselling creator of Max & Ruby.

Hazel is out for a walk with her beloved doll Eleanor. But when she makes a wrong turn, she encounters some kids who are up to no good. Fortunately, Hazel's amazing mother is there to rescue her--and set the bullies straight--just in the nick of time.

"A beguiling book with a nonsensical streak that will make children look again and laugh."-- Booklist

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Animals, Humor

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Rosemary Wells is an American writer and illustrator of children's books. She often uses animal characters to address real human issues. Some of her most well-known characters are Max & Ruby and Timothy from Timothy Goes To School (both were later adapted into Canadian-animated preschool television series, the former’s airing on Nickelodeon (part of the Nick Jr. block) and the latter’s as part of PBS Kids on PBS).

Reviews

[Melora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much as I love Max and Ruby, this may be my favorite of Wells's picture books. I read it to my children, with a bit of sly, motherly self-promotion, and I gave a copy to my own mother in recognition of her absolute awesomeness. She's dying now, and, fearing her time is very short, I interrupted our reading of "The House at Pooh Corner" to read this aloud to her this afternoon. She opened her eyes and looked at the pictures, and afterwards clung tightly to my hand, which is more response than I've gotten days. Even the most amazing mother can't be around forever to rescue her daughter from the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune (or the bullies who rip the stuffing out of one's beloved dolls), but the comfort of having been the recipient of that sort of fierce love and devotion is a lasting gift. A sweet, humorous story about a devoted mother who, literally swoops in to save the day. Recommended.

[Alissa Nolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite Rosemary Wells' books. As a mom, I maybe partial to a story where mom is the superhero.

After making a few wrong turns, Hazel is confronted by bullies in the park. Across the town her mother is able to sense trouble and flies to the rescue. She is able to dispatch the bullies in a matter any mother would be jealous of.

In our house we now refer to my travel sewing kit as mom's pocket sewing kit.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh how I love Rosemary Wells! My Mom would pick up Rosemary Wells from the public library for me and my sisters when we were young and they are still wonderful to read as an adult. Her illustrations are so fun and quirky. Unfortunately, some of my favorites (Stanley and Rhoda for one) are no longer in print. Fortunately the public library is still my go-to for these books! :)

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is kind of bizarre but sweet. A patron physically put it in my hands and said she checked it out for me to read and I could return it when I was done. Which was kind of touching and presumptuous all at once :D

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit odd, but entertaining.

[Cristina Quattrone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laughed out loud. May we all be the kind of moms who hide in a tree to throw tomatoes at our kid’s enemies. Kind of unexpected for Wells!

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet tale about a badger named Hazel and her rad mum. This was a childhood favorite of mine in the '80s, partly because of my amazing mother who would read it to me. But also because of Rosemary Wells' subtle humor and tender illustrations. Highly recommended mother-daughter reading!

[Emma Valentine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Loved this book as a kid, and it drove my mother insane. It was given as a gift because the gifter thought Hazel’s mother was like mine. They meant it as a compliment, but considering what a ruthless helicopter mom Hazel has, it’s more like an insult. Hazel is a huge brat who won’t even share a dessert with the mother who has literally swept in to rescue her from being bullied. Hazel’s mom doesn’t know how to let Hazel fight her own battles. Rosemary Wells is a hack writer in general, but this book is particularly lazy and odious. If you want to raise your children to be confident and capable, please skip this one.

[Verona · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a precious book. The message is that mothers do what they need to do to love and protect their children. Hazel’s mother is like a lot of us mothers, we have a sense when something is wrong with our children or in their lives. And we respond by acting. The illustrations were great, too!

[Natasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read at our library's rhyme time. Introduces bullying to children, although I felt it could've been presented differently, better how to handle it verses being "rescued". Don't really feel it's an issue my kids deal with yet, but it was a sweet story and a good conversation starter.

[Ty · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is written in cursive, may be good for practicing/getting used to reading cursive letters

[Melissa McAlvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty sure I am biased but I love this book about this mother who can hear her child's plite from far away and saves the day.

[Marilyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

A story about a mom's intuition and a lost girl.

[Ham · Rating 2 out of 5]

Weird. And lame.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aren't all mothers amazing?

[Jasmine Weich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great!! I can still hear in my minds eye my mother’s voice reading me this book!!!

[Jbondandrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely lovely book! The illustrations are funny and sweet.

[Liese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg. Just amazing. It's like magical realism x restorative justice. All the little details. Be still my heart.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Obviously a very outstanding title. Lol a little traumatic with the injuries to Eleanor, but thankful that Hazel’s amazing mom saves the day!

[Books Kids Like · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hazel's mother sends her off with a nickel and a kiss to buy something nice for their picnic. Hazel wheels her doll, Eleanor, in her carriage down the street. Hazel stops to help the mailman, and talk to the policeman. She buys two cookies, some grapes, and piece of jam toast. Then she heads for home. Several wrong turns find her on a lonely hilltop completely lost. Then three bullies find her. They take Eleanor and start tossing her around. Her dress and shoes fall off. Her stuffing falls outs. Nothing is left of her but her cloth body. Then they drive away in the carriage. Hazel's mother is out picking tomatoes when she senses that something is wrong. Just then raindrops begin to fall, and a large gust of wind starts to blow the picnic blanket. Catching hold of it, Hazel's mother, the picnic basket, and the tomatoes are blown across town and into the tree where Hazel is sitting comforting Eleanor. Just then the bullies reappear. Hazel's mother stays hidden. She commands the bullies to put Eleanor back together and to return the carriage. This they do quickly. Then they run away. Hazel's mother comes down from the tree and they have their picnic right there.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this story, Hazel's mother has made Hazel, the raccoon, a doll named Eleanor complete with a a calico and lace dress and blue silk shoes. Hazel walks to town and visits with the townsfolk. On her way back home, she takes a wrong turn, gets lost and runs into a trio of bullies lead by Doris, the beaver. They destroy Hazel's doll by throwing her around and drop her doll's carriage in the lake. Back home, Hazel's mother senses that Hazel needs her. She picks up a picnic blanket and is blown away to where Hazel and the bullies are. She lands in a tree and throws a tomato at Doris--hitting her in the face (ha!). Then she demands that Doris fix the doll. Next she throws tomatoes at the other two bullies and demands that they fix her doll's carriage. Once everything is fixed the bullies are allowed to leave and Hazel, her mother and Eleanor have a picnic. A pretty cool little story with very nice pictures. This is an AR 3.2 level book.

[Marc Lucke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure how we came to own this book, but I ascribe its presence in our house to the magic awesomeness of Hazel's mother, who is awesome and magical. This story manages to successfully mix a straight-ahead story of a child's pleasant day -- and its subsequent dark turn -- with a surreal ode to a mother's omnipotence before ending with the bullies getting their just (squishy) desserts. I loved it!

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hazel is a little girl with a doll named Eleanor. Hazel's mother made Eleanor, Eleanor's shoes and Eleanor's dress. On her way home, Hazel gets a little lost. After a few kids start picking on her Hazel wishes for her mom....what happens next, I won't say. This book is a sweet book that demonstrates the power of love between a mother and her child. =)

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a huge Rosemary Wells fan, so it was surprising when I saw a poster talking about Max, Yoko, and Hazel, and I wasn't aware of how this Hazel was. Cute story, and I will have to hunt down any other Hazel stories...considering what a supermom she has.

[jacky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as great as the Max and Ruby books, or even Noisy Nora, but it was alright. It depicts some pretty serious bullying. The mother saves the day. Its good as a story about motherly love, not so much as about bullying.

[Kristin Waitkus]

One of my very favorite stories! Very fun story to teach emotions. I used this book with three other Rosemary Wells books and had the kids write their own books that specifically used the development of character emotions.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reviewed by V. Arbelo.

The font is not one our children will be able to read.

Unfamiliar vocabulary (Castillian usages).

The way the mother solved the situation is not accepted behavior for an adult here.

[Pearlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book when I was a wee lass. So cute and a tad compelling. Good clean fun!

[Meadow · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an Amazing Mother to a Hazel, how could I NOT love this book.

[Noelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book as a little girl. :)