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Stickybeak
A child describes the adventuresome weekend spent caring for the class's pet duck
32 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 1986
2 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Hazel Edwards
173 books96 followersHazel is a readaholic, author and Reading Ambassador.
She’s best known for the children’s classic ‘There’s a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake’ which inspired ' Hippo! Hippo! the, Musical'' produced by Garry Ginivan which toured nationally.
Dec 2025 , The Guardian newspaper listed 'There's a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake' in the top 50 Australian picture books. In January 2026 voting in the Guardian poll will close for the top picture book.
2026 will celebrate the 46th year of this picture book.
Her unconventional memoir 'Not Just a Piece of Cake-Being an Author' (AUDIBLE and from www.ligatu _re as part of UnTapped project of historical Australian literature. ).
'Wasted?' a YA/adult cross over #Clific novel is her latest, set around the Garbage Patches, mid ocean where Asylum Seekers trade bio fuel to form a new State and gain visas. In dsylexi font from ReadHowYouWant and being adapted for screen.
Adult murder mystery 'Celebrant Sleuth: I do...or die' with asexual sleuth Quinn is currently on AUDIBLE ,read by the author from print & e versions. 'Wed,Then Dead on The Ghan' is a mini-sequel , commissioned by ABC audio and currently being adapted as a screenplay.
Hazel mentors her 'Hazelnuts' and helps people craft their ancestry in her popular workshops ‘Writing a Non- Boring Family History’, and 'Complete Your Book in a Year'.
'Fake I.D.' a family history mystery YA novel was translated into Tamil by Cre-A in Chennai.
Hazel’s 2001 Antarctic expedition inspired the young adult eco-thriller 'Antarctica's Frozen Chosen', picture book ‘Antarctic Dad’ (reprinted by Kipas) and the memoir, ‘Antarctic Writer on Ice’. Reading about Antarctica is a hobby.
Recently AmbaPress.com.au re-issued updated script collections of Hazel's class plays including 'Grief and Loss in Schools' , 'Issues' and 'Workplays' as well as 'Kaleidoscope of Ideas for Gifted students'. Authorpreneurship' and 'Writing for Young People' have been popular.
Hazel writes a new story for each of her four grandsons each birthday. 'Go Go Gecko' is latest and is being translated.
She’s best known for the children’s classic ‘There’s a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake’ which inspired ' Hippo! Hippo! the, Musical'' produced by Garry Ginivan which toured nationally.
Dec 2025 , The Guardian newspaper listed 'There's a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake' in the top 50 Australian picture books. In January 2026 voting in the Guardian poll will close for the top picture book.
2026 will celebrate the 46th year of this picture book.
Her unconventional memoir 'Not Just a Piece of Cake-Being an Author' (AUDIBLE and from www.ligatu _re as part of UnTapped project of historical Australian literature. ).
'Wasted?' a YA/adult cross over #Clific novel is her latest, set around the Garbage Patches, mid ocean where Asylum Seekers trade bio fuel to form a new State and gain visas. In dsylexi font from ReadHowYouWant and being adapted for screen.
Adult murder mystery 'Celebrant Sleuth: I do...or die' with asexual sleuth Quinn is currently on AUDIBLE ,read by the author from print & e versions. 'Wed,Then Dead on The Ghan' is a mini-sequel , commissioned by ABC audio and currently being adapted as a screenplay.
Hazel mentors her 'Hazelnuts' and helps people craft their ancestry in her popular workshops ‘Writing a Non- Boring Family History’, and 'Complete Your Book in a Year'.
'Fake I.D.' a family history mystery YA novel was translated into Tamil by Cre-A in Chennai.
Hazel’s 2001 Antarctic expedition inspired the young adult eco-thriller 'Antarctica's Frozen Chosen', picture book ‘Antarctic Dad’ (reprinted by Kipas) and the memoir, ‘Antarctic Writer on Ice’. Reading about Antarctica is a hobby.
Recently AmbaPress.com.au re-issued updated script collections of Hazel's class plays including 'Grief and Loss in Schools' , 'Issues' and 'Workplays' as well as 'Kaleidoscope of Ideas for Gifted students'. Authorpreneurship' and 'Writing for Young People' have been popular.
Hazel writes a new story for each of her four grandsons each birthday. 'Go Go Gecko' is latest and is being translated.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 28, 2022
Rosemary Wilson’s illustrations are striking and the absolute highlight of this book.
The story itself, however, isn’t very compelling and a bit bizarre considering it’s a children’s book. I’m actually all for honesty and complexity for kids but that isn’t what this feels like.
Why would you begin morbidly by stating only 1 duckling survived?
And then continue by rescinding school kid’s autonomy in naming their class pet?
Followed by the suggestion of the (dead) meat version of the book’s subject?
Perhaps one of these in isolation wouldn’t have had such bearing. But overall it doesn’t make for the kind of fun, whimsical, or thoughtful book one looks for I don’t imagine
The story itself, however, isn’t very compelling and a bit bizarre considering it’s a children’s book. I’m actually all for honesty and complexity for kids but that isn’t what this feels like.
Why would you begin morbidly by stating only 1 duckling survived?
And then continue by rescinding school kid’s autonomy in naming their class pet?
Followed by the suggestion of the (dead) meat version of the book’s subject?
Perhaps one of these in isolation wouldn’t have had such bearing. But overall it doesn’t make for the kind of fun, whimsical, or thoughtful book one looks for I don’t imagine
May 18, 2020
This bird is pretty annoying, to be honest. 7/10
January 1, 2025
First book of the year, cheers baby Edith
February 13, 2013
Book 12, Day 12 - Mini Family Classics from News Limited.
Author: Hazel Edwards
Illustrator: Rosemary Wilson
First Published: 1986
The second book by Hazel Edwards in the News Ltd Promo; The first book, There's a Hippopotamus on our Roof Eating Cake, has a very different feel. The illustrations (by Deborah Niland) were cleaner, more vibrant and simplistic - Wilson's style is realistic with an honest palette and plenty of detail. Similarly, while both books are first person from the child's point of view, due to the age of the narrator the tone has been adapted. Edwards does a lovely job in placing the book in front of and appealing to just the right listener age.
In "Stickybeak" our young narrator takes the class pet (a duckling) home for the weekend. We explore caring for a pet (food, home, play), and laugh together at the antics. It's a sweet story with an easy lesson and engaging illustrations.
Easy to read. Easy to listen to. Worth a read.
Extras
- Visit Edwards' website for teacher resources
http://www.hazeledwards.com/page/stic...
- "We didn't tell Mum that Mrs Pappas has a pet snake too!" p.32
Axminster the Carpet Snake by Edwards and Wilson tells the story of the class' carpet snake trying to find a place to sleep.
Age (taking into account comprehension, concentration, language):
Read aloud - 4+ (but it's about early school years so more appropriate for older children)
Read yourself - 6+ (a comfortable read)
(ISBN 9327014001269)
Author: Hazel Edwards
Illustrator: Rosemary Wilson
First Published: 1986
The second book by Hazel Edwards in the News Ltd Promo; The first book, There's a Hippopotamus on our Roof Eating Cake, has a very different feel. The illustrations (by Deborah Niland) were cleaner, more vibrant and simplistic - Wilson's style is realistic with an honest palette and plenty of detail. Similarly, while both books are first person from the child's point of view, due to the age of the narrator the tone has been adapted. Edwards does a lovely job in placing the book in front of and appealing to just the right listener age.
In "Stickybeak" our young narrator takes the class pet (a duckling) home for the weekend. We explore caring for a pet (food, home, play), and laugh together at the antics. It's a sweet story with an easy lesson and engaging illustrations.
Easy to read. Easy to listen to. Worth a read.
Extras
- Visit Edwards' website for teacher resources
http://www.hazeledwards.com/page/stic...
- "We didn't tell Mum that Mrs Pappas has a pet snake too!" p.32
Axminster the Carpet Snake by Edwards and Wilson tells the story of the class' carpet snake trying to find a place to sleep.
Age (taking into account comprehension, concentration, language):
Read aloud - 4+ (but it's about early school years so more appropriate for older children)
Read yourself - 6+ (a comfortable read)
(ISBN 9327014001269)
June 9, 2011
Stickybeak is about a duckling who is a class pet and who goes home each weekend with a different student. This story covers the ducklings one weekend with one student.
The ducklings escapades were fun to read through and Julia laughed through most of the book. This is very small but the duckling going through the wedding video was a bit over the top. Something to a lesser degree, like all of the others could have been used instead IMO.
The story ends with the child's Mother saying she's glad Stickybeak goes back to school the next day. The last page is a good ending laugh, the child tells the reader that he hasn't told his Mom that his class has a pet snake also.
Cute story. I don't really like the whole 'class pet', 'different people taking the animal home all the time' things but it did make for a decent little story. I think it could have balanced these things with some solutions for caring for the duckling. Maybe rules or suggestions included that the teacher and/or kids come up with. This would only have added to the story I think and it maybe would have balanced what I feel are the negatives.
I should also note that this is probably for kids a little younger than Julia. I'd say not past 4, give or take. Julia's above her peers in reading but, like me, she can enjoy a book geared for a younger audience.
The ducklings escapades were fun to read through and Julia laughed through most of the book. This is very small but the duckling going through the wedding video was a bit over the top. Something to a lesser degree, like all of the others could have been used instead IMO.
The story ends with the child's Mother saying she's glad Stickybeak goes back to school the next day. The last page is a good ending laugh, the child tells the reader that he hasn't told his Mom that his class has a pet snake also.
Cute story. I don't really like the whole 'class pet', 'different people taking the animal home all the time' things but it did make for a decent little story. I think it could have balanced these things with some solutions for caring for the duckling. Maybe rules or suggestions included that the teacher and/or kids come up with. This would only have added to the story I think and it maybe would have balanced what I feel are the negatives.
I should also note that this is probably for kids a little younger than Julia. I'd say not past 4, give or take. Julia's above her peers in reading but, like me, she can enjoy a book geared for a younger audience.
November 28, 2012
Cute book, great pictures, loved the duck and my boys did too ... a bit hard to explain that after the class democratically voted on the name of the duck - it ended up being the teacher who decided. Loved the ending though ... poor mum!
January 10, 2009
Silly, cute pictures. Didn't really like the end (boy won't mom be surprised).
July 5, 2011
This is a good book. It would be a great read for children who have classroom pets and want to take them home. It is a very silly story and is quite entertaining.
June 29, 2021
I LOVED this book when I was a kid! I'm pleased to see that it's still in print :)
February 19, 2012
Stickbeack is a classroom pet duck that thinks the class is his parents. For junior children
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews