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Hazel's Treehouse
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.
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.
- GenresMiddle GradeChildrens
Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2024
14 people want to read
About the author
Zanni Louise
66 books48 followersZanni Louise is an internationally published Australian author of over 40 books from picture books to young adult novels (writing as Zanni L Arnot.) Her books have been recognised by prominent speech pathology and educational publishing awards, as well as the Children’s Book Council of Australia, White Raven’s International Catalogue of Children’s Books, Panda Awards, K.O.A.L.A. Awards, Sakura Book Medal Reading List and the Australian Book Design Awards, among others. Her middle-grade novel, Queenie in Seven Moves, is on the New South Wales school curriculum.
Zanni has a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Creative Writing, as well as a Graduate Diploma of Psychology and a Certificate in Counselling. Zanni currently lives in an artists' warehouse in The Netherlands with two tall teens and an even taller husband. She loves visiting schools, organising retreats for grown-ups, and running in forests. Zanni is the founder of The Sunshine House, a growing community of writers and illustrators, as well as an author ambassador for Room To Read, which supports girls’ education and literacy.
Zanni has a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Creative Writing, as well as a Graduate Diploma of Psychology and a Certificate in Counselling. Zanni currently lives in an artists' warehouse in The Netherlands with two tall teens and an even taller husband. She loves visiting schools, organising retreats for grown-ups, and running in forests. Zanni is the founder of The Sunshine House, a growing community of writers and illustrators, as well as an author ambassador for Room To Read, which supports girls’ education and literacy.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 17, 2024
This is such a sweet kids book! My 6 year old loves it, the 4 year old didn’t mind listening occasionally, and the best part was it was a joy to read! The characters are great, it’s beautifully written, and an enjoyable and wholesome story. Multiple chapters which work as stand-alone stories, a perfect bedtime read. We recorded us reading some of these stories for use on our Yoto audiobook player and look forward to reading it again to record more chapters, then the kids can listen whenever they like. A treasured new favourite, I will have to look up the author for more from her. I wish more kids books were like this! Please give me recommendations if you know something similar!
March 31, 2025
“Hazel is nine years old, as long as her bunk bed and as kind as a marshmallow.”
Reading Hazel’s Treehouse with my 7- and 4-year-old felt like stumbling into a sun-dappled clearing in the bush—a place full of warmth, mischief, and the kind of quiet magic that lingers. From the moment we opened this beautiful hardback book—perfectly sized for little hands, with its soft textured cover and earthy colours—we knew we were holding something special.
This delightful collection of short stories introduces Hazel and her band of charming bush friends: Pokey the ‘feelings’ echidna, Odette the pademelon, Walter the wombat, and Tiny the honey possum. Together, they share a treehouse tucked in the Australian wilderness, where every day holds the promise of a small adventure, a lesson in kindness, or simply a moment to be joyfully present. My children were absolutely enchanted—not just by the characters, but by the whole world Zanni has so lovingly created.
Hazel’s treehouse quickly became a place we all wanted to live in. My kids would plan their days as if Hazel and her friends were just around the corner, waiting for us with a picnic basket and a possum-sized teacup. The characters are vivid and sweetly drawn, so it’s easy to feel like one of the gang. The gentle mischief they get up to—the “very best kind,” as Zanni puts it—is filled with just the right blend of innocence, silliness, and heart.
Zanni’s writing is nothing short of magical. It flows with grace and humor, sprinkled with tiny truths that made me pause and smile. Each story feels like a little pause button on the world—a reminder to notice the good things: somersaults, sunshine, softness, and the value of slowing down. I especially loved how the book honors emotional intelligence with characters like Pokey the echidna, who helps children name and navigate feelings in such a tender, accessible way.
The line drawings are timeless and utterly delightful—whimsical yet grounded, with tiny details that had us returning to the pages long after the story was read. They perfectly complement Zanni’s prose, and the inclusion of native Australian flora—beautifully labeled and celebrated—adds a layer of richness that feels grounding and quietly educational.
Hazel’s Treehouse has been described as an “Australian Winnie the Pooh,” and I couldn’t agree more. It carries that same timeless charm and gentle philosophy, while also carving out its own joyful identity—one rooted in the Australian bush, bursting with modern warmth, diversity, and exuberance.
The book is ideal for readers aged 5 to 10; however, I can confidently say that children both younger and older will find something to love here, especially when read aloud. As a parent, I adored it just as much as my kids did. It's rare to find a book that speaks so effortlessly to all of us at once.
I read this book slowly over several days and felt genuinely sad when we finished it. It’s the kind of story you want to climb back into the moment you leave it—like a treehouse of your own, waiting up in the branches. I cannot recommend Hazel’s Treehouse more highly. It is, without exaggeration, an absolute gem.
It reminded us all that the ordinary can become extraordinary when viewed through the eyes of a child. That treehouses aren’t just for climbing, but for dreaming. Hazel’s Treehouse is a beautiful, soul-nourishing story, and it now lives on our family bookshelf beside our very favorite reads—well-loved, and well-read.
Reading Hazel’s Treehouse with my 7- and 4-year-old felt like stumbling into a sun-dappled clearing in the bush—a place full of warmth, mischief, and the kind of quiet magic that lingers. From the moment we opened this beautiful hardback book—perfectly sized for little hands, with its soft textured cover and earthy colours—we knew we were holding something special.
This delightful collection of short stories introduces Hazel and her band of charming bush friends: Pokey the ‘feelings’ echidna, Odette the pademelon, Walter the wombat, and Tiny the honey possum. Together, they share a treehouse tucked in the Australian wilderness, where every day holds the promise of a small adventure, a lesson in kindness, or simply a moment to be joyfully present. My children were absolutely enchanted—not just by the characters, but by the whole world Zanni has so lovingly created.
Hazel’s treehouse quickly became a place we all wanted to live in. My kids would plan their days as if Hazel and her friends were just around the corner, waiting for us with a picnic basket and a possum-sized teacup. The characters are vivid and sweetly drawn, so it’s easy to feel like one of the gang. The gentle mischief they get up to—the “very best kind,” as Zanni puts it—is filled with just the right blend of innocence, silliness, and heart.
Zanni’s writing is nothing short of magical. It flows with grace and humor, sprinkled with tiny truths that made me pause and smile. Each story feels like a little pause button on the world—a reminder to notice the good things: somersaults, sunshine, softness, and the value of slowing down. I especially loved how the book honors emotional intelligence with characters like Pokey the echidna, who helps children name and navigate feelings in such a tender, accessible way.
The line drawings are timeless and utterly delightful—whimsical yet grounded, with tiny details that had us returning to the pages long after the story was read. They perfectly complement Zanni’s prose, and the inclusion of native Australian flora—beautifully labeled and celebrated—adds a layer of richness that feels grounding and quietly educational.
Hazel’s Treehouse has been described as an “Australian Winnie the Pooh,” and I couldn’t agree more. It carries that same timeless charm and gentle philosophy, while also carving out its own joyful identity—one rooted in the Australian bush, bursting with modern warmth, diversity, and exuberance.
The book is ideal for readers aged 5 to 10; however, I can confidently say that children both younger and older will find something to love here, especially when read aloud. As a parent, I adored it just as much as my kids did. It's rare to find a book that speaks so effortlessly to all of us at once.
I read this book slowly over several days and felt genuinely sad when we finished it. It’s the kind of story you want to climb back into the moment you leave it—like a treehouse of your own, waiting up in the branches. I cannot recommend Hazel’s Treehouse more highly. It is, without exaggeration, an absolute gem.
It reminded us all that the ordinary can become extraordinary when viewed through the eyes of a child. That treehouses aren’t just for climbing, but for dreaming. Hazel’s Treehouse is a beautiful, soul-nourishing story, and it now lives on our family bookshelf beside our very favorite reads—well-loved, and well-read.
December 31, 2024
Hazel’s Treehouse is a collection of gentle junior fiction stories which has been justly described as an Australian version of Winnie-the-Pooh.
Zanni Louise invites children into Hazel’s playful adventures, such as debating whether to stay in bed or make pancakes on Snuggle Up Sunday, snorkelling in the muddy creek on A Beach Day and singing a happy song to celebrate waffles on Someone’s Special Day.
Judy Watson begins each chapter with a line drawing of an Australian native flower, inspired by the text, including the orange wattle and coastal banksia.
The book features an embossed hardcover and exquisite purple endpapers with native flowers, signalling this book is a classic to be treasured
Zanni Louise invites children into Hazel’s playful adventures, such as debating whether to stay in bed or make pancakes on Snuggle Up Sunday, snorkelling in the muddy creek on A Beach Day and singing a happy song to celebrate waffles on Someone’s Special Day.
Judy Watson begins each chapter with a line drawing of an Australian native flower, inspired by the text, including the orange wattle and coastal banksia.
The book features an embossed hardcover and exquisite purple endpapers with native flowers, signalling this book is a classic to be treasured
January 15, 2025
A wonderful, expressive work from an Australian author I just love in the junior space.
The illustrations are sweet and captivating.
This is a great junior primary text that I can see being enjoyed from kinder and year as a read aloud right through to year 6 being used as a mentor text. Rich in language and illustration this book is a delight.
I personally found it a slow-read and wished the chapters had been a little shorter. Not sure how to manage this without compromising on all the intricate details which do add to the charm of the story. I found the many characters a bit hard to remember and come back to as as I read this across several sessions.
The illustrations are sweet and captivating.
This is a great junior primary text that I can see being enjoyed from kinder and year as a read aloud right through to year 6 being used as a mentor text. Rich in language and illustration this book is a delight.
I personally found it a slow-read and wished the chapters had been a little shorter. Not sure how to manage this without compromising on all the intricate details which do add to the charm of the story. I found the many characters a bit hard to remember and come back to as as I read this across several sessions.
Read
May 27, 2025This is so beautifully written. The characters are sweet, funny, grumpy and full of heart. Despite not being aimed at their age group, my two 4-year-olds sit and listen to each chapter and beg for more. They burst out laughing at most things Odette does, which is testament to the writing because they aren’t being prompted by illustrations which is what they are of course used to in picture books. This is the first ‘older’ book they’ve been exposed to and I can see it becoming a treasured family heirloom. It’s a very special read indeed.
December 15, 2024
I was concerned during the first couple of chapters what Walter was just going to be a complete grump but it did settle down. These stories are super sweet, I think Poky (the feelings echidna) and Tiny (a honey possum) are my favourites. I felt bad for Kevin the koala when Odette was not being neighbourly and I'm glad she apologised. The illustrations are beautiful as well.
February 21, 2025
This really is an Australian version of Winnie-the-Pooh. The characters are really sweet and the chapters are very much in the tradition of A.A. Milne's classic story.
December 29, 2024
A truly delightful book from start to finish with adorable characters and oh so wonderful dialogue between a young girl Hazel and her four Australian bush animal friends. The treehouse is a snug place from which stories unfold and adventures begin. There are lovely little kindness explanations from Hazel when things go awry or plans go askew. She is like the older sister with rambunctious siblings, the one who peps things up or calms things down by showing a different way of looking at situations, particularly calming the dark before bedtime. But not always, as in ‘Small Pants Friday’ the rainy-stuck-inside-day when everyone gets tetchy. Then there’s Kevin, their new neighbour who has a continent-sized smile but a troubling agenda which causes Poky echidna to turn a bothered colour of grey. I’ll let you find out how that turns out. Creativity, seasonal indoor and outdoor fun are beautifully rendered by Judy Watson, her joyous illustrations enhance the story and my favourite character is Odette, an active pademelon wallaby. When a little burst of reading happiness is needed, it is well worth having this gem on your kidlit shelf. Also suitable for inspiration on those long lazy summer holidays.
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More info my blog https://thoughtsbecomewords.com/2024/...
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews