Jack Lasenby
Jack Lasenby: children, the bush, and writing
Kim Hill talks to Jack Lasenby, the author of many books, most notably the Uncle Trev and Harry Wakatipu stories for children. His new book, illustrated by Bob Kerr, is Grandad's Wheelies (Puffin)… Audio
Jack Lasenby
Writer Jack Lasenby on his latest literary achievement - winning the 2014 Prime Minister's Award for Fiction. He is one of New Zealand's best loved writers for children and was described by Margaret… Audio
Author Jack Lasenby
Jack Lasenby is one of New Zealand's most popular children's authors. He talks about the origins of stories, growing up in the shadow of war and the Depression, a childhood in the Waikato, and a life… Audio
The past and future of the School Journal
With the closure of its publisher, the state owned enterprise Learning Media, we discuss how the School Journal started, its importance to writers, how it's changed and what this means for present day… Audio
2013 Junior fiction
ACB with Honora Lee by Kate de Goldi, illustrated by Gregory O'Brien, reviewed by Norma; Uncle Trev by Jack Lasenby, reviewed by Mackenzie; My Brother's War by David Hill, reviewed by Billy and Kevin… Audio
Dead Man's Head - Part 3
The Seddon Street Gang outwit Mr Whistler, the Station Master who they all call the Gorilla. They lock him in his goods shed, along with Mr Hudson the lorry driver. Audio
Dead Man's Head - Part 2
Mr Welsh the teacher, warns the children not to get into trouble in the holidays and tells Polly to leave Catherine Campbell alone. The gang decides what they're going to do over the summer. Audio
Dead Man's Head - Part 1
We meet the Seddon Street Gang - Denny, Polly, twins Pete and Joe and the leader Joe - a group of children living in a small rural Waikato town, Waharua, in 1930. Denny tries to blow up the Rotorua… Audio
Dead Man's Head - Part 7
Bob leads the gang to the cheese factory to fly their gliders. Mr Shepherd sees their footprints but can't reach them in the hut they've made of boxes, high up in the rafters. Audio
Dead Man's Head - Part 4
The rest of the gang have to go home after the serial but Denny stays on at the Saturday night flicks. He sits in front of Mr Whistler who puts his hands round Denny's neck during the horror feature… Audio
Dead Man's Head - Part 6
Denny rescues the Clark's cat and clock in the fire. A bucket brigade and blankets stop it spreading and Mr Clark's lorry is saved, but the gangwatch as the house burns down. Audio
Dead Man's Head - Part 5
The gang see smoke from Clark's house on Saturday night. They've been forbidden to go to the pictures and race to the hall for help. Everyone leaps out, leaving Mrs Packham sitting on the ramp. Audio
Dead Man's Head - Part 9
The gang watch a truck take away a dead cow and then go to Johnny Johannsen's orchrad for apples. Audio
Dead Man's Head - Part 12
Wrongly accused of breaking the insulation cups on the telegraph poles, the gang work out it could have been Catherine Campbell that did it and that Mrs Pedlar blamed the gang. Bob has an idea of how… Audio
Dead Man's Head - Part 16
The gang discover that Mr Clark has hanged himself in the shed. Polly's dad tells her he was a victim of the Great War but Mrs Pedlar, the Sunday School teacher, says it was against God's Law and it's… Audio
Dead Man's Head - Part 10
Johnny Johannsen takes the gang to shoot at birds and lets them help themselves to apples. But Bob says Johnny used to shoot children and use them as scarecrows. They throw apples and taunt him but… Audio
Dead Man's Head - Part 13
The gang ride the railway jigger in the moonlight and bombard Mrs Pedlar's roof with acrons. Audio
Dead Man's Head - Part 8
The Seddon Street Gang reach the top of the factory and carve their initials in the rail. Down in the yard Mr Shepherd sees them and gives chase but Catherine Campbell's father hides them behind his… Audio
Dead Man's Head - Part 14
The jigger gets hit by the late goods train. The gang are OK but can't find it anywhere. They run home and years later Mr Pedlar finds it. His sister supsects Polly of throwing the acorns. Audio
Dead Man's Head - Part 11
The gang all make trolleys and ride them on Pedlar's Hill. Mr Clark drives into the bamboo castle they've put at the bottom and is very angry. They're not allowed to go out of Seddon Street and the… Audio