Author(s): Jack Lasenby

New Zealand titles - children

'There was always something to do at Mr Bluenose's place.'Mr Bluenose is a warm and gentle story set in the Depression era. A young girl befriends Mr Bluenose and he in turn tells her some fairly fantastic stories: how he got his name, how he ate a fisherman and various other amusing, imaginative tales.Mr Bluenose's stories take us fishing off the coast of Canada, whale riding to London, sailing sea sick all the way to NZ; we are introduced to fishermen who marry mermaids, the allure of boiled lollies. Life is simple and treats come in the form of beer bottles found in the long grass, bananas in brown bags, fish with parsley sauce.The children scare the pants off one another, imaginations and language grows, all in a setting with little in the way of modern day distractions. A long summer is filled with intrigue, horseplay and skylarking.An irreverent and playful story; a rich and fun-filled exploration from a child's view.