Jack Lasenby
Jack Lasenby was an editor and writer of children's books. From 1969 to 1975, Lasenby edited the School Journal, which had previously been edited by the poets James K. Baxter, Alistair Campbell, and Louis Johnson. His work with School Journal brought him into close contact with leading authors and illustrators of children's books. Lasenby has been honored many times, receiving the Esther Glen Award for distinguished contribution to New Zealand literature for children and young adults in 1987 for Mangrove Summer. He also received the 1993 AIM Children's Book Award Honour Award in Senior Fiction for The Conjuror. In 1996, his book, The Waterfall, received the AIM Children's Book Award for Senior Fiction. Lasenby also received the New Zealand Post Children's Book Award in 1997, 1998, and 1997 for The Battle of Pook Island, Because We Were the Travelers, and Tour, respectively.. His latest books, Old Drumble and The Haystack, were, respectively, winner of and finalist for the NZ Post Junior Fiction Award.
“We must trust everyone and no-one”
“Each time we come to a book we give it a different reading because we bring a different person to it. It is not you who reads the book, the book reads you”
“There are no superstitions but those you invent”