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Uncle Trev and his Whistling Bull
It's the 1930s. Our storyteller is crook in bed trying to get over a long sickness and wanting to go back to school, when Uncle Trev arrives to let Mum go out and do the shopping. Uncle Trev tells one story after another about the animals out on his farm, and about his neighbour Gotta Henry. He also goes through Mum's cupboards and helps himself to all her gingernut biscuits and Louise cake. If you think Mum should be grateful to get out of the house, she's not. When she comes home, she chases Uncle Trev and his dog, Old Tip, with her broom and threatens what she'll do to 'that man' next time he comes in.
208 pages, Paperback
First published March 24, 2012
1 person is currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
Jack Lasenby
37 books12 followersJack 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.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 27, 2016
I just loved this nostalgic trip back to 1930's rural New Zealand. Even though I was a 50's child a lot of these things were still in evidence to one degree or another when I was a child.
We had a "jigger" to cart our cream cans out to the road to await collection by the truck. No milk tankers in those days! Women's Institute; wearing hats and gloves when you went to town; the party line telephone system and Taranaki gates were all things I grew up with.
A boy of indeterminate age is home sick for a long period of time.
When his mother goes out, his Uncle Trev comes to visit, usually clandestinely and accompanied by his dog Old Tip, and spins the boy some yarns to keep him amused.
"You needn't think that man's coming in here" Mum said. "Going through my cake tins, filling you up with silly stories, and bringing that dog inside as soon as I'm out of the house. I can smell it even before I put my foot in the back door."
When he leaves they open all the windows so that Uncle Trev's words can escape. "I can always tell what that uncle of yours has been saying behind my back....My ears are so sharp they pick up the echo of everything he says while I'm out."
My favourite story was "How They Built the Rangitoto Light House" which had me in tears of laughter.
There is a glossary of NZ terms used in the stories in the back of the book.
A definite recommendation from me. I am now going to seek out a copy of
Uncle Trev's Teeth: And Other Stories.
We had a "jigger" to cart our cream cans out to the road to await collection by the truck. No milk tankers in those days! Women's Institute; wearing hats and gloves when you went to town; the party line telephone system and Taranaki gates were all things I grew up with.
A boy of indeterminate age is home sick for a long period of time.
When his mother goes out, his Uncle Trev comes to visit, usually clandestinely and accompanied by his dog Old Tip, and spins the boy some yarns to keep him amused.
"You needn't think that man's coming in here" Mum said. "Going through my cake tins, filling you up with silly stories, and bringing that dog inside as soon as I'm out of the house. I can smell it even before I put my foot in the back door."
When he leaves they open all the windows so that Uncle Trev's words can escape. "I can always tell what that uncle of yours has been saying behind my back....My ears are so sharp they pick up the echo of everything he says while I'm out."
My favourite story was "How They Built the Rangitoto Light House" which had me in tears of laughter.
There is a glossary of NZ terms used in the stories in the back of the book.
A definite recommendation from me. I am now going to seek out a copy of
Uncle Trev's Teeth: And Other Stories.April 25, 2012
I was pointed towards this author by some of my New Zealand friends who ranted this guy's praises so I asked them to send me a book and here it is. A rather new one that had not made it to this site until now.
The book is about a child who is told stories by his uncle about various things, all of which seem like tall tales (a whistling bull). The book has some very funny moments. It is aimed at the later primary school children to early secondary. The writer is from New Zealand and makes some comparative remarks that I doubt many students would understand but never the less the writing style is flamboyant and excitingly funny with only the occasional pause of humour.
A good read which should capture the child's imagination and attention for quite a while.
The book is about a child who is told stories by his uncle about various things, all of which seem like tall tales (a whistling bull). The book has some very funny moments. It is aimed at the later primary school children to early secondary. The writer is from New Zealand and makes some comparative remarks that I doubt many students would understand but never the less the writing style is flamboyant and excitingly funny with only the occasional pause of humour.
A good read which should capture the child's imagination and attention for quite a while.
January 7, 2014
For as long as I can remember, Uncle Trev stories have been around. Uncle Trev’s a bit of a ratbag. He’s always getting himself into some kind of trouble or another. Set in small town New Zealand, in the early 1930′s, the wide-eyed, all believing narrator is a young lad (let’s call him Jack – I’m not sure we ever find out his name), bed-ridden for six weeks. Uncle Trev pops in now and then, usually just after Mum has gone into town for something. Mum and Uncle Trev don’t get along so well. To be fair, Mum’s pretty scary, with ears so sharp she can hear the echoes of conversations, and eyes so sharp she can read the lino like a book. Young Jack tells Uncle Trev that he’s afraid of the dark, and Uncle Trev replies, ‘Don’t go telling her I said so, but I think the dark’s probably scared of your mother.’ Mum’s also a pretty good baker, and Uncle Trev can’t help himself getting into the cake tins, even knowing Mum’s probably going to find out…
Uncle Trev spins a pretty good yarn, and each chapter in this delightful book is yet another tall tale to entertain both the child listener and the adult reader. The tales get a little taller and a little more fantastic each chapter, until even very young children can realise that Uncle Trev might just be a little bit lenient with the truth, now and then. Oh, how wonderful to be wiser than the boy in the book, who believes everything his Uncle Trev tells him. I can imagine this as a wonderful read-aloud, either in the classroom, or at bedtime each night. There’s a warm, affectionate and reassuring tone to the stories, that assures children that the adults in their lives care about them very much. There’s also a nice amount of sheer silliness to have fun with – what a great intro into telling tall stories of your own, about your childhood. It has the alive feeling of a story told, rather than a story read. I always imagine a Barry Crump kind of voice for Uncle Trev.
While I really do love this book, and it is extremely entertaining, consistently well-written and just the right mix of sincere, slapstick and a tiny bit scary, for me it reads best as a series of short stories. I have had children read it, and enjoy it, but I have also had children read a few stories out of it, put it aside and say they will come back to it later. I think both kinds of readings are fine.
Highly recommended!
Uncle Trev spins a pretty good yarn, and each chapter in this delightful book is yet another tall tale to entertain both the child listener and the adult reader. The tales get a little taller and a little more fantastic each chapter, until even very young children can realise that Uncle Trev might just be a little bit lenient with the truth, now and then. Oh, how wonderful to be wiser than the boy in the book, who believes everything his Uncle Trev tells him. I can imagine this as a wonderful read-aloud, either in the classroom, or at bedtime each night. There’s a warm, affectionate and reassuring tone to the stories, that assures children that the adults in their lives care about them very much. There’s also a nice amount of sheer silliness to have fun with – what a great intro into telling tall stories of your own, about your childhood. It has the alive feeling of a story told, rather than a story read. I always imagine a Barry Crump kind of voice for Uncle Trev.
While I really do love this book, and it is extremely entertaining, consistently well-written and just the right mix of sincere, slapstick and a tiny bit scary, for me it reads best as a series of short stories. I have had children read it, and enjoy it, but I have also had children read a few stories out of it, put it aside and say they will come back to it later. I think both kinds of readings are fine.
Highly recommended!
May 15, 2012
Ok, it may be a children's book... and if you feel the necessity to get a child to be able to read it.. it may be worth it...coz it's very good, not childish, but interesting and warm.. You get daft, fantastical teeny stories told by way of Uncle Trev to a bed-ridden boy, all about his animals..whistling bull, Old Toot and Old Tip, dog and horse and his mate Gotta Henry (gotta spade I can borrow Trev, gotta cig, Trev?)But its the evocation of a New Zealand past with equipment long gone, the dreaded Women's Institute of Waharoa, and a whole list of things, Tipsi Cake (like Trifle), Old Furry (soup)and Cockies (farmers) told with gentle humour and poignancy.
Obviously there are others by Jack Lasanby which are equally good in the Uncle Trev series and Old Smoko.
Obviously there are others by Jack Lasanby which are equally good in the Uncle Trev series and Old Smoko.
May 12, 2012
Light hearted stories that can be picked up and read out loud to children and enjoyed by adults. This is a book of heartland New Zealand, a book of tall stories told by 'Uncle Trev' to his sick nephew.
I'm sure this is a book that will be reread many times over in our house.
I'm sure this is a book that will be reread many times over in our house.
May 8, 2017
it took me a couple of stories to get into it, but loved it.
October 11, 2018
Fabulous, far-fetched humour. Another great read with my son.
May 24, 2012
Funny little stories told by Uncle Trev every time his mother leaves the house! Might appeal to 8 - 9 yrs .
August 13, 2013
it was funny and creative
October 12, 2016
Every child with a long- running illness should have an Uncle Trev to entertain and bring a bit of spark into the sickroom!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews