The world of Dave Paddons recitations is quirky, riotously funny, and utterly unique; a place of tall tales and plain foolishness, where fog is so thick you can use it for cannonballs, and a polar bear hijacks a bingo tournament. Berry pickers turn combatants and the result is a bay full of jam; a local handyman turns doctor and uses the spare parts in his shed to patch up his neighbours. Half the Lies You Tell Are Not True brings together thirteen recitations long loved by Paddons many local fans. Great for older kids and grown-ups alike, this is a wonderful cross-over book. Paddon has been called Newfoundland and Labradors Robert Service, and for good reason. His recitations are non-stop fun, fully engaging the verve and tang of the provinces rich language. (The book has a glossary at the back for those from up-along.) These were written to be recited, and readers will surely find themselves reading aloud to family and friends. Duncan Majors illustrations capture the energy and wit of the recitations. While this is Majors first trade publication, he and Paddon have collaborated on several letterpress chapbooks featuring Paddons recitations and Majors artwork; they are a perfect pairing. Recitations included: "The Fog", "Doctoring", "Dirty Job", "Flying", "Vessels", "Tunnel", "Berries", "Supernan", "Bingo Bear vs Supernan", "Man Cold", "The Weather in Town", "Hockey Night in Labrador", and "Man of La Manche".

Well, they caught a few sculpins and hauled up some kelp, Tried a few different places, but nothing would help. "Oh, my," Mike said, "looks like a dead loss." "I know now," said Kimmy. "Mother won't be some cross!" Dave Paddon and Lily Snowden-Fine team up in this hilarious tall tale about siblings who set out to find some fish for their fathers supper. The fish arent biting, so Kimmy and Mike head off to see if theyll have luck on the other side of the ocean. En route they encounter hurricanes, a giant squid, pirates, a merman, an iceberg and much more. Theirs is a round-the-world adventure with plenty of fun. But its still up to their mother to find something for the pot. Paddons playful rhymes resonate with Newfoundland dialect; Snowden-Fines illustrations are a marvelous match. The book includes a brief glossary of Newfoundland terms and an afterword from the author about his experience of the recitation tradition. Running the Goat published an earlier version of this recitation as a letterpress-printed chapbook titled Not a Word of a Lie. This new version has been revised with a younger audience in mind. Lily Snowden-Fine's whimsical illustrations will appeal to readers young and old.