3 Sept 07 The first children?s picture book to be illustrated by artists from Weta Workshop will be launched in September as part of NZ Book Month.

Featuring a little rescue helicopter, Champ the Chopper is the first book in a series written by Kiwi author Rebekah Palmer with the illustrations done by artists from Weta Workshop, Daniel Falconer and Chris Guise.

L-R: Author Rebekah Palmer, Weta Designers Chris Guise and Daniel Falconer, at the Life Flight Trust Air Rescue.

The picture book will be launched by Richard Taylor at the Life Flight Trust Air Rescue hangar in Wellington on Saturday, September 15 at 2pm. Entry is by gold coin donation.

Champ is part of Kids Rescue, an organization run by kids. In each book Champ and the kids go on daring missions to rescue children in trouble. Publisher West Egg Books is donating $1 from every book sold to real rescue helicopter operations, including Life Flight Trust.

The books are aimed at encouraging reading, especially for young boys. Education Ministry figures show a large gap in the performance between boys and girls in reading. Boys make up more than 60% of the bottom quarter performers in reading literacy. ?It?s vital we encourage more young boys to read,? says Richard Taylor. ?This series of books generates excitement through real-life situations and strong characters and it empowers kids. We think Champ the Chopper will help get kids reading.?

Learn more about this project here.