CHAMP THE CHOPPER

Rebekah Palmer West Egg $17

Novelist Rebekah Palmer has delved into the world of children's literature and has hit on a winning formula with a book that is illustrated by award-winning Weta Workshop and looks set to be made into a television series.

Wellington writer Rebekah Palmer wanted to write a children's action book that was about kids helping other kids without an adult in sight.

She came up with a series - the first book is to be launched this weekend - about a rescue helicopter called Champ the Chopper, piloted by red-headed Pete and carrying his twin sister Piper as the paramedic.

There are no grown-ups in the book, "and that's deliberate because I wanted the kids to be role-models.

"Kids like to feel in power you know, because they're so small and they're not allowed to do stuff, so they really like heroes that go off and do good things and save the day," she told NZPA while relaxing in her suburban Island Bay home.

Thirty-eight-year-old Palmer, daughter of former Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer, started her writing career as a journalist working for the Nelson Mail.

For full story use this link to the NZ Herald.

Note to booksellers - NZ trade distribution by Archetype/Allen & Unwin