Cameron Tiberius McPherson and his Magic Chair – a book about a boy with a spectacular transforming wheelchair – is flying into Welsh Schools as part of the Welsh Government’s and Books Council of Wales’ national initiative to get children reading – the School’s Love Reading Programme.
Launched in May by the Books Council of Wales and the Minister for Education and Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles, the campaign will see all pupils aged 3–16 in state schools in Wales receiving a book of their own to keep. 18,000 copies of Cameron Tiberius McPherson and his Magic Chair have been purchased for distribution to schools across the principality as part of the campaign, which aims to celebrate reading and the benefits it brings to readers of all ages and abilities.
In addition, a further 1,000 copies of the book have been purchased as part of a similar book-gifting campaign by the Welsh Government’s and the Books Council of Wales to supply books to foodbanks, community organisations and other local groups to make books available to children and young people in their local communities.
Cameron Tiberius McPherson and his Magic Chair was first published last October by Cardiff based Candy Jar Books and is distributed by the Books Council of Wales. It was written by Tug J.Wilson in partnership with children’s production and rights management company, Hoho Entertainment and was illustrated by emerging young artist, Chiara Manship, following a year-long collaboration between Hoho, Wilson and the University of South Wales which saw the book added to the curriculum for their illustration course.
“We are really excited that Cameron Tiberius McPherson and his Magic Chair has been chosen to be part of this fantastic campaign which aims to instill Welsh schoolchildren with a lifelong love of reading,” says Hoho Entertainment’s joint managing director Helen Howells. “It’s still quite unusual to find a book with a young, dynamic character with a disability right at the centre of the action and we really hope the children who receive a copy will love Cameron’s high-flying adventures.”
Shaun Russell, Head of Publishing, Candy Jar Books, says: “This is a wonderful campaign and we are delighted that Cameron Tiberius McPherson is part of it and will play a major part in helping to inspire children and ignite their imaginations.”
Cameron Tiberius Mcpherson lives with his eccentric mother, Lulu, in a tall apartment block in the town of Pimple. When a huge tornado hits, the town is turned upside down and with the apartment lift broken, Cameron finds things particularly difficult until a mysterious mechanic, Mr Pea, arrives and transforms his wheelchair into something magical. Suddenly Cameron finds he can achieve things he never thought possible. His new golden chair can transform into a mechanical spider to climb buildings, a flying machine and even a submarine.
But as Cameron comes to grips with how his chair works, he also comes up against some dark forces in Pimple society. Can he now be the hero he always wanted to be…?