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In George's case, one of the many ingredients that make up his unique recipe is that he happens to have Down Syndrome. Here he invites us to have fun exploring the world, working out what makes us 'glow' and giving everything a go. With bright an engaging illustrations alongside a genuine and heartfelt story, This is Me is the perfect picture book for any child. So, get ready to read all about George, a little boy with the biggest heart! I don’t want this to sound too gooey, but there’s a lovely vibe in the Webster household. George is very grateful, too, and generous about his parents, even when I offer an opportunity for a moan. “No, they’ve been more than good – they’ve been amazing.” We are sitting round the kitchen table in the family house in the village of Rawdon on the edge of Leeds. George’s dad, Rob, is hovering, in and out. Rachel, a publicist from the publisher, is here too: we’ve got the first copy of the book, hot off the press, and George is talking me through it. It’s a children’s picture book: an autobiography called This Is Me. So, this is George, at home with his parents and sister Lauren. “I have an extra ingredient, a sparkling of magic inside,” he reads. “Some people, they say that I’m special, but that’s not what I think … You see, we’re made of different ingredients that help us shine like a star. My glow is what makes me who I am, and yours will make you who you are.”
There is some disagreement in the house about whether George’s singing is a strength or a weakness. “They say my singing is really bad,” he says. Synopsis from Good Reads "This is me. I am George. My eyes are sparkly, just like my mum. Like my dad, I'm determined and brave, and like my sister, I'm full of FUN! In this beautifully written and gorgeously illustrated picture book, a little boy called George wants to tell you all about himself. You see, just like lots of people in the world, George has Down syndrome and he knows it doesn't define him - as there are so many things that make George wonderful, and Down syndrome is just one of them. Our differences make us special. We don't all have to be the same. Imagine how boring the world would be if everyone had the same name. With bright an engaging illustrations alongside a genuine and heartfelt story, This is Me is the perfect picture book for any child. So, get ready to read all about George, a little boy with the biggest heart!"Mae gan bob un ohonon ni ein hoff bethau a'n cas bethau, a'r gallu i serennu yn ein ffyrdd arbennig ein hunain. Mae gan bawb gasgliad o gynhwysion unigryw sy'n ein gwneud ni yn ni.
We originally agreed for George to be a guest presenter just to ease him in and introduce him to the CBeebies family. But actually, I think rapidly we’re already looking at a Friday every other week, aren’t we, George?” said the CBeebies producer Claire Taylor on a three-way video call with her new star and the Guardian. “And then I’m sure that it will come to a weekly slot, if not more.”
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This is me. I am George. My eyes are sparkly, just like my mum. Like my dad, I'm determined and brave, and like my sister, I'm full of FUN! It all began at parkrun, the Saturday-morning fitness event. George was volunteering at his local one. A Sky TV crew were there filming; they met him and asked if they could make a film about him for a series about inspirational people, following him round for a day. “Mencap saw that and thought I could be a great ambassador.” Now he is a great ambassador for the charity. Any other ambitions? ‘To have a wife, and a girlfriend.’ ‘Both?!’ says his mum Bydd llawer o blant yn adnabod seren y llyfr fel George Webster cyflwynydd CBeebies, wedi'i drawsnewid yn gymeriad llyfr lluniau gan y darlunydd Tim Budgen. Wedi'i ysbrydoli gan gerdd, ac yn ymuno i gydweithio â'r awdures Claire Taylor, mae'r llyfr hwn yn rhannu doethineb George a'i awch am fywyd mewn dathliad o amrywiaeth, cyfeillgarwch a bod yn chi'ch hun. George seems to be very on top of the networking side of things; who else’s number has he got? “I’ve got loads!” he laughs. He tells me about one time when he was at Media City in Salford with his dad, and this tall guy was coming down the stairs. “He came up to me and said, ‘Hi George, I really love your work.’ Guess who it was? Freddie Flintoff!” Another wrote: “My boy has autism and he turned to me and said: ‘I like George, Daddy.’ That’s all you need to know. Thank you CBeebies. You’ve done a wonderful thing today.”
Many children will recognise the star of this book as CBeebies presenter George Webster, transformed into a delightful picture book character by illustrator Tim Budgen. Inspired by a poem, and joining forces with co-author Claire Taylor, this book shares George's wisdom and zest for life in a celebration of diversity, friendship and being yourself. His mother, Jane, said her emotions were all over the place: “I was blubbing one minute and smiling the next. I just love his work ethic and his positivity. We always say George’s days are all 10 out of 10 because he makes them like that.” One of the myths that George busted in that original video is that people with Down’s syndrome are always happy. “We’re not. Everyone has a range of emotions and so do we – it’s very important to show that. Like sometimes I have my moments.” Cue parental nodding.You see, just like lots of people in the world, George has Down syndrome and he knows it doesn't define him - as there are so many things that make George wonderful, and Down syndrome is just one of them. The book is about explaining and celebrating uniqueness, being proud of who we are. “A lot of people are scared, they don’t need to be, I want them to understand,” says George. And it’s about the importance of inclusion and representation.
In this beautifully written and gorgeously illustrated picture book, a little boy called George wants to tell you all about himself. A hugely uplifting and full-of-heart picture book by CBeebies sensation George Webster and bestselling illustrator Tim Budgen!
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He was talent-scouted by the BBC from his work as an ambassador for Mencap, the charity for people with learning disabilities. Earlier this year, he was asked to record a myth-busting video for BBC Bitesize, in which he dispelled some of the common misconceptions about people with Down’s syndrome. He began it by saying: “I call myself George because that’s who I am. Not Down’s George.” Then there are the times he says “I do have Down’s syndrome, you know” as an excuse. Jane remembers a long family walk in the Lake District a few years ago. “And he would say, ‘I’m really tired, I’ve got D …’ Don’t even say it, George! I’ve got asthma and I’m walking.”
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