Australia PM turns author for children

SYDNEY: Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is about to become a published children's author, with a tale about the lives of two family pets at one of his official residences, a spokeswoman said on Sunday.

The new book, 'Jasper and Abby and the Great Australia Day Kerfuffle', follows the adventures of Jasper, a real-life black cat, and Abby, a golden retriever dog, and will be published later this month.

A spokeswoman told Reuters that Jasper and Abby were "very much genuine members of the Rudd family". The book, published by Allen and Unwin, will go on sale later this month with proceeds going to Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital.