Ringo Starr is working with illustrator Ben Cort to turn Ringo’s song “Octopus Garden” into a children’s book, to be published by Simon & Schuster in October 2013 in the UK and in the US in January 2014.

Ringo Starr wrote the whimsical, surreal Beatles song about living under the sea in an octopus’ garden, whilst holidaying on comedian Peter Sellers’ yacht in 1968 off the coast of Sardinia. Ringo Starr was inspired to write the lyrics by anecdotes about sea creatures recounted by the boat’s captain. The song then made it on The Beatles’ 1969 album Abbey Road.

The book about the Octopus’ Garden will tell the story of five children who are taken on an underwater adventure by a friendly octopus.  Simon & Schuster UK editor Ingrid Selberg describes the book as the “perfect marriage of a truly child-friendly text, based on Ringo’s popular song, with illustrations that revel in the imaginative opportunities presented by the lyrics.”

There are many songs, particularly from the psychedelic late 1960s, which would lend themselves to forming the basis of children’s books, including Ringo Starr’s other classic “Yellow Submarine”. Here is a Recordpress Top 10 Songs that would make great children’s books –

1) Beatles – Yellow Submarine ( 1966 )

2) David Bowie – Laughing Gnome ( 1973 )

3) The Scaffold – Lily The Pink ( 1968 )

4) Wurzels – Brand New Combine Harvester ( 1976 )

5) Led Zeppelin – Stairway to Heaven ( 1970 )

6) Small Faces – Ichycoo Park ( 1967 )

7) Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band – Urban Spaceman ( 1968 )

8) Goodies – Black Pudding Bertha ( 1975 )

9) Pink Floyd – Arnold Layne ( 1967 )

10) Bobby Pickett & Cryptkickers – Monstermash ( 1973 )