Ringo Starr to publish children's picture book Ringo Starr is writing a children's picture book based on his Beatles hit Octopus's Garden. Ben Cort, the illustrator of Aliens Love Underpants and a Beatles fan, has been signed up to illustrate the book, which will be published in October. Starr, 72, also known also as the narrator of the children's television series Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends, said: "It gives me great pleasure to collaborate with Ben Cort and Simon & Schuster for the further adventures of Octopus's Garden. Peace and Love, Ringo. The book will come with an accompanying CD which includes an exclusive reading by Starr and a never-before-heard version of the song, which was written under his real name Richard Starkey for the 1969 album Abbey Road and featured the Liverpudlian on lead vocals. The idea for the song reportedly came after a trip on a boat belonging to comedian Peter Sellers in Sardinia in 1968. Starr ordered fish and chips for lunch but was offered squid. The boat's captain supposedly told Starr that octopuses trawl the sea bed to pick up shiny objects which they use to build gardens in front of their caves.