Yellow Submarine to become a book

A sample page from the new Yellow Submarine picture book

The Beatles' hit 1968 psychedelic cartoon The Yellow Submarine is being made into a children's book.

The book, to be published in September, was inspired by the film's "timeless appeal" and its successful 2003 release the band's company Apple Corps said.

The Yellow Submarine single came out in 1966 and was a number one in the UK, Australia, Canada, Germany, Holland, Norway, New Zealand and Sweden.

It was also translated into Yiddish and Latin and was an anti-war anthem.

The Yellow Submarine picture book will be printed in eight languages.

Actors

The 1968 film featured artwork by Heinz Edelmann as The Beatles tried to save Pepperland from the Blue Meanies.

The Beatles' own involvement in the film was limited to the writing of four new songs and a brief in-person appearance at the end.

The Fab Four's voices were provided by actors - including Geoffrey Hughes, who later played Eddie Yates in the ITV soap Coronation Street.

Published in partnership with Walker Books, it will be Apple Corps' first picture book.

Its only other publishing venture was the Beatles Anthology, which sold more than two million copies worldwide since it was published in 1999.