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Kevin Rudd’s new book for children, Jasper & Abby and the Great Australia Day Kerfuffle follows the adventures of the Prime Minister’s cat and dog at the Lodge.
The book is the perfect antidote for those who found his previous work, an essay on the global financial crisis, too patronising and simplistic.
In Jasper & Abby, the prime ministerial pets must resolve a series of crises, including mayhem at Australia Day celebrations, humiliation at a climate change conference, and the constant need to re-explain how capitalism works to Mr Rudd.
Much like the classic kids’ book The Eleventh Hour, the new title gives kids clues to solve a strange mystery: why Mr Rudd thinks anyone would want to read their kids a book with him in it.
Reporters covering the book launch complained that the two animals remained relentlessly on-message throughout their 24-page adventure. But critics are lauding the work as the Prime Minister’s greatest contribution to the publishing industry since his hand-job of a parallel import policy.
The money raised from sales of the PM’s book will go to Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, suggesting that the federal takeover of hospitals may take longer than first thought.
Mr Rudd is currently considering options for a follow-up: perhaps a coming-of-age novel about a child wizard at Kirribilli House, or maybe even doing his god-damn job.
