NEW YORK, June 14 (UPI) -- Columnist Helen Thomas and editorial cartoonist Chip Bok have teamed up to create a children's book, "The Great White House Breakout," its publisher says.
The 32-page hardcover book tells the story of a woman president's young son, who, tired of the never-ending Secret Service babysitting, leaves the White House with his cat and rat to tour the nation's capital, Editor & Publisher reported recently. The book, published by Dial and due out in August, is geared to readers ages 9-12.
Thomas was a longtime White House correspondent for United Press International and now does a column for Hearst News Service. Bok does editorial cartoons for the Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal and Creators.
Thomas, E&P also reports, has been sidelined the past three weeks with a gastric infection. The 87-year-old journalist has not written her column since May 14.
"She is being treated for an infection and is on leave," Hearst's Washington bureau chief, Chuck Lewis, told E&P Monday. "She became ill and has been recovering ever since. We expect her back, but I am not sure when."
