There's a new dog in the White House and he has a pair of Bermuda pyjamas – at least in the literary imagination of local writer Elizabeth Mulderig.

One of the first things that Barack Obama did after being elected American President in 2008 was find a family dog.

Bo the Portuguese Water Dog moved in with the First Family last April at the age of six months.

Dog lover and children's book writer, Ms Mulderig was fascinated.

Ms Mulderig is the author of 'Tiny the Tree Frog Tours Bermuda' and 'Do-Boy Digs Bermuda', among other children's books.

"I have been thinking of the story ever since the Obamas got their dog," said Ms Mulderig.

Until 'Bo Obama's Pink Pajamas' all of Ms Mulderig's books celebrated Bermuda's heritage and traditions in some way. This new book is set in the American capital, Washington, DC.

"I have been stepping out of my element a bit, but it was fun to do," she said. "I wanted to do a book that was set outside of Bermuda.

"I thought it would be fun for Do-Boy to have some kind of relationship with the President's dog. One of my best friends lives in Washington, DC. I have been several times and it is beautiful."

To prepare for the book she researched the President's dog a little, and also took lots of photographs of Washington, DC.

"In the story, Bo Obama's favourite colour is blue," she said. "He gets a pair of pink pyjamas from my character, Do-Boy, a dog in Bermuda. There is a note saying that everything in Bermuda is pink. Do-Boy is Bo's number one fan."

Bo is sceptical about the pink pyjamas at first, but when he tries them on he finds them oh, so comfortable.

"He has the best sleep ever in them," said Ms Mulderig. "He writes Do-Boy a thank-you note."

She said she illustrated this book with a hundred different shades of pink.

"I try to put a lot of detail in my illustrations," she said. "For example in one illustration there is a doghouse with a sign that says 'Chateau de Chien'.

"He has a picture of a bone on the wall. Kids seem to like to search through the book for secret things, sort of like an Easter egg search."

And so far, the reader response has been positive.

"Bermudians love President Obama," she said. "It is amazing the reaction I get."

She hopes to soon start marketing the new book overseas. Ms Mulderig has an ulterior motive in writing her children's books. Secretly, she's trying to get children hooked on reading.

"I try to promote reading by doing these books," she said. "I try to make the books fun to read by rhyming them. I try to make them funny with lots of fun details so that when a parent reads to a child they associate reading with loving care and positive reinforcement."

And she tries to use Bo as an example. On the front cover of 'Bo Obama's Pink Pyjamas' Bo is reading a copy of 'The History of the Portuguese Water Dog'.

'Bo Obama's Pink Pyjamas' is available at Cooper's Children's Store, Bermuda Book Store, Brown & Company and the Craft Market in Dockyard.

For more information go to the Elizabeth Mulderig website at Betsybermuda.com.