PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The Phillie Phanatic’s alter ego has written the ninth in his series of children’s books.

The Phanatic arrived today at the Independence Visitor Center wearing colonial-style clothing, to unveil the new book, Phillie Phanatic’s Philadelphia Story.

“He had this great idea of putting on a time travel helmet and going back to Colonial Philadelphia days,” says  Tom Burgoyne, the author of the book and “best friend” of the Phanatic.

Since the Phanatic doesn’t speak, how did Burgoyne understand what the Phanatic wanted to write?

“Well, the Phanatic and I are very close,” Burgoyne explains enigmatically.  “We spend a lot of time together, so I usually can sense what he’s feeling.  So telepathically, I think, he ‘told’ the book to me.”

No Philadelphia history story is complete without Benjamin Franklin and Betsy Ross.  They were both on hand to read portions of the book aloud to tourists passing by.

(Betsy Ross, reading:)  “What are you sewing, Betsy?”

Phillie Phanatic’s Philadelphia Story is available at Citizens Bank Park and in bookstores.

Reported by Hadas Kuznits, KYW Newsradio 1060