Sometimes at this time of year you can get to the point where you just don’t know what to get your young Niece or Nephew, Cousin, Uncle or even your Dad. Here are a couple of suggestions for possible books to give.

New Holland Publishers Australia have announced its new “Happy Little VEGEMITES” Children’s Publishing Program in collaboration with Bega Cheese Limited and the VEGEMITE® brand. For the first time in its long and iconic history, VEGEMITE® will become a character that kids of all ages will fall in love with. A dog called VEGEMITE®, is just like the brand personality of VEGEMITE®; a bit of a joker who is always ready to play or help out a mate. VEGEMITE® the dog joins his best friends, Fred, Rosie and other “Happy Little VEGEMITES” on a series of Aussie adventures. Fred is a distant relative of the man behind the company that first developed the VEGEMITE® spread, and Rosie’s name was inspired from the famous line in the Happy Little VEGEMITES jingle, ‘a rose in every cheek’.
“When New Holland Publishers approached the VEGEMITE® brand team with the book series idea, they were eager to explore how the brand could also help enhance young kid’s appetite for learning and literacy,” Victor Yoog, General Manager, New Holland Publishers commented.

Marking the 40th anniversary of the first State of Origin match in 1980 – The State of Origin Companion- tells the full story of interstate rugby league since of the birth of the game in this country in 1908. Not only are all interstate matches played before 1980 featured, but international matches against NSW and QLD teams are also detailed for the first time. Together with complete representative records for all state players, the State of Origin Companion completes the interstate story.
I am reliably informed that award-winning author Alan Whiticker, started this book 20 years ago when the internet was in its infancy. Alan has written or co-written 20 books on the history of rugby league, including The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players, The History of Rugby League Clubs, Rugby League Through the Decades, and Best of the Best: 100 Great Players. This is something needed to help settle some of those heated bar room discussions.