Tales from local authors

By Jolie Jean Cotton

Cricket magazine plans to publish more Island talent

Three new titles by Hawai'i writers and illustrators for children are out this month. And Cricket, a national award-winning children's magazine, will be showcasing Hawai'i talent in the future. First, the books:

"FAREWELL, MY LUNCHBAG: A CHET GECKO MYSTERY," By Bruce Hale, Harcourt, $14, ages 8-12

Chet Gecko, a sharp-tongued, grub-loving fourth-grade detective at Emerson Hicky Elementary, continues his sarcastic style of sleuthing in Hale's third nationally released mystery for young boys.

This time, Mrs. Bagoong, the leathery iguana who runs the cafeteria, asks for Chet's help to figure out who has been stealing food from the school's kitchen. A chapter titled "Messin' with Minnie Stroney" opens:

"Ms. Minerva Stroney was a cook in the cafeteria, Mrs. Bagoong's second-in-command. As wide as she was tall, Ms. Stroney boasted enough warts to supply the Whangpoo Witches Choir and still have leftovers to rent out on Halloween.

But you learn to expect that from a toad."

Chet figures the best way to solve this mystery is to spend the night hiding in the kitchen with his camera, to catch the thief on film. But when he eats a tainted muffin left on the counter, Chet passes out. The next morning he wakes to find himself accused of the crime.

Those who enjoy the Honolulu author/artist's previous gecko tales will see much growth in his artwork here. Hale supplies more than a dozen entertaining black-and-white sketches for the book.

Honolulu's internationally published author/artist Martha Alexander exquisitely recreates this pre-schooler's classic, first released more than 30 years ago, here with new full-color illustrations.

When a bully named Stewart takes his ice cream cone away, young Anthony seeks comfort in his reliable imaginary friend, Blackboard Bear. Having lost the first cone, Anthony heads back to the store for another one, but this time he takes Blackboard Bear for protection. Blackboard Bear takes care of Stewart when he tries his thieving trick again.

Alexander's colored pencil and watercolor art portrays the wide range of emotions Anthony experiences, from anger and insecurity in the beginning, to the satisfaction he feels at the story's close.

While kids will sympathize with Anthony's predicament, parents will enjoy revisiting a time when we all played together in the neighborhood.

Alexander also has another book outæwith Candlewick called, "A You're Adorable." Its paperback and boardbook versions have been doing blockbuster sales nationally. Both in are their eighth printing. Theælatest boardbook print run of the little book illustrating the famous ditty was 50 thousand copies.

In this well-told tale, a young Hawaiian boy named Kaipo adopts a lost baby bird he names Manuli'i. The two become inseparable until the bird becomes full grown and returns to his family. When Manuli'i later learns that the boy needs help getting the attention of a girl he admires, the bird comes up with a clever and loving way to repay his old friend. Kaneshiro's warm, bright watercolors work well with the tender-hearted story.

And about that Cricket connection: Marianne Carus, founder and editor in chief of Cricket Magazine Group (which includes Cicada, Cricket, Spider, Ladybug, Babybug, Click and Muse magazines for kids) tells me she thinks it may be more difficult to get published in her periodicals than to land a book contract.

Yet two Hawai'i writers have recently had their works accepted by Cricket magazine. In coming issues, look for "Yuko's Catfish," by Sue Cowing of East Honolulu, and "A Night in the Barn," by Norma Gorst of Kane'ohe.

Honolulu artist Christine Joy Pratt also continues to do assignments for Cricket. Pratt has done the cover artwork for two editions, as well as illustrating a number of features stories within the publications.