SPECIAL EVENTS

Book Fair, portions of sales of books benefit Kalani High School Association, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. today, Barnes & Noble, Kahala Mall; download voucher from www.kalanihigh.com or pick-up at the store. 737-3323.

Holiday Book Drive after customers purchase books Barnes & Noble distributes the donated books to children through nonprofit organizations, now through Jan. 1, Barnes & Noble, Ala Moana Center. 944-3135.

Fall Common Book Project, community reading and discussion of Thomas Friedman's "The World is Flat," and Barbara Ehrenreich's "Nickel and Dimed." Windward residents are encouraged to read the books and attend the public lectures, 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Windward Community College's Hale Akoakoa, room 101; free. This week, "Getting By in Hawai'i" a talk by anthropology students on local subcultures. 235-7340.

BOOKSIGNINGS

Gaye Chan and Andrea Feeser sign "Waikiki: A History of Forgetting and Remembering," noon today, Borders, Ward Centre. 591-8995. Also, 2 p.m. today, Borders, Pearlridge (487-1818) and Feeser signs books, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Bestsellers, Bishop Square (528-2378).

Laurie Ide signs "Okazu at the Zoo," noon-1 p.m. today, Borders, Waikele. 676-6699. Also, 2 p.m. today, Borders, Ward Centre. 591-8995.

Tammy Paikai and Rosalie Prussing sign "Aloha Is ..." noon today, Borders Express, Windward Mall, Kane'ohe. 235-8044. Also, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Bishop Museum. 848-4158.

Ilima Loomis signs "Rough Riders: Hawai'i's Paniolo and Their Stories," 2-3 p.m. today, Borders Express, Cannery Mall, Lahaina, Maui. (808) 667-6172.

Leonora Ching signs "Pickle Lady's Pickle Passion," 12:30-1:30 p.m. Monday, Bestsellers, Bishop Square (528-2378).

Veronica Carmona and Larry Winnik sign "Hanauma Bay: Hawai'i's Coastal Treasure," noon-2 p.m. Wednesday, Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve Gift Shop. 396-4229.

Glenda Chung Hinchey signs "Love, Life and Publishing," 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Ali'iolani Elementary School Craft Fair.

Tammy Yee signs "The Hawaiian Goodbye Book" and her series of Baby Honu books, 10 a.m. Saturday, Navy Exchange, Mall at Pearl Harbor. 423-3330. Also, 2-3 p.m. Saturday, Borders Express, Windward Mall, Kane'ohe. 235-8044.

Ellie Crowe signs "See Under the Sea," "Duke's Olympic Feet" and other children's books, noon-1 p.m. Saturday, Borders Express, Mililani Town Center, 623-2138.

Tom Moffatt signs "The Showman of the Pacific," noon-1 p.m. Saturday, Navy Exchange, Mall at Pearl Harbor. 423-3330.

MacKinnon Simpson signs "A Century of Aloha," noon-1 p.m. Saturday, Borders, Ward Centre. 591-8995. Also, 2-3 p.m. Saturday, Navy Exchange, Mall at Pearl Harbor. 423-3330.

Gregory Kaufman signs "125 Fun Facts About Humpbacks," noon-1 p.m. Saturday, Borders Express, Queen Ka'ahumanu Shopping Center, Kahului, Maui. (808) 871-6112.

Charley Memminger signs "Hey Waiter, There's an Umbrella in My Drink," noon-1 p.m. Saturday, Borders, Waikele. 676-6699. Also, 4-5 p.m. Saturday, Borders, Pearlridge. 487-1818.

Linda Ching signs "Waimea: A Big Island Treasure," noon-1 p.m. Saturday, Native Books/Na Mea Hawai'i, Ward Warehouse. 596-8885.

Kim Jackson and Yuko Green sign "Humu's Search for a Rainbow" and other children's books, noon-1 p.m. Saturday, Borders, Kona, Big Island. (808) 331-1668.

Sam Choy signs "Aloha Cuisine," 2-3 p.m. Saturday, Borders, Ward Centre. 591-8995.

Kim Taylor Reece signs "The Eternal Dance," 3-4 p.m. Saturday, Borders Express, Windward Mall, Kane'ohe. 235-8044.

FOR WRITERS

"Writing About Places," workshop by Tom Peek provides writing methods to inspire creative writing about real or imagined places, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Volcano Art Center; $55. Registration: (808) 967-8222.

Writing Retreat, meet other authors and share non-critical responses led by Lillian Cunningham, 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Windward Community College Hale Na'auao 146; $5. 235-7433.

Hawai'i Pacific University seeks entries for the James M. Vaughan Poetry Awards. with a $500 cash prize and publication in the Hawai'i Pacific Review. Send three unpublished poems, no longer than 100 lines each, with a short personal biography and your name, address, phone and e-mail address to: James M. Vaughan Award for Poetry, 1060 Bishop St., Suite 7, Honolulu, HI 96813. Additional information: 544-1108. Postmark deadline is Dec. 15.

2006 Kumu Kahua Theatre/UHM Theatre Department Playwriting Contest, prizes in three categories: plays set in Hawai'i or reflect the Hawaiian experience by residents or non-residents, plays set in or dealing with Pacific Island, Pacific Rim or Pacific/Asian American experience by residents or non-residents, and plays on any topic written by Hawai'i residents. Complete information: 536-4222, www.kumukahua.org. Entry deadline is Jan. 2.

FOR KEIKI

Toddler Storytime, stories, sing-alongs and crafts for ages 2-3, 10 a.m. Mondays through Dec. 16, Kapolei Public Library. 693-7050.

Preschool Storytime, sing-alongs, craft activities and stories, 10 a.m. tomorrow, Kea'au Public & School Library, Big Island. (808) 982-4281.

Tiny Tales for Tiny Tots, stories, fingerplays, songs and a craft to take home, for 4 and younger, 9-9:45 a.m. and 10:30-11:15 a.m. Tuesdays, Kalihi-Palama Public Library. 832-3466.

Pre-School Storytime, for ages 3-5 with a caregiver, 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays through Dec. 12, Mililani Public Library. 627-7470.

Keiki Storytime, 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays and 11 a.m. Saturdays, Borders, Waikele. 676-6699.

Preschool Craft & Storytime, 11 a.m. Tuesdays, Barnes & Noble, Kahala Mall (737-3323) and Barnes & Noble, Ala Moana Center (949-7307).

Read Me a Story, books read by volunteer storytellers, 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, Honolulu Academy of Arts, Keiki Reading Room in Gallery 31 (lower level of Banyan Court); for 12 and under and their parents; free for children, included with admission price of $7 for parents. 532-8700.

Preschool Storytime, stories and playtime for children 2 and a half and older, 9:30 a.m. Wednesdays through Dec. 13, Pearl City Public Library. 453-6566.

Keiki Storytime, 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays, Borders, Ward Centre. 591-8995.

Pre-School Storytime, stories read aloud, sing-along songs and a simple craft, 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays through Dec. 20, Liliha Public Library. 587-7577.

"McDermott in Motion," performance of works by Gerald McDermott by Nyla Fujii-Babb and Yukie Shiroma, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Mililani Public Library. 627-7470.

Storytimes, stories, sing-alongs and crafts for preschool children, 10 a.m. Thursdays and Saturdays through Dec. 16, Kapolei Public Library. 693-7050.

Lap-Sit Storytime, for babies to age 2 with an adult, 10:30 a.m. Thursdays through Dec. 14, Mililani Public Library. 627-7470.

Saturday Storytime, 11 a.m. Saturdays, Barnes & Noble, Kahala Mall. 737-3323

Saturday Morning Storytime, 11 a.m. Saturdays, Barnes & Noble, Ala Moana Center. 949-7307.

Send announcements, with contact name and phone number, to Lit Beat, Island Life, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; islandlife@honoluluadvertiser.com, with "Lit Beat" in the subject line; or fax 525-8055.