HARRY POTTER EVENTS

Midnight Magic Costume Party, with games, a costume contest and storytime; 6 p.m.; July 20; Barnes & Noble Ala Moana Center; free; 949-7307.

Midnight Magic Costume Party, with a scavenger hunt, face painting and photo opportunities; 8 p.m.; July 20; Barnes & Noble Kahala Mall; free; 737-3323.

The Grand Hallows Ball, with a magic show, costume contest, balloon-making and games; 9 p.m.; July 20; Borders Ward Centrel free; 591-8995.

The Grand Hallows Ball, with face painting, palm reading, storytelling, bingo; 9:30 p.m.; July 20; Borders Pearlridge Center; free; 487-1818.

The Grand Hallows Ball, costume contest, spelling bee; 9:30 p.m.; July 20; Borders Waikele; free; 676-6699.

Midnight Muggle Madness, with games and refreshments, costumes welcome; 12-1 a.m.; July 21; Bookends, Kailua; free; 261-1996.

Puzzle contest, complete one of three puzzles correctly for a chance to win a free copy of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows;" July 15-July 20; Bestsellers Bishop Square; free; 528-2378.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Talk Story Radio, weekly radio show, hosted by Jeff Gere; 5:30 p.m. Mondays; July 16-July 2008; broadcast on Hawaii Public Radio station KIPO 89.3 FM, 7 p.m. Thursdays; July 19-July 2008; on KTUH 90.3 FM. This week: Kids About Kids, stories told by Wayne Watkins, Makia Malo, Ivan Coyote, Dan Kelin and Janet Yap. www.talkstoryradio.com.

Tom Oestreicher, costumed, performed reading on the American Civil War, 10:30 a.m.; July 15; Pearl City Public Library; free; 453-6566.

Youth Speaks Hawai'i, slam poetry workshops, hosted by Kealoha, TravisT, Melvin, Darron, and Lyz; 4-5:30 p.m. Wednesdays; July18-July 2008; The ARTS at Marks Garage; free; 387-9664.

Book Bash, new and gently used books, CDs, DVDs, audio books and magazines for sale plus a silent auction for rare and unusual books; 12-4 p.m.; July 22; Kane'ohe Public Library; free admission; 233-5676.

BOOK SIGNINGS

Dennis M. Ogawa, book launch and signing of "First Among Nisei: The Life and Writings of Masaji Marumoto;" 10:30 a.m.; July 21; Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i, Teruya courtyard; free admission; 945-7633.

FOR WRITERS

Writers', Poets' and Playwrights' Group; 6 p.m.; July 15; Borders Ward Centre; free; 591-8995.

FOR KEIKI

"It's Book Time with Ronald McDonald," interactive performance with music, magic and games, 1 p.m. July 16; Pearl City Public Library; free, sponsored by McDonald's Restaurants of Hawaii; 453-6566.

"Stories to Solve: Puzzles and Riddles," storyteller Vicky Dworkin invites children, 5 and over, to offer answers to dilemmas that face characters in stories; 10:30 a.m. July 17; Waimea (Kaua'i) Public Library; free; (808) 338-6848. Also, 2 p.m.; July 17; Lihu'e (Kaua'i) Public Library; free; (808) 241-3222.

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

Preschool Craft & Storytime; 11 a.m. Tuesdays and Saturdays; Barnes & Noble, Kahala; free; 737-3323.

Preschool Craft & Storytime; 11 a.m. Tuesdays and Saturdays; Barnes & Noble, Ala Moana; free; 949-7307.

Read Me a Story, books read by volunteer storytellers for 12 and younger and their parents; 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays; Honolulu Academy of Arts; free for children, included with admission price of $7 for parents; 532-8700.

Yona Chock, the Magic Storyteller, combination of magic, storytelling, origami, puppets and balloons; 6:30 p.m.; July 17; Kahuku Public & School Library; free; 293-8935.

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

Keiki Storytime, Do Re Mi Music with Art Suankum, for ages 2-5; 11-11:30 a.m.; Wednesdays; Kailua Public Library; free; 266-9911.

The Magic of Reading, combination of magic, puppetry, comedy and audience participation presented by Uncle Wayne Watkins and Magic Mark Kroll; 6:30 p.m.; July 18; Mililani Public Library; free; 627-7470.

Storytime in the Garden, stories, songs, nature crafts and visit to a tree led by Lorraine Stringfellow, 9:30-10:30 a.m.; Thursdays; Foster Botanical Garden; free; reservation: 522-7064.

Children's Storytime, listen to stories and learn a simple craft, for ages 3 and over; 10:30 a.m.; Thursdays; Kaimuki Public Library; free; 733-8422.

Gems by Perrault, performance of Charles Perrault's "Cinderella" and "Puss in Boots" by Kyle Kakuno and The Traveling Storytellers; 10:30; July 21; Kailua Public Library; free; 266-9911.

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