Local reading enthusiasts are rallying behind a campaign to push the Islands into first place in a book contest that could net 50,000 books for children here.

The online voting campaign had Hawai'i at No. 6 in the nation at last count. All that a participant has to do is go to http://booksforkids.firstbook.org/whatbook/about.php and fill in the state name in the one empty field. You can vote once a day and there are 20 days left in the competition.
The effort is sponsored by firstbook.org., a US nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide disadvantaged children with new books.