SPECIAL EVENTS

Holiday Book Drive: Barnes & Noble Ala Moana will distribute books — purchased by customers as donations — to nonprofit organizations that promote literacy for children, now through Jan. 1. 944-3135.

Anne Kennedy and Robert Sullivan, will read from their recent works, 3 p.m. today, Revolution Books. 944-3106.

Panel Discussion on the Importance of Storymaking, with Aaron Kerner, Katsushige Nakahashi and Kaili Chun, 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i, Manoa Ballroom; free.

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

Liliha Library Celebrates its 40th Anniversary, with lion dance, music and refreshments, 10 a.m. Saturday, Liliha Public Library; free. 587-7578.

Youth Speaks Hawai'i, open-mike slam; mike is reserved for poets between the ages of 13-19, 3 p.m. Saturday, The ARTS at Marks Garage; free. 387-9664, www.hawaiislam .com.

BOOK SIGNINGS

Jean Barman signs "Leaving Paradise: Indigenous Hawaiians in the Pacific Northwest," noon-1 p.m. today Native Books/Na Mea Hawai'i. 783-2612.

Don Robinson signs "The Hawaiian Dot-to-Dot Book" and "Mr. Miyataki's Marvelous Machine," noon-1 p.m. today, Borders Express Mililani. 623-2138.

Tammy Paikai signs "Aloha Is," noon-1 p.m. today, Navy Exchange. 423-3330.

Jean Watanabe Hee signs "Hawai'i's Best Soups, Salads & Sides," noon-1 p.m. today, Borders, Pearlridge. 487-1818.

Lisa Matsumoto and Michael Furuya sign "The Christmas Gift of Aloha" 2 p.m. today, Borders, Ward Centre. 591-8995.

Kim Taylor Reece signs "Eternal Dance," 2-3 p.m. today, Borders, Maui. (808) 877-6160. Also: 12:30-1:30 p.m. Friday, Bestsellers, Bishop Square; 3-5 p.m. Friday, Schofield PX; 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Marine Corps Exchange; and 2-3 p.m. Saturday, Borders, Pearlridge. 293-2000.

Shaun Thompson signs "Surfer's Code, 12 Simple Lessons for Riding Through Life," 4 p.m. today, Borders, Ward Centre. 591-8995.

Rich Budnick signs "Hawaiian Street Names," 12:30-1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Bestsellers, Bishop Square. 528-2378.

Tammy Yee signs "The Hawaiian Goodbye Book" and "Baby Honu's Incredible Journey," 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve (396-4229); and noon-1 p.m. Saturday, Dole Plantation (621-8408).

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

Carmen Geshell signs "Muffin's Makapu'u Adventure," 10:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Pearl Harbor NEX; and 1:30-3:30 p.m. Dole Plantation. 621-8408.

Eddie Sherman signs "Frank, Sammy, Marlon & Me:Adventures in Paradise with the Celebrity Set," noon Saturday, Pearl Harbor Naval Exchange. 587-7766.

Charles Memminger signs "Hey Waiter, There's an Umbrella In My Drink," noon-1 p.m. Saturday, Barnes & Noble, Kahala. 737-3323.

Kimberly Jackson and Yuko Green sign "Humu's Search for a Rainbow" and "Humu:The Little Fish Who Wished Away His Colors, 1-2 p.m. Saturday, Aloha Kona Kids; and 6-7 p.m. Saturday, Kona Inn Children's Wear. (808) 896-3169.

Elaine Masters and Jeff Pagay sign "Footloose the Mongoose," 1:30-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Navy Exchange. 423-3330.

FOR WRITERS

Hawai'i Pacific University seeks entries for the James M. Vaughan Poetry Awards. 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. Information: 544-1108. Postmark deadline is Friday.

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 nonresidents, and plays on any topic written by Hawai'i residents. Information: 536-4222, www.kumukahua.org. Entry deadline is Jan. 2.

READING GROUPS

Literature Readers Group, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Borders Ward Centre. 591-8995.

Culinary Arts Discussion Group, 6 p.m. Wednesday, Barnes & Noble, Ala Moana Center. 949-7307.

Bestseller Reading Group, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Borders, Waikele. 676-6699.

Contemporary Fiction Reading Group, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Barnes & Noble, Kahala. 737-3323.

Romance Readers Anonymous, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Borders, Waikele. 676-6699.

Romantic Borders Reading Group, 7 p.m. Thursday, Borders, Ward Centre. 591-8995.

Manga Book Group 7 p.m. Thursday, Barnes & Noble, Kahala. 737-3323.

FOR KEIKI

Toddler Storytime, stories, sing-alongs and crafts for ages 2-3, 10 a.m. Mondays, through Dec. 18, Kapolei Public Library. 693-7050.

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. Tuesday, 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 (737-3323); and Barnes & Noble, Ala Moana (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 younger and their parents; free for children, included with admission price of $7 for parents. 532-8700.

Preschool Storytime, stories and playtime for children 2 1/2 and older, 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Pearl City Public Library. 453-6566.

Saturday Storytime, 10 a.m. Saturday, Waialua Public Library. 637-8286.

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

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

Storytimes, stories, sing-alongs and crafts for preschoolers, 10 a.m. Thursday and Saturday, Kapolei Public Library. 693-7050.

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

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

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

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