SPECIAL EVENTS

First Thursday, slam poetry competition, open mike and live music, hosted by Kealoha with guest Buddy Wakefield, 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Hawaiian Hut at Ala Moana Hotel; $5. 387-9664, www.hawaiislam.com.

BOOKSIGNINGS

Kim Taylor Reece signs "The Eternal Dance," noon today, Borders, Ward Centre. 591-8995. Also, 1 p.m. Thursday, Hale Koa hotel gift shop; 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Navy Exchange, Mall at Pearl Harbor, 423-3330; and 4-5 p.m. Borders, Lihu'e, Kaua'i. (808) 246-0862.

Jim Becker signs "Saints, Sinners and Shortstops," noon today, Barnes & Noble, Ala Moana Center. 949-7307.

MacKinnon Simpson signs "A Century of Aloha," noon-1 p.m. today, Borders, Pearlridge. 487-1818. Also, 4-5 p.m. today, Borders, Waikele. 676-6699.

Kim Jackson and Yuko Green sign "Humu's Search for a Rainbow" and other children's books, noon-1 p.m. today, Borders, Hilo, Big Island. (808) 933-1410.

Michael Gallagher signs "The Maui Chef Seafood Cookbook" and "Gourmet Cuisine — Island Style," noon today, Borders, Maui Marketplace, Kahului, Maui. (808) 877-6160.

Tammy Paikai and Rosalie Prussing sign "Aloha Is ..." 2 p.m. today, Barnes & Noble, Ala Moana Center. 949-7307.

Jean Watanabe Hee signs "Hawai'i's Best Soups, Salads and Sides," 2-3 p.m. today, Borders, Waikele. 676-6699. Also, 2 p.m. Saturday, Borders, Ward Centre. 591-8995.

Paul Wood and Ron Dahlquist sign "Orchid Isles," 2-3 p.m. today, Borders Express, Cannery Mall, Lahaina, Maui. (808) 667-6172.

Ellie Crowe signs "See Under the Sea," "Duke's Olympic Feet" and other children's books, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve Gift Shop. 396-4229. Also, 2-3 p.m. Saturday, Borders Express, Windward Mall, Kane'ohe. 235-8044.

Laurie Steelsmith discusses and signs "Natural Choices for Women's Health," 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday, Barnes & Noble, Ala Moana Center. 949-7307.

Tammy Yee signs "The Hawaiian Goodbye Book" and her series of Baby Honu books, 11 a.m. Saturday, Barnes & Noble, Ala Moana Center. 949-7307.

De Soto Brown signs "Surfing: Images from the Bishop Museum Archives," noon-1 p.m. Saturday, Native Books/Na Mea Hawai'i, Ward Warehouse. 596-8885.

Charley Memminger signs "Hey Waiter, There's an Umbrella in My Drink," noon Saturday, Navy Exchange, Mall at Pearl Harbor. 423-3330.

Sam Choy signs "Aloha Cuisine," noon-1 p.m. Saturday, Borders, Waikele. 676-6699. Also, 2-3 p.m. Saturday, Pearlridge. 487-1818.

Ilima Loomis signs "Rough Riders: Hawai'i's Paniolo and Their Stories," noon-1 p.m. Saturday, Borders, Maui Marketplace, Kahului, Maui. (808) 877-6160.

Hal Glatzer signs "The Last Full Measure," 2 p.m. Saturday, Barnes & Noble, Ala Moana Center. 949-7307.

Laurie Ide signs "Okazu at the Zoo," 2-3 p.m. Saturday, Navy Exchange, Mall at Pearl Harbor. 423-3330.

Belinda Leigh signs "See Under the Sea," 2-3 p.m. Saturday, Borders Express, Queen Ka'ahumanu Shopping Center, Kahului, Maui. (808) 871-6112.

Kimo Armitage and Scott Kaneshiro sign "Limu: The Blue Turtle," and other children's books, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Saturday, Navy Exchange, Mall at Pearl Harbor. 423-3330.

Joseph Stanton signs "Field Guide to the Wildlife of Suburban O'ahu," 4 p.m. Saturday, Borders, Ward Centre. 591-8995.

FOR WRITERS

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 nonresidents, 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. 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.

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 1/2 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.

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.