SPECIAL EVENTS

Chef Nobu Matsuhisa will sign his cookbooks and other items; 4-5 p.m.; Dec. 23; Nobu Waikiki; 237-6999.

Book exhibit, display of 400 science books for children; through Dec. 31; Salt Lake-Moanalua Public Library; normal borrowing guidelines apply; 831-6831.

Read Aloud America seeks volunteers to read to children from kindergarten to eighth grade at elementary schools in Waipahu and Kalihi; Read Aloud Program runs six times from January to April; more information or to sign up: 531-1985, read@readaloudamerica.org.

"Talk Story Radio," weekly radio show, hosted by Jeff Gere; 5:30 p.m. Mondays; broadcast on Hawaii Public Radio station KIPO 89.3 FM, 7 p.m. Thursdays; on KTUH 90.3 FM; www.talkstoryradio.com.

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

BOOK SIGNINGS

Retired Col. Ann Wright and Susan Dixon will read from and sign "Dissent: Voices of Conscience," 3-5 p.m. Dec. 23 at Revolution Books, 2626 S. King St.; 944-3106.

Various authors will read from and sign their books, 7 p.m. daily through Dec. 23 at Hilton Hawaiian Village Ohana Library and Reading Room; 945-0550.

FOR WRITERS

The Hawai'i Literary Arts Council is accepting nominations for the 2007 Elliot Cades Awards for Literature, which recognize an established writer with a substantial body of work and an emerging writer who shows great promise; deadline Jan. 15; nominations must include a letter summarizing writer's achievements and samples of the writer's work; send to Hawai'i Literary Arts Council, P.O. Box 11213, Honolulu, HI 96828.

Stanford University Libraries and the William Saroyan Foundation are accepting nominations for the William Saroyan International Prize for Writing, which recognizes newly-published works of fiction and nonfiction; deadline Jan. 31; www.library.stanford.edu/saroyan.

FOR KEIKI

All public libraries will be closed on Christmas and New Year's Day.

"Twelve Days of Christmas," winter break reading program for children to keep their minds active and earn reading incentives, for grades K-6; through Jan. 11; Wai'anae Public Library; free; 697-7868.

O'ahu Family and Community Education Essay and Artwork Contest for fourth-graders; through Jan. 31; 455-2740.

Keiki storytime; 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays and 11 a.m. Saturdays (except Christmas and New Year's Day); Borders, Waikele; free; 676-6699.

Preschool craft & storytime; 11 a.m. Tuesdays and Saturdays (except Christmas and New Year's Day); Barnes & Noble, Kahala; free; 737-3323.

Preschool craft & storytime; 11 a.m. Tuesdays and Saturdays (except Christmas); 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 (except Christmas and New Year's Day); Honolulu Academy of Arts; free for children, included with $7 admission for parents; 532-8700.

Keiki storytime, stories, songs, sing-alongs and other activities; 10-10:30 a.m. Wednesdays; Kahuku Public & School Library; free; 293-8935.

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

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

Children's storytime; 3 p.m.; third Thursday of the month through May 2008; Kalihi-Palama Public Library; free; 832-3466.

Children's storytime, stories read aloud and simple crafts; 10 a.m. Saturdays; Waialua Public Library; free; 637-8286.

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.

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