The 2013 Ka Palapala Poʻokela Awards gala is fast approaching (Friday, May 10), and to generate excitement for the event as well as educate the public on the nominees, we will continue our tradition of doing a countdown of posts, highlighting the books nominated for each awards category. Where applicable, I will link to book reviews from Hawaiʻi Book Blog.

For a complete list of all the nominees we’ve posted and for all the updated information on the event, please visit our dedicated Ka Palapala Poʻokela Awards page.

The first category we are spotlighting is Excellence in Children’s Literature. Recent winners in this category include Moon Mangoes and Kaimana Big & Strong.

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Books for children, including fiction and nonfiction.

A Coconut Named Bob
Austin Weaver, Don Robinson (illus.)
Island Heritage Publishing, 2012
28 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1617101700

Cacy & Kiara and the Curse of the Kiʻi
Roy Chang
Beach House Publishing, 2012
416 pages, Softcover
ISBN: 1-933067-47-0

Grandpa’s Mixed Up Lūʻau
Tammy Paikai, Don Robinson (illus.)
Island Heritage Publishing, 2012
28 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1617101748

Hawaiʻi’s Food Trucks on the Go!
Beth Greenway, Jamie Meckel Tablason (illus.)
Beach House Publishing, 2012
32 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 1-933067-48-9

Maka the Magic Music Maker
Shannon Scott, Holly Braffet (illus.)
Beach House Publishing, 2012
24 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 1-933067-49-7
HBB Review

The Magic ʻUkulele
Dr. Carolan & Aunty Kealoha, Joanna Carolan (illus.)
Banana Patch Press, 2012
32 pages, Hardbound
ISBN: 978-0980006315

Wordsworth! Stop the Bulldozer!
Frances H. Kakugawa, Andrew J. Catanzariti (illus.)
Watermark Publishing, 2012
36 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1935690306
HBB Review

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A nice selection of children’s books here.  Which one of these keiki books is your favorite; or your children’s favorite?  Let us know, we’d love to hear your comments!