Maui Author Neal, Read Aloud Offer Literary Event

Toby Neal courtesy photo.

Maui author Toby Neal will collaborate with Read Aloud America for a book signing and keiki story time event on Sunday, April 3, 2016, from 2 to 4 p.m.at Barnes and Noble Booksellers in Lahaina.

Neal is the local author of the best selling “Lei Crime Series”—11 books considered to be “unforgettable, riveting, authentic Hawai‘i page-turners,” according to reviews.

The “Lei Crime Series” follows the bumpy career and love life of a complicated heroine, Lei Texeira.

“No one can read just one!” a reviewer said.

Neal has co-authored with 10 authors of Hawai‘i mysteries: Paradise, Passion, Murder: 10 Tales of Mystery from Hawai‘i.

Toby Neal courtesy photo.

Royalties from sales of this title are going directly to Read Aloud America, a Hawai‘i nonprofit dedicated to improving family literacy. This charity project is the end result of nearly two years of preparation and work.

“Schools have been trying to engage parents for generations,” said Jed Gaines, founder and president of Read Aloud America.”The Read Aloud America program does that. Attendance figures gathered since 1999 show the Read Aloud America Program has served over 337,000 adults and children at 90 Hawai‘i public schools. It has become the largest and most effective family literacy program in America.”

Read Aloud America has held programs at every school in Maui County and will offer nine programs a year at Hāna School as part of the 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant program.

Pending future funding, programs will continue to be offered at Maui County schools.

As part of this book-signing event, Joanne and Larry Laird, program directors for the Read Aloud America Program, will offer Keiki Story Time beginging at 2 p.m.. The 30-minute story time is geared for children ages pre-kindergarten through second grade and will feature popular Hawai‘i-themed children’s picture books.

There will be healthy snacks for the children and at the conclusion of the read-aloud session, each child will be able to select a new book from the Read Aloud America library to take home.

There will also be drawings for door prizes for every child.

A parent or caregiver must accompany all children.

“This collaboration with Read Aloud America, Toby Neal and Barnes and Noble Booksellers, Lahaina, is a ‘win-win’ for the people of Maui,” said the Lairds. “Bring the keiki to see and hear popular children’s stories and meet best-selling local author Toby Neal and help to support family literacy on Maui.”

For more information, contact Joanne Laird at [email protected].