Every other year, Children's Literature Hawai'i celebrates with the public through a series of free workshops, lectures and festivities (for children and adults) highlighted by cream-of-the-crop authors and illustrators. Their next event takes place June 17 to 19 at the University of Hawai'i-Mānoa.

Featured guests are Caldecott medalist Brian Selznick, Newbery medalist Linda Sue Park, and Hawai'i's own debut young-adult novelist Shan Correa.

Three great books to read, or re-read, to make the most of the big event:

'THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET'

By Brian Selznick; Scholastic Press, ages 9 and up

The title that won the 2008 Caldecott Medal is about Hugo, a 12-year-old orphan, who lives in the walls of a Paris train station at the turn of the 20th century. Hugo maintains the station's clocks and steals what he needs to survive. An intricate story and highly unique book that feels like part novel, part picture book, and part film. A masterpiece that is truly suited for all ages.

'GAFF'

By Shan Correa; Peachtree Publishers, ages 10 and up

Hawai'i author Shan Correa makes her national debut with a winning middle-grade tale destined to become a local classic. The main character, 12-year-old Paul Silva, lives with his family on a Big Island farm, where they raise roosters for cockfighting. Paul is proud of the birds, but when he experiences his first cockfight, he is sickened by what he sees, and determined to start the family on a new path.

'A SINGLE SHARD'

By Linda Sue Park; Yearling, ages 9 and up

Over the years, followers of The Honolulu Advertiser's children's book reviews have read much about Linda Sue Park's work, from "Seesaw Girl" to "Project Mulberry." "A Single Shard," for which the author won the Newbery Medal, is about a young boy, his master, and a single shard from a celadon vase, set in 12th-century Korea.