FAMILY BRIEFS

Filmfest keeps things short

From the story of a young Canadian hockey fan to a race between a one-eyed cat and a man to a documentary about an animal rescue shelter in New York, the University of Hawaii’s Kids First Film Festival has something for children everywhere.

The short live-action and animated features will be screened at 3 p.m. tomorrow at the university’s Art Auditorium on the Manoa campus.

The event is free and so is the parking.

The nine indie films, recommended for children 8 to 12, embrace universal themes of families and pets.

Here’s the lineup:

» "Alex and the Ghosts" (seven minutes)
» "The Great Race" (eight minutes)
» "El Salon Mexico" (13 minutes)
» "The Girl Who Cried Flowers" (25 minutes)
» "Parental Control" (six minutes)
» "Grandfather’s Journey" (10 minutes)
» "Alba" (nine minutes)
» "Legend of Ol’ Goldie" (eight minutes)
» "Paws and Whiskers" (10 minutes)

Service offers story-time relief

Have a young child who likes to hear the same story over and over and over again?

Barnes & Noble is offering a solution to parent fatigue with an online story time at its website, www.barnesandnoble.com/storytime/index.asp. The site features popular children’s books read by their authors or other celebrities, with an emphasis on the actual artwork of the book.

This month’s featured book is "Smash! Crash!" from Jon Scieszka’s Trucktown Series, colorfully illustrated by Loren Long. The story is geared toward ages 3 to 7.

Next month, check back for the kids’ classic "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day," by Judith Viorst and illustrated by Ray Cruz.

Last month’s title, "Fancy Nancy: Bonjour Butterfly," by Jane O’Connor, is still available at www.hsblinks.com/2ji. Search for "Fancy Nancy."