Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.

Wren's writing and artwork were inspired by her son,
Elijah Gabriel. She drew his portrait to illustrate his story,
told in her book, "my son, my sun."

Elijah’s legacy

Native Books pays tribute to
prolific author-illustrator Wren
with an exhibit and sale to
benefit her son

By Cynthia Oi
Star-Bulletin

When Wren died last September, she left artwork, a library of activity books and children's stories, and her son, Elijah Gabriel.

It is fitting that her legacy and life will be celebrated to benefit the boy, said her friend Maile Meyer.

"Her passion was Elijah," she said. "Her inspiration was Elijah."

Fine art, prints, handmade books, cards and other work will be displayed and sold starting tomorrow at Native Books on School Street.

Wren, born Renetta Paulette Auchinleck, was a prolific author, writing and illustrating dozens of children's books singly and with others. Her books were on the island best-seller lists for months at a time.

REMEMBERING WREN What: Exhibit and sale of books prints, fine art by Wren When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays, tomorrow through April 1 Where: Native Books, 1224 N. School St. Information: 845-8949 Reception: 5 to 8 p.m. tomorrow. Wren's favorite foods, eggplant parmesan and bagels, will be served. Works by Wren: "State of Hawaii Coloring Book," Bess Press; "Dot-to-Dot Hawaiian Style," Wren; "Kid Stuff Ocean Creatures," Mutual Publishing; "Keiki's First Books" series, with Maile Meyer, Bess Press; "Kid Stuff Series" with Dawn Goto, Mutual Publishing

Meyer, who owns Native Books and who wrote the "Keiki's First Books" series with Wren, said her friend always worked with her son in mind.

Elijah was born premature and suffered a number of illnesses early in life, Wren wrote in her book "my son, my sun." As he grew older, he was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder. Yet, when he was about 8 years old, he became a candidate for a gifted language arts program in school.

Meanwhile, Wren's health was failing. A diabetic and blind in one eye, she would sometimes lose consciousness despite caring for herself, Meyer said. Elijah was trained to call 911 when his mother needed help.

After one such incident, a well-meaning person alerted authorities about Wren and Elijah's situation, she said. A state agency placed the boy in a foster family, a move that wrecked Wren's spirit, Meyer said.

"They were two together, they were a family," she said.

In the last months of her life, Wren desperately fought to get Elijah back, but the child was kept from her, Meyer said.

"She died by herself, alone," she said. Wren was 43 years old.

Meyer said she put together the show and sale with Elijah in mind.

"Wren tried to teach him through her books that he was a champion, that he was part of the world, that there were wonderful things to learn," Meyer said.

"She deserves to be remembered, so we will celebrate her legacy," she said.

Elijah, 12, will be at the opening reception tomorrow.

"He will see who his mother was, that she was loved," Meyer said.

Click for online
calendars and events.