KIDS/SNEAK PEEK : SLEEPING WITH CLASSIC CARS.

Byline: - Nancy Hewitt

Cruise the back alleys of Los Angeles in the Streetscape exhibition, create car crafts, share car stories, and take a flashlight tour of the vault when you sleep overnight at the Petersen Automotive Museum.

Kids age 5 and older, accompanied by their favorite adult, are invited to join the festivities from 7 p.m. Saturday until 8:30 a.m. Sunday. An evening snack and breakfast are included. Guests are asked to bring sleeping bags and air mattresses. Cost for museum members $40; nonmembers $50 at the Petersen Automotive Museum, 6060 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. Information: [phone].

Doggone good video

Come visit ZanyBrainy at 7 tonight and rediscover the enchantment of the two dogs that find love and adventure in the classic ``Lady and the Tramp.'' The Disney classic has been re-released for the first time in a decade.

ZanyBrainy is at Northgate Center, 111 S. Westlake Blvd., Suite 101, Thousand Oaks. Information: [phone].

Growwwwl!

Find out more about lions, tigers, jaguars, wolves, alligators and young grizzly bears from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Wildlife Waystation in the San Fernando Valley. The Waystation is one of Southern California's largest animal recovery and rehabilitation facilities and handles more than 4,000 animals yearly.

To be part of this private tour, call the Natural History Museum at [phone]. Cost for museum members $20; nonmembers $30. Children 7 and older can attend with an adult. The Waystation is at 14831 Little Tujunga Canyon Road in the Angeles National Forest.

Tales and celebrations

Honor famous characters such as Johnny Appleseed and celebrate the Jewish New Year during ``Apple Time Tales'' at 11 a.m. Saturday at Pages Books for Children and Young Adults Inc., 18399 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana. Information: [phone].

Making a splash

Arthur/illustrator Chris Raschka introduces his new picture book, ``Arlene Sardine,'' the story of a brisling that realizes her dream of growing up, being caught, sorted, iced, smoked and covered with olive oil, to finally become a sardine, at Pages Books in Tarzana from 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 24.

In his playful and lighthearted text, the author attempts to break taboos and seriousness to help kids ages 4 to 9 understand death in a straightforward and hopeful manner.

After the presentation, Raschka will autograph copies of his book at Pages Books for Children and Young Adults Inc., 18399 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana. Information: [phone].

Bear necessities

Each day, an insatiably curious 7-foot bear and his magical friends teach preschoolers about respect, friendship and other values on Jim Henson's ``Bear in the Big Blue House'' on the Disney Channel.

Because of the popularity of the show, Columbia TriStar Home Video, in agreement with Jim Henson Home Entertainment, is releasing two volumes of the show.

Each video contains two episodes. Volume 1 includes ``Home Is Where the Bear Is,'' which introduces viewers to Bear, his house and his friends; and ``What's in the Mail Today?'' about the different things that come in the mail, including cards, letters and magazines.

Volume 2 includes the episodes ``Friends for Life,'' where Bear and his pals learn what it means to be a friend; and ``The Big Little Visitor,'' where youngsters can learn how families live together, love each other and have fun together.

Suggested retail price for each video is $12.95, with running times for each approximately 50 minutes. Videos are now available at local retailers.

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Photo

Photo: Tutter the mouse, lemur Treelo and twin purple otters Pip and Pop join Bear in ``Bear in the Big Blue House,'' now available on video.