KIDS/SNEAK PEEK : START 1999 ON THE RIGHT FOOT WITH NATURE WALK.

Byline: - Nancy Hewitt

It's a brand-new year and time to put those annual resolutions into play. Were any of your resolutions to spend more time with your children? Then, how about a glorious walk outdoors? Fresh air, exercise and quality time with the kids. And it's free.

Various walks are scheduled daily at 10 a.m. If you are interested in picnicking, learning about wildlife, plants or other creatures, there's sure to be a nature walk just for you.

Here are a few of the offerings through the Children's Nature Institute.

On Saturday, observe magic hides in a hollow tree at Topanga State Park. On Tuesday, travel the Los Robles Trail in Thousand Oaks and observe sage, butterflies and lots of trees. Then, on Thursday, visit Malibu Lagoon where you'll learn about sand and sea.

To participate in any of the walks, contact the Children's Nature Institute, 1440 Harvard St., Santa Monica. Information and reservations: [phone].

Historical figure

Actor Drew Wilson appears as Thomas Edison and shares his wit and wisdom about inventions of the past and future at 10 a.m. Saturday at Kidspace Museum.

After meeting Edison, check out an electric car, courtesy of Saturn of Monrovia, at 2 and 3 p.m.

Both events are free with museum admission. The museum is located at 390 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena. General admission is $5 for visitors age 3 and older. Information: [phone].

Build, build, build

Attention all builders. ZanyBrainy is looking for kids age 7 and older who want to turn their best ideas into building wonderful things using K'nex blocks at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The folks at the store will supply the K'nex, you supply the imagination.

Stores are found in Thousand Oaks at Northgate Center, 111 S. Westlake Blvd., Suite 101, [phone]; Pasadena, Hastings Village, 3393 E. Foothill Blvd., [phone]; Valencia, Town Center Drive, 24201 Valencia Blvd., [phone].

Animal antics

Wildlife on Wheels does a special presentation of ``The Mitten'' at 4 p.m. Thursday at the Valencia Library.

Youngsters age 5 through 12 are encouraged to attend and meet live animals from this popular story.

The library is located at 23743 Valencia Blvd., Valencia. Information: [phone].

Brave scout

Young readers ages 8 to 12 will enjoy the newest book in the ``Wishbone'' adventure collection, based on the Emmy and Peabody award-winning television series of the same name. Share the adventures of Wishbone, a well-read Jack Russell terrier, and his young owner, Joe Talbot, in the town of Oakdale, U.S.A.

This 16th novel in the series is called ``The Last of the Breed, '' based on James Fenimore Cooper's ``The Last of the Mohicans.''

While visiting Oakdale's Jackson Park, Wishbone and his pals meet real-estate developer Leon King, who is surveying the site for a new restaurant.

Wishbone and company decide that they must prevent King from destroying the beautiful environment. This conflict between nature and civilization leads Wishbone to imagine himself as Hawkeye, the brave scout from Cooper's classic adventure.

The book is available in January with a suggested retail price of $3.99. The series is published by Big Red Chair Books, a division of Lyrick Publishing. The author is Alexander Steele.