KIDS / SNEAK PEEK : LET THE GOLD AWARDS BE YOUR GUIDE TO KID STUFF.

Last year, Dr. Pete Neumeyer read hundreds and hundreds of children's books so, now, you don't have to. He and a dozen other panelists for the National Association of Parenting Publications Awards (NAAPA) also purused videos, tested software and listened to CDs. A list of their picks for the best of children's entertainment and education will be printed in the December issue of L.A. Parent.

The magazine, available free in various stores, and similar publications nationwide have compiled the awards for the past six years. The issue serves as a sort of buying guide, and the comments from kid-stuff experts can help parents understand what makes for quality material.

``If it's a really good children's book, it speaks to adults as well,'' says Neumeyer, professor emeritus at San Diego State University and one of two literature judges. He also keeps an eye out for great art, crafty and intelligent lyrical work and meaningful subject matter.

The NAAPA Gold Award books include ``When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death'' and the whimsical ``A PIZZA the size of the SUN.'' For more guidance on which titles to pick up off the bookshelf, Neumeyer suggests you go to the library and ask the folks who know.

``I think children's librarians, just generically, are wonderful people,'' he says.

101 x 4 = With its Great Dane-size marketing campaign, you'd think the new Disney movie is called ``A Billion Zillion and One Dalmatians.'' They've even got four soundtracks out for the thing. Well, sort of. One tape contains fun sing-along ``Dalmatian'' songs and other doggy tunes, one tells the story of the evil dognapping plot on a read-along tape, and another read-along leaves out all the bad news and focuses on the puppies. But watch out for the actual ``soundtrack.'' Aside from a spunky version of ``Cruella DeVil'' by New Orleans blues legend Dr. John, the album could put the whole litter to sleep. Michael Kamen's solid orchestral musings may send kids skipping back to the first track over and over again. Or, better yet, replacing the CD with ``Mad About the Mouse,'' featuring the Lemonheads' remake of ``Cruella DeVil.''

Revenge of Snowflake, the gentle clown: Clowns don't have to be loud, obnoxious and in your face. Take Gale LaJoye, for example, a performer who brings the softer side of humor to a classy, wordless play called ``Castles in the Sky.'' The Canadian mime-master works with magic, shadows, music and special effects to tell a series of stories at 2 and 5 p.m. Sunday at UCLA's Schoenberg Hall. Tickets are $22 for adults, $11 for kids under 16 and $9 for full-time UCLA students. Call [phone] or [phone].