RIVERSIDE COUNTY

BARNES AND NOBLE, story time, 10 a.m. Mondays and 7 p.m. Thursdays, 3485 Tyler St., Riverside, (909) 358-0899.

BEREAN CHRISTIAN STORES, special preschool story time 10:30 a.m. Fridays, 3396 Tyler St., Riverside. Contact Eric Brown, (909) 688-1237.

CHILDREN'S MUSICAL, "Candy Cane Lane," 7:30 p.m. today, 5 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Palm Canyon Community Church, 25550 Ironwood Ave., Moreno Valley, reserve your free tickets, (909) 247-2273.

IMAGINE THAT! story hour for ages 3-7, 10 a.m. Saturdays, 5225 Canyon Crest Drive, Suite 13, Riverside, (909) 784-0132.

JURUPA MOUNTAINS CULTURAL CENTER, tours: Rock Collecting at the Dinosaurs 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and "Kids Fossil Shack," 10:30 a.m., both on Saturdays, $5 per class, children 3 years and younger free; the Earth Science Museum, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays; call for various programs offered during regular hours 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 7621 Granite Hill Drive, Rubidoux, (909) 685-5818.

KIDZONE MUSEUM, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays, $5, 123 S. Carmalita St., Hemet, (909) 765-1223.

LOUIS ROBIDOUX NATURE CENTER, free snake program at 1:30 p.m. Saturdays and "Scout Day," 8:30 a.m. every second Saturday of the month, $4, reservations required; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays, 5370 Riverview Drive, Rubidoux, admission free, (909) 683-4880.

RIVERSIDE MUNICIPAL MUSEUM'S NATURE LAB, features a collection of live animals and plants, including wildlife examples from the Riverside area, and a hands-on discovery center for youths and families, 2-4:30 p.m. Wednesdays and 1-3 p.m. Saturdays, 3580 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside, free (donations appreciated), (909) 826-5273.

RIVERSIDE PUBLIC LIBRARY, make-it and take-it craft week Monday through Friday; teddy bear tea, 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, 3581 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside, free, (909) 826-5201 or (909) 826-5369.

STORY TIME -- RIVERSIDE, 11 a.m. Tuesdays for preschool children, La Sierra Branch Library, 4600 La Sierra Ave., (909) 688-7740; 10 a.m. for toddlers, 11 a.m. for preschool children, both on Wednesdays, Main Library, 3581 Mission Inn Ave., (909) 826-5369.

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY

BARNES AND NOBLE, bookworm buddies, 1 p.m. Saturdays, 11090 Foothill Blvd., Rancho Cucamonga, (909) 980-5586 or (909) 980-0618.

FRUGAL FRIGATE, PJ story time, 8 p.m. last Friday of the month, reservations required; story times 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays and 10 a.m. Saturdays, 9 N. Sixth St., Redlands, (909) 793-0740.

INFANTS AND TODDLERS STORY TIME: SAN BERNARDINO, 10 a.m. every second Monday for infants and 10 a.m. every second and fourth Wednesday for toddlers, Grand Terrace Library, 22795A Barton Road, Grand Terrace, (909) 783-0147.

MARY VAGLE MUSEUM AND NATURE CENTER, "Lizards, Critters and Snakes" live animals, crafts and more, 2-5 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays, noon-5 p.m. Sundays, 11501 Cypress Ave., Fontana, donations accepted, (909) 428-8386.

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: SAN BERNARDINO, 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays; Children's Room at Norman F. Feldheym Central Library, 555 W. Sixth St., (909) 381-8235; 10:30 a.m. Thursdays at Dorothy Inghram Branch Library, 1505 W. Highland Ave., (909) 887-4494; 10:30 a.m. Thursdays at Howard M. Rowe Branch Library, 108 E. Marshall Blvd., (909) 883-3411; 10 a.m. every second and fourth Wednesday at Grand Terrace Branch Library, 22795A Barton Road, Grand Terrace, (909) 783-0147.

A SPECIAL PLACE, CHILDREN'S HANDS-ON MUSEUM, 1-5 p.m. Mondays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays, 1003 E. Highland Ave., San Bernardino, $2, groups of 15 or more $1.50 per person (reservations required), grandparents free first Saturday each month, (909) 881-1201.

ORANGE COUNTY

CHILDREN'S MUSEUM AT LA HABRA, "The Nutcracker" with the Jim Gamble puppets, 10:30 a.m. Saturday; hands-on fun with beginning math activities for preschool children, 2-3 p.m. Sunday; newest exhibit "Through the Storybook," through Jan. 20; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, 1-5 p.m. Sundays, 301 S. Euclid St., La Habra, children age 2 and older $4, reservations required for 15 or more, (562) 905-9793.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY

AUTRY MUSEUM OF WESTERN HERITAGE, Family night: Festival of Lights, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday; $7.50, children ages 12 and younger $3, seniors and students with ID, $5, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, (323) 667-2000. HUNTINGTON LIBRARY, discovery cart 1:30-3:30 p.m. Saturdays, nature crafts 1:30-3:30 p.m. every first Saturday, noon-4:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, $8.50, seniors $8, students $6, 12 and younger free, (626) 405-2141.

KIDSPACE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, "Music and Movement" ages 2-6, 2:30 p.m. and story time at 3 p.m. Tuesdays; 1-5 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays; 1-8 p.m. Thursdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays, 1-5 p.m. Sundays, 390 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena; ages 3 and older $5, seniors $3.50, ages 1-2 $2.50, (626) 449-9144.

PACIFIC ASIA MUSEUM, Pasko Sa Nayon, 1-4 p.m. Saturday, 46 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena, (626) 449-2742.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY

CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF SAN DIEGO, Delightful de Lempicka, 1:30 p.m. Fridays; toddler Tuesdays and Thursdays, for ages 1-4 at 10:15 a.m.; storytelling, 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, closed Sundays and Mondays; 200 W. Island Ave., San Diego, $6, seniors 65 and older $3, members and children younger than 3 free, (619) 233-8792.

QUAIL BOTANICAL GARDENS, guided tours for preschool children 10:30 a.m. first Tuesday of each month, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, , 230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas, $5, seniors $4, children 5-12 $2, 4 and younger free (free admission first Tuesday of each month), (760) 436-3036.