ART

HOW ARTISTS WORK

“Through Kids’ Eyes: Exploring the Creative Process” features interactive paintings and sculptures that children can touch, hear, and even smell. Curator Cheryl McGinnis collaborated with artists including Mary Ting, who contributed a Chinese cut paper installation; Margaret Evangeline, who works with aluminum; and Tony Gonzales, who made photographic three-dimensional Banyan trees. Each work is accompanied by companion pieces that explain the artist’s inspiration and the steps they took to create the piece. Several artworks even allow viewers to add their own contributions. The exhibit is a production of the Flushing Council on Culture and the Arts. Opens: Thursday. Runs: Through Thursday, June 12, open daily, noon-5 p.m., Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Boulevard at Linden Place, Flushing, Queens, 718-463-7700 ext. 222, free.

HANDS-ON SURREALISM

After a guided tour of the National Academy Museum’s exhibit “Surrealism USA,” children ages 6 and older and their families can create their own dream-like paintings. Saturday, 1-3 p.m., National Academy Museum, 1083 Fifth Ave. at 89th Street, 212-369-4880 ext. 225, $6, reservations suggested.

BENEFITS

HAMPTONS MUSEUM

The Children’s Museum of the East End, which will open in October, holds its first New York City gala. NBC anchor Brian Williams emcees an auction featuring items such as the chance to hold a private party at the new museum in the Hamptons. Felicia Taylor and Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer are co-chairwomen. Tomorrow, 6:30 p.m. cocktails, 7:30 p.m. dinner and auction, Cipriani, 200 Fifth Ave. at 23rd Street, 631-537-8250, $500 general, $350 attendees age 35 and under.

JAZZ FOR JUNIOR

The Essentially Ellington Alumni Musicians perform at a family benefit for Jazz at Lincoln Center. The Latin-themed “Mambo Madness!” features a southern-style menu, jam sessions with professionals, percussion workshops, maraca decorating, and a live auction of instruments signed by celebrity per formers. Sunday, 2:30-5 p.m., Blue Smoke/Jazz Standard, 116 E. 27th St., between Lexington and Park avenues, 212-258-9961, $200 general, $75 children, $500 four tickets.

BOOKS

AMAZING MAZES

New York illustrator Roxie Munro signs her new children’s book “Amazement Park” (Chronicle Books). The collection of mazes includes a roller coaster, enchanted castle, and pirate’s lair. Saturday, noon, Barnes & Noble Park Slope, 267 Seventh Ave. at 6th Street, Brooklyn, 718-832-9066, free.

COOL CAT

Carol Friedman reads her children’s book “Nicky the Jazz Cat” (Dominick Books), about a kitten who makes friends with a trumpeter. The illustrations include photographs of jazz greats Roy Eldridge, Quincy Jones, Lena Horne, Gerry Mulligan, Abbey Lincoln, and Lionel Hampton. Saturday, 1 p.m., Borders Books Time-Warner Center, 10 Columbus Circle, Broadway at 59th Street, 212-823-9775, free.

MUSIC

THEY’VE GOT THE BEAT

The “Kids Classics” series of family concerts offers a recital focusing on percussion instruments. Jim Blanton and his orchestra introduce such musical ideas as rhythm, pitch, and dynamics. At a preconcert activity session, children can make their own instruments (2 p.m.). Sunday, 3 p.m., Queens College, LeFrak Concert Hall, Kissena Boulevard at 64th Avenue, Queens, 718-793-8080, $12.

PASSOVER

HOT DISH

The klezmer band Yale Strom & Hot Pstromi perform at benefit for the Westside Yiddish Cultural School. A reception with shule children and families follows. Saturday, 3-5 p.m., New York Society for Ethical Culture, 2 W. 64th St. at Central Park West, 212-781-9192, $15 general, $10 members and children, $2 discount with advance reservations.

ROOSTER ROCK

Jonathan Bayer and the Acoustic Roosters perform a Passover rock concert for families. Mr. Bayer, a musician and storyteller, combines traditional American folk songs and his own original tunes. His latest recording is “Pharaoh’s Bad Day.” Sunday, 2 p.m., the Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Ave. at 92nd Street, 212-423-3337, $12.

PARENTING

READING RAINBOW

A former commissioner of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, Henry Stern, moderates a panel discussion on how children learn to read. The discussion focuses on techniques used in New York City public schools, including the “whole word” method and the traditional phonics approach. Participants include a reading consultant for the New York City De partment of Education, Eileen Marzola; the department’s director of literacy, Medea McEvoy; Yale pediatrics professor and author of “Overcoming Dyslexia” (Knopf), Sally Shaywitz, and journalist and public school parent Sol Stern. Tonight, 6:30 p.m., Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Ave., between 103rd and 104th streets, 212-534-1672 ext. 3393, $10 general, $6 seniors, members, and students, reservations required.

MOTHERS’ MADNESS

The author of “Perfect Madness” (Riverhead), Judith Warner, discusses the trend of over-parenting and how mothers can better balance work and home life. The “Life’s Work” columnist for the New York Times, Lisa Belkin, moderates the discussion, which is titled “The Mommy Trap: Myth or Reality?” Wednesday, 7-8:30 p.m., New School, Tishman Auditorium, 66 W. 12th St., between Fifth and Sixth avenues, 800-698-1870, $25.

TEENAGE WASTELAND?

Three contributors to Faith Conlon and Gail Hudson’s “I Wanna Be Sedated: 30 Writers on Parenting Teenagers” (Seal Press), Susan Hodara, Rebecca Boucher, and Helen Klein discuss the book. Saturday, 3 p.m., Borders Books Kips Bay, 550 Second Ave. at 32nd Street, 212-685-3938, free.

THEATER

SMALL TOWN

Inside Broadway’s new 50-minute version of the 1944 musical “On the Town,” complete with contemporary dialogue and musical arrangements, is intended to appeal to young audiences. Saturdays, April 16, April 23, and May 7, 10:30 a.m., Lucille Lortel Theatre, 121 Christopher St., between Hudson and Bleecker streets, 212-279-4200, $15.

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