Storybook Fund-Raiser for Library

No chicken broth. No black-tie froth. No parking sloth. Just stay home and read a book.

Such are the ingredients of the Stay Home and Read a Book Ball, a “novel” fund-raiser April 18 for the Los Angeles Library Assn.

That’s the date Carolyn Bennett, Chris Christopher Jr., Pamela Deuel, Helen Hartung and Marjorie Chen have set for book lovers to send in their donations to help the library encourage reading and writing among young people.

More than 15,000 youngsters citywide benefited last year from reading programs. Also, dozens of winners in the teen short story contest took home savings bonds made possible by the “ball.”

CAN’T MISS: Major tributes are in the offing. Ted Turner will be saluted on May 23 for his commitment to international understanding and world peace. The International Student Center at UCLA will present the Neil H. Jacoby International Award to Turner, president of Turner Broadcasting System Inc. and the founder of Cable News Network, at a dinner dance at the Regent Beverly Wilshire. . . .

The Bilingual Foundation of the Arts hosts its “Ole, Artes de Mexico” fund-raiser May 16 at the Biltmore Bowl, presenting the El Angel Award Andy Garcia (nominated for an Academy Award for best supporting actor for “Godfather III”) at a dinner hosted by Robert F. Erburu, Donald R. Beall and Byron Allumbaugh. . . .

The Constitutional Rights Foundation has chosen Ignacio Lozano, founder and editor-in-chief of La Opinion, for its 1991 Bill of Rights in Action Award to be given May 21 at the spring dinner at the Century Plaza. In addition, the CRF board, headed by Harry L. Usher, will give the Lloyd M. Smith Award to longtime board member Louis Colen.

ARABELLA AND PETER RABBIT: Plans are under way for the third Arabella Ball on June 8. The Junior Fellows of the Huntington Library in San Marino will be hosts. Gordon Pashgian will chair the event and Joe Regan will repeat as steering committee chairman. Promising surprises are committee members Julie Russell, Nancy Davis, Nancy Baxter, Tim Alders, Victoria Rogers, Laura Seaver, Susan Frost and Ann Mastain.

The formal ball will be a contrast to the frolicking performance of “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” by the Beatrix Potter Puppeteers (Lillian and Ken Cederquist) that the Fellows enjoyed just before Easter. Fellows and their families cavorted on the Huntington’s Art Gallery lawn, lucky ones finding golden eggs.

Infants were in abundance, assuring future egg-hunters: Wendy and John Siciliano brought Stephen, 4 months; Charles and Christy Bakaly had Kathryn, 5 months; Mindy and Bruce Byers had Porter, 2 months; Debbi and Randy Hoffman had Hailey, 3 months, and David and Michelle Yost had Trevor, 7 months.

GOLD GALA: Celebrating its 50th anniversary of community service, the Assistance League of Pasadena took over the Viennese Room of the Ritz-Carlton, Huntington Hotel for their “Hearts of Gold Gala,” planned by Mary Ann Grinnell.

SPRING’S BUSTING OUT: Five-hundred are expected for a play day for Friends of CalArts April 13. Karen and Bill Ahmanson, Mary Lou and George Boone, Toni and Bruce Corwin, Debra and Bob Egelston (Bob is CalArts board chair) and Jacqui and Lloyd Cotsen are expected to hop on luxury buses in Westwood or Pasadena for the trek to the Valencia campus.

It will be a day of picnic lunches from handmade souvenir baskets, opportunities to be onstage, be a TV weatherman, create your own cartoon character on the computer or dance with the African Dance Ensemble. At 3 p.m., CalArts faculty member Charlie Hayden leads the Liberation Band in a concert of his new jazz composition, “Dream Keeper.” . . .

Grammy winner Al Jarreau will perform with a jazz trio for Concern II’s “A Toast . . . to Life” April 27 at the Armand Hammer Museum in Westwood. Co-chairs Jerry Shapiro, Wendy Horwitch and Stephanie Rach expect to add to the $2 million Concern II has already raised for pediatric brain and tumor research. Dr. Stuart Siegel, hematology-oncology head at Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles, will be honored.

WITH THE ARCS: California Gov. Pete and First Lady Gayle Wilson, says chairman Lois Linkletter, will attend the ARCS Ball April 20 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire when Dr. Edward C. Stone Jr. becomes the ARCS Man of Science.

SWEET 16: Blair Rich, daughter of producer and Lorimar founder Lee Rich and his wife, Angela, celebrated her 16th birthday at Morton’s. In lieu of presents, she requested any gifts in her name go to the Steven Spielberg Pediatric Center at Cedars-Sinai or to the Los Angeles Mission for the homeless.

AIDS BENEFIT: Singers Edie Adams and Michael Feinstein hosted a fund-raiser at the Hollywood home of producer/director John Bowab to benefit the AIDS and Cancer Research Foundation. Proceeds from the $500 tickets will go for community-based testing of a new AIDS treatment developed with the help of the foundation.

KUDOS: To Austrian-born two-time Oscar-winning director Billy Wilder, who received Austria’s highest decoration--the Great Gold Cross of Merit--at a reception and dinner in Brentwood hosted by Austrian Consul Gen. Franz Cede. Among those attending: Billy’s wife, Audrey Wilder; George Kirgo; Arthur Hiller; Fred Schiller; Wolfgang Puck; Robert Wise, and Maria Schoenberg. . . .

To Cathy Tosetti, new president of the board of the Pasadena Day Nursery Guild. . . .

To Robert J. Leo and Robert W. Aldridge, new board members of GrandPeople (a nonprofit group serving seniors). . . .

To Gillian L. Nash, being honoring as United Way’s senior vice president, marketing and communications, next Thursday at United Way. . . .

To Ralph Mann, president of Glen Ivy Resorts, receiving the Spirit of Life Award from the Sportsmen’s Club, Diamond Circle and Medical Center Aides (all City of Hope supporters) April 13 at the Beverly Hilton. Paul Williams will entertain. . . .

To Tom and Patricia Bosley, to be named the Palm Springs City of Hope Man and Woman of the Year at a testimonial ball April 13 at the Marquis in Palm Springs. . . .

To Catherine Passarelli and Lillian Casady, presiding over the Children’s Service League Rainbow Luncheon at the Beverly Wilshire.

VALLEY LIGHTS: The Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks will be the setting Sunday when Geri Crystal and Erica Patterson chair a champagne brunch for the Braille Institute Auxiliary San Fernando Valley. . . .

The Valley League for Hathaway Children’s Services will take over the Van Nuys California National Guard Armory April 13 for a “A Monte Carlo Evening” of gaming and dancing chaired by Lori Singman.

ROMANCE: Art dealer Molly Barnes and perfume package designer Mauro Caputo, both of Beverly Hills, plan a fall wedding.

Mary Lou Loper’s column moves from Sundays to Thursdays.