Aman Troupe to Open Family Series

Tickets are now available for the Music Center’s fifth annual performance series for families with children ages 4 to 11.

Sponsored by the Center’s Entertainment Council, the four-part series of professional theater, dance and music performances--plus a milk and cookie reception--begins with folk dances by the Aman Folk Ensemble on Jan. 18 in the Grand Hall of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

The rest of the series includes the Mark Taper Forum’s Improvisational Theatre Project’s theater piece revolving around the discovery of America, Arco Iris’ music of South America and a special presentation by the Los Angeles Music Center Opera. Tickets are $75 for the series. Information: (213) 972-7506.

Top Choice: Parents’ Choice, a national review of children’s media by parents, children, teachers, librarians and critics, has announced its annual award winners for the best in children’s books, toys, videos, rock ‘n’ roll, TV, audio recordings, computer programs and magazines.

Some of the 1991 winners:

Videos--ages 15 months-4 years: “More Pre-School Power,” Concept Video; ages 1-4: “Ella Jenkins/Live at the Smithsonian,” Smithsonian/Folkways; ages 5-9: “Jack & the Beanstalk,” Rabbit Ears Productions.

Rock ‘n’ Roll--ages 12-up: “Emotions,” Mariah Carey, Columbia; “New Moon Shine,” James Taylor, Columbia; “Jerry Garcia Band Live,” Jerry Garcia, Arista.

TV--”Dinosaurs,” ABC; “War in the Gulf: Answering Children’s Questions,” ABC; “We All Have Tales,” Showtime.

Audio Cassettes--ages 1-4: “Feel the Music,” Parachute Express, Walt Disney Records; ages 3-6: “Girls & Boys Come Out to Play,” The Barolk Folk, Music for Little People; ages 7-9: “Evergreen, Everblue,” Raffi, MCA Records.

Video Games--”Sesame Street Countdown,” Hi Tech Expressions (NES); “Ducktails,” Capcom (Game Boy); “Super Mario World,” Nintendo (Super NES).

A copy of the complete list of Parents’ Choice awards is available for by sending $3 to Parents’ Choice, Box 185, Newton, Mass. 02168.