Ellerbee to Talk to Kids About Riots

What do children think about the Los Angeles riots? Linda Ellerbee will ask them at 8 tonight in a half-hour special, “A Dream on Fire,” on the Nickelodeon cable channel.

Children from white, black and Korean communities in Los Angeles will share their experiences of the violence last week with other youngsters from New York, where the program was taped Tuesday. The participants range in age from 9 to 12 and will exchange opinions on civil rights, the legal system and life in the inner city.

“I hope this special will help our kids make sense of this tragedy, as well as spark a dialogue in the home about the issues of racism and justice,” said Geraldine Laybourne, president of Nickelodeon.