ENTERTAINMENT NEWS : Targeting a Younger Audience : Jessica Harper will perform at Pages Books. Her album of children’s music is an award-winner.

It’s become commonplace these days for established stars or groups to put out albums of children’s music. Such diverse artists as Little Richard, Los Lobos, Cheech Marin, Victoria Jackson and others have all done projects designed for the younger set. Now joining this ever-expanding group is actress Jessica Harper.

Harper, 45, will give a mini-concert for children 3 to 8 Aug. 5 at Pages Books in Tarzana. Her debut album, “A Wonderful Life,” a collection of original tunes, was released last fall and won a 1994 National Assn. of Parenting Publications Award.

Originally from Chicago, Harper scored her first professional success as an understudy in the Broadway production of “Hair.” She later made her screen debut in “Phantom of the Paradise” in 1974. Today, she lives in Sherman Oaks with her husband, Tom, and her two daughters.

Darlene Daniel, owner of Pages, was impressed by Harper when she first performed at the store last year. “Her ability to create a mood of sheer fantasy, with all the little children looking up at her,” Daniel says. “The children were enthralled.”

Harper’s screen credits include major roles in Woody Allen’s “Love and Death” (1975) and “Stardust Memories” (1980), “Pennies From Heaven” (1981) and “My Favorite Year” (1982). She won the 1991 Ace Award for best actress in a comedy series for her performance as Gary Shandling’s girlfriend in “It’s Gary Shandling’s Show.”

Although she’s best known for her acting, this was not Harper’s first venture into songwriting. Two of her tunes were recorded on albums by Bette Midler.

Jessica Harper will perform a mini-concert and autograph CDs for families with children 3 to 8 at 11 a.m. Aug. 5 at Pages, 18399 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana. $2 admission can be applied to the purchase of “A Wonderful Life.” Call (818) 34-BOOKS.

BY THE BOOK: Have you been looking for that hard-to-find item for the artist-in-training in the family? A new store in Canoga Park might be just the place for you.

Performing Arts Books, which describes itself as a full-service retail and mail-order bookstore dedicated to the performing arts, opened July 14. It offers books, videos, tapes, CDs, records, software, magazines and gifts, all related to the performing arts.

Owners Larry and Emyna Bryant are not strangers to this stuff. They’re both performers. Larry is an actor and voice-over artist, and Emyna is a singer-musician. They started the store because of their own frustration while searching for books on music.

Emyna Bryant says that though there are stores that specialize in music and others that specialize in acting, Los Angeles does not have a store that offers the broad range of materials that her store will.

“We plan to serve the performing artist in Los Angeles,” she says. “And also, those in smaller cities where there might not be a large bookstore.” The store will offer catalogues for a number of artistic categories plus a toll-free phone order service. The Bryants also “want to help teachers integrate the performing arts into their curriculums,” Emyna says.

The store also plans to sponsor workshops, seminars and other performing arts programs.

Performing Arts Books, 7251 Owensmouth Ave., Canoga Park. (818) 703-7311 or toll-free (800) 900-3949.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Probably in the Valley. Joining the list of veteran entertainers that have performed here this summer is the 1960s rock band Blood, Sweat and Tears, with lead singer David Clayton Thomas.

The band, which incorporated jazzy horn arrangements into a pop/rock format, will be performing Sunday at the Starlight Bowl in Burbank.

Hits by BST include “And When I Die,” “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy,” “Spinning Wheel” and “God Bless the Child.”

Blood, Sweat and Tears performs in concert at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the Starlight Bowl, 1249 Lockheed View Drive, Burbank. Tickets are $1 general, free for children under 5. Parking is $2. Call (818) 238-5320.