FAMILY : ‘Max’: Colorful, Tuneful Cartoon for Kids

Children’s Circle Home Video is a veritable treasure chest of quality entertainment, and one of the treasures is “Musical Max and Other Musical Stories.”

This colorful cartoon video features four varied stories with tuneful themes, sophisticated artwork and stylish animation. The title story, by Robert Kraus, is about a little hippo named Max who plays everything from the bagpipes to the tuba and practices diligently, to his neighbors’ dismay.

When Max decides he’s no longer in the mood to play, however, his neighbors discover that they miss his music. The story is narrated by Mary Beth Hurt, with a sunny score by Ernest Troost and vivid illustrations by Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey. Underneath the fun is a casual introduction to the sounds of many instruments.

The video also includes “Patrick,” a happy, touching tale written and illustrated by Quentin Blake, about a fiddler whose music brings color and joy to people, plants and animals; “Keeping House,” by Margaret Mahy with illustrations by Wendy Smith, about a messy nightclub performer who calls in a professional housecleaner with unexpected results; and “The Sad Story of Veronica Who Played the Violin,” David McKee’s wickedly funny story about a violin prodigy who misjudges her audience.

* “Musical Max and Other Musical Stories,” Children’s Circle Home Video, 37 minutes, ages 4 up, $14.95 plus shipping, (800) KIDS-VID.

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Get Creative: Political stealth artist Robbie Conal will kick off Barnsdall Art Park’s free family art workshop series, “Sunday Open Sunday,” with an “Art Attack” session Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. at Barnsdall’s Junior Arts Center. The theme is expressing feelings and social commentary through poster art. Participants are asked to bring photographs of favorite or least favorite personalities.

Other January workshops: “Book Arts” (Jan. 14), with artist Michael Massenburg at the Watts Towers Arts Center, 1727 E. 107th St. Students may bring photos and other memorabilia to create an autobiographical art book using collage. “Masks and Music” (Jan. 21), with artist-musician Enzo Fina at Farmers Market’s Art Gallery, 2nd floor, Third Street and Fairfax Avenue. “Silkscreen Fun” (Jan. 28), with artist Ramon Cisneros at the San Fernando Gardens Community Service Center, 10909 Lehigh Ave., Pacoima. Taught in English and Spanish, the workshop will explore silkscreen and color, using symbols of home.

The series is sponsored by Friends of the Junior Arts Center. Information: (213) 485-4474 or (213) 660-4254 TDD for the hearing-impaired.

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Art at Autry: Children can create a calendar illustrating their own western landscapes in “Western Book of Days,” the start of this year’s arts workshops at the Autry Museum of Western Heritage, held on the first Saturday of the month from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. The project was inspired by the museum’s visiting exhibition, “Independent Spirits: Women Painters of the American West, 1890-1945.”

On Feb. 3, children can create “Western Valentine Pop-Up Cards” and on March 2, in honor of Women’s History Month, participants will assemble a “Travel Journal,” like those kept by pioneer women on their difficult westward journeys. The workshops are free with museum admission; all materials are provided. Information: (213) 667-2000.