A Treasure Chest of Beauty and Fun in ‘Sea Nasties’

“Sea Nasties,” a National Geographic Explorer presentation airing Sunday on TBS Superstation, is a family treat, thanks to terrific underwater photography and the comic talents of Leslie Nielsen.

This film about some of the more deadly creatures who scuttle, creep and lurk in the ocean, takes an offbeat look at such poisonous predators as jellyfish, anemones, stonefish and lion fish, while Nielsen, very much in his loopy “Naked Gun” mode, plays a terrified fount of misinformation, who’s set straight by a talking seashell.

The message is that although the critters are indisputably dangerous, their behavior is not nefarious premeditation, but part of nature’s plan for their survival.

That it’s a giggling good time doesn’t detract from the wonder of the underwater tour, featuring the remarkable filmography of Sea Studios (“Jellies and Other Ocean Drifters”).

* “Sea Nasties,” TBS, Sunday, 6 p.m.; repeats Monday, 9:05 p.m. and April 27, 7 a.m.

Whale Songs: Ocean life is central to a new book/audiocassette package, too. “The Birth of a Whale,” by John Archambault, illustrated by Janet Skiles with simplicity and accuracy, is a rhythmic poem about humpback whales in “the deep water dark,” where a 3-ton baby whale is born.

The songlike quality of Archambault’s simple, repetitive cadence lends itself well to the accompanying cassette, with Archambault narrating a read-along version on side one and singing the tale to David Plummer’s evocative music, on side two, with children. Also on the second side is Plummer’s engaging tune “Singing Whales.”

* “The Birth of a Whale,” Silver Press, ages 4-8. Book and cassette: $19.95. Book only: $14.95. (800) 848-9500.

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Going to the Faire: If you’re in the mood for festive family fare, this weekend offers quite a choice, from Riverside’s Sunkist Orange Blossom Festival to the 34th annual Renaissance Faire--not to mention The Times’ free Festival of Books gala for adults and children at UCLA’s Dickson Plaza on Saturday and Sunday.

You can pop back to 16th century England for feasting and frolics at the Renaissance Pleasure Faire, held at rustic Glen Helen Regional Park in Devore. A small sampling of what you’ll find there: jousting with the New Riders of the Golden Age, the Birds of Prey Falcons & Hawks Show, Middle Eastern music and dance troupe Hahbi Ru, West African music and dance with Jahkobah, storytelling and sea shanties with the Seadogs. Not to mention the period arts and crafts and oodles of Cornish pasties, shepherd’s pies, fish ‘n’ chips and New World delicacies.

Elephant rides are new this year, and each day adult and child winners of a “Pirates Costume Competition” will be chosen from among faire-goers wearing pirate attire.

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* Renaissance Pleasure Faire, Glen Helen Regional Park, Devore, northern junction of the I-15 and 215 highways. Saturdays and Sundays and Memorial Day, April 20-June 16, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Adults: $15-$17.50; children: $6.50-$7.50. Parking: $6-$10. (800) 52FAIRE.

Entertainment in Bloom: Travel forward in time to the Sunkist Orange Blossom Festival, where four stages of live entertainment offer treats for all ages, among them the pop group the Bottle Rockets, R&B; group Groove Therapy, country’s Heather Myles, plus jazz, Latin music, blues, bluegrass, Dixieland and folk. There’s also a “Superstars of Magic Show” and the big-top L.A. Circus, with trapeze artists, clowns and elephants. There are also antique automobiles, steam locomotives and, of course, lots of gastronomic delights of a citrusy nature.

* Sunkist Orange Blossom Festival, downtown Riverside, Mission Inn Ave., Saturday, 10 a.m.-dusk; Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free (except L.A. Circus, magic show, $5 each; and carnival rides ($12 for all-day access). (909) 715-3400, (800) 382-8202.

For information regarding the Festival of Books, call (800) LATIMES, ext. 7BOOK.