To Clark, It’s ‘Kidstuff!’ : Ageless ‘Bandstand’ icon feels right at home talking to youngsters on breezy new video.

“Why’d the bubble gum cross the road? . . . Because it was stuck to the chicken’s foot.” (Uproarious laughter.)

The man laughing along with the hugely amused 5-year-old who just told that joke is Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member and notoriously ageless “American Bandstand” icon Dick Clark. The place is Clark’s new kidvid release, “Kidstuff! With Dick Clark,” a breezy Q&A; with a multicultural mix of bright young children who have plenty to say.

This bunch of 5-year-olds, all students of a Montessori school in suburban Los Angeles, doesn’t know how to dance the Twist, but they do know the Macarena. They want to be accountants, doctors and meteorologists when they grow up; they think that Lincoln is president, they have plenty to say about romance and, oh yes, they do know chicken jokes.

“You never knew where the conversations were going to go,” Clark said. “And then they all got off on the chicken stories. . . .”

Clark’s involvement with a project relating to a much younger group than the teenagers he’s been associated with for decades came about when he was talking to Shelley Frost, one of the producers of the “Babymugs!” video, which presented nonverbal images of infants for an infant audience. Frost serves as consulting producer on Clark’s video.

“We were talking about ‘Babymugs’ and we thought, why not the next step up, to kids who talk, and I related my love of Art Linkletter’s ‘Kids Say the Darndest Things,’ ” Clark said. “It’s an old, old idea that never wears out.”

Besides, in his “40 or 50 years of public life,” he noted, “I’ve always been very, very comfortable talking with people younger than I am--and now that I’ve reached the point where there aren’t many people who are older than I,” he joked, “it’s real easy to find younger ones.”

Clark said he didn’t have to change his approach at all.

“I just dealt with them like I dealt with teenagers all my life and found out you get the same response.”

Maybe not quite. At one point in the interview, Clark has definitely become one of the gang. The kids tease him and talk over his lines.

“They were all over me,” he said with a laugh. “That was the only time they got a little bit out of hand, and it was only because they were having fun. They certainly weren’t intimidated.”

In addition to its being light entertainment meant for all ages, Clark hopes the video, with its irrepressible, articulate subjects, will offer adults a positive view of the next generation.

* “Kidstuff!,” MVP Home Entertainment and dick clark productions, 30 minutes; $14.98. (800) 637-3555.

Dogs, Spiders and Dream Ships: It’s a big weekend at Storyopolis Bookstore and Gallery for the young, and young at heart. The Art Spiegelman “Open Me . . . I’m a Dog” event on Sunday (see Best Bets) will be preceded by a late-morning craft, story and book signing with Dean Morrissey, celebrating the sequel to his award-winning, beautifully illustrated “Ship of Dreams.”

On Saturday, “Miss Spider’s Car-Umba” will be held in honor of David Kirk’s new book starring his endearing arachnid, “Miss Spider’s New Car.” It will include a book signing, story hour and crafts.

* “Miss Spider’s Car-Umba,” Saturday, 11:30 a.m.; “Ship of Dreams,” Sunday, 11:30 a.m.; at Storyopolis, 116 N. Robertson, Plaza A, Los Angeles. Free, except for optional crafts, $6 fee. (310) 358-2000. Craft reservations: (310) 358-2512.