Still embarrassed, but still laughing, about the old Saturday Night Live bit with Tim Meadows as a camp counselor, herding the little black kids onto the bus? "Noxema, Chlamydia, Trojan, let's go!" he said, launching into a memorable and controversial roster that ridiculed so-called "ethnic" names. Don't let your kids catch you giggling over Bogna, Thi Lien, Olia, Levi and Erdene at the new cross-cultural children's exhibit opening May 24 at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, 1501 Montgomery St. That would dilute the message of common ground in the diversity of our global village, wouldn't it? Stifle it, if you can, and enjoy Children Just Like Me, an interactive show with three-dimensional vignettes introducing 11 children from around the world, their cultures and environments. Skewed for the 4 to 12 age group and parents, multisensory activities explore languages, food, games, pets and clothing. Museum admission ($7 for adults and $5 for children) covers this exhibit, open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday. Call 817-255-9300. --Annabelle Massey Helber
5/24
Laura for Literacy
On this, everyone can agree with Dallas Mayor Laura Miller. She's kicking off the Summer Reading Program at the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library. Young readers can sign up in the Children's Center, branch library locations or through Library on Wheels. The big finish is an August 16 awards/recognition party. Call 214-670-1671. --Carlton Stowers
5/24
It's Raining Fun
A man with whom I graduated college chases tornadoes in Oklahoma for a living. If you, like he, want to seek death, more power to you. Me, when I need a weather fix, I buckle my family up tightly in the SUV and drive at 48 mph to The Science Place in Fair Park and check out its "weather wonders" exhibit. There, you can make a pet tornado. It's true. I don't make this up. Family Day for "weather wonders" is Saturday. Call 214-428-5555. --Eric Celeste
5/23
A-Maze-Ing!
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Jem and the Holograms. Remember those merchandising dynamos? You may, but your young ones certainly don't, considering the trends have gone the way of our subject in terms of kiddie pop-culture relevance. Our subject: the dinosaur. Kids love 'em...Why? Who cares as long as it keeps them busy, right? Well, the Dallas Museum of Natural History has a treat, as Dino-Maze begins Friday. And go figure: It's a big maze about dinosaurs. A quiz follows the adventure, with ratings like "Bronto Brain" and "Dino-Dude" on tap, which sounds rather lame(asaurus), but hey, this one's for the children. The Museum of Natural History is located at 3535 Grand Ave., and specifics can be found at 214-421-DINO. --Matt Hursh
