ANIMALS

PRAIRIE DOG PREDICTIONS Getting a leg up on Punxsutawney Phil, the Queens Zoo trots out its prairie dogs this weekend, Flushing Meadows Phil and Corona Kate, to predict when spring will arrive. Visitors for Grounddog’s Weekend can make prairie-dog crafts and weather instruments, and learn how to make meteorological forecasts using their new tools. Saturday and Sunday, 1-4 p.m., Queens Zoo, 53-51 111th St., between 53rd and 54th avenues, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, 718-271-1500, $5 general, $1.25 seniors, $1 children between ages 3 and 12, free for children under 3.

HIP-HOP HOORAY About 200 live frogs are on display in the exhibit “Frogs: A Chorus of Colors,” which closes this Sunday. More than 25 species are featured, from the less than 1-inch-long golden mantella to the giant African bullfrog. The “dart poison frog vivarium” houses 75 venemous frogs. Through Sunday, 10 a.m.-5:45 p.m. daily, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, 212-769-5200 for reservations, $19 general, $14 seniors and students, $11 children. Note: Entrance to the exhibit is timed.

BENEFITS

FIRST BOOKS Actors including Cynthia Nixon, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Kristen Johnston, Justin Theroux, Sam Rockwell, Bob Balaban, Martha Plimpton, and Parker Posey read from classic works of children’s literature by authors such as Mark Twain, Dr. Seuss, and Roald Dahl at a benefit for the Brooklyn writing lab 826NYC. Eric Bogosian hosts the evening, which also includes readings of works by “grown-up” authors Jonathan Safran Foer, Nick Hornby, Neil Gaiman, and George Saunders. Tonight, 8 p.m., Tonic, 107 Norfolk St., between Delancey and Rivington streets, 718-499-9884, $50 general, $100 tickets include priority seating, drinks, and a signed book including copies of the works to be read.

BOOKS

DOG DAY Maya Gottfried reads her illustrated book “Good Dog” (Knopf), which gives voice through poetry to 16 different pups. Tomorrow, 6 p.m., Corner Bookstore, 1313 Madison Ave. at 93rd Street, 212-831-3554, free.

BEDTIME STORIES The Brooklyn Public Library kicks off the Ezra Jack Keats Bedtime Storytelling Hour, a new monthly series, this week. Children can wear their pajamas and bring a stuffed animal for a cozy session of songs and stories. Each attendee will receive a book by Keats, who wrote children’s classics including “The Snowy Day” and “Peter’s Chair.” Thursday, 7:30 p.m., Brooklyn Public Library, Central Library Youth Wing, Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, 718-230-2117, free.

CAMPS

NOTES ON CAMP Parents and caregivers of children and teenagers with disabilities can plan ahead for summer at the Special Camp Fair this weekend. Representatives from more than 70 area camps offer information about planning for a fun sum mer. Spanish and sign language interpreters will be available. Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Church of St. Paul the Apostle, 405 W. 59th St., 212-677-4650, free.

CARTOONS

SPINACH ON SCREEN The multimedia exhibit “Well, Blow Me Down!,” which closes this weekend, celebrates the 75th anniversary of the wily cartoon sailor Popeye. It includes theatrical shorts, comic strips, toys, television and radio programs, newspapers, and other artifacts from Popeye’s history. Through Sunday, tomorrow, Wednesday, and Friday-Sunday, noon-6 p.m., Thursday, noon-8 p.m., Museum of Television & Radio, 25 W. 52nd St., between Fifth and Sixth avenues, 212-621-6800, $10 general, $8 seniors and students, $5 children under 14.

DANCE

YOUTH MOVES Dance Theater Workshop presents a performance of dances by “very young” choreographers. The program includes nine solo dances by choreographers between ages 8 and 17. Saturdays, January 29 and February 5, 2 p.m., Dance Theater Workshop, 219 W. 19th St., between Seventh and Eighth avenues, 212-924-0077, $20 general, $10 children.

HEALTH

EATING WELL Nutrition counselor Lisa Shaken discusses how parents can protect their children from obesity from their toddler to teen years. Children are welcome at the lecture, which includes samples of some of the healthy foods to be discussed. Wednesday, 3-4 p.m., Jewish Community Center in Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Ave. at 76th Street, 646-505-5708, $20, reservations required.

SCHOOLS

PRESCHOOL PREPARATION A selection of the preschools and daycare centers below Canal Street will participate in tonight’s Downtown Preschool Fair. Schools such as Washington Market Preschool, FedKids Early Childhood Center, and the Church Street School will give brief presentations, and then parents can browse information and chat with school representatives. Tonight, 7:30-9 p.m., Stuyvesant High School, 345 Chambers St. at North End Avenue, 212-786-9306, free.

SHOCKING SCHOOLS Yvonne Singleton Davis reads from and discusses her book “Teachers Under Siege: Abuse, Alcohol, Sex, Drugs and Murder at the Middle School Level” (Authorhouse), in which she shares the strategies that helped her get through 15 harrowing years of teaching in urban public schools. Friday, 6 p.m., Hue-Man Bookstore, 2319 Frederick Douglass Boulevard at 125th Street, 212-665-7400, free.

STYLE

FASHION FOR A CAUSE The Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club puts on a fashion show featuring ensembles designed and hand-made by students at the Katherine Gibbs School. The theme is “Winter’s Dream” and styles range from ball gowns to ski suits. The club’s “K Company” dance troupe struts their stuff at the show, with proceeds going to help to the club perform in Puerto Rico. Saturday, 8 p.m., Sunday, 5 p.m., Kips Bay Boys & Club, Lucille Palmaro Clubhouse Auditorium, 1930 Randall Ave. at White Plains Road, Bronx, 718-893-8600 ext. 248, $12.

THEATER

ANGELS IN SONG The family musical “A Band of Angels,” based on a book by Deborah Hopkinson, tells the story of the Jubilee Singers, an all-black choir formed by freed slaves at Fisk University in 1867. The play is a production of Making Books Sing, which turns children’s books into staged musicals. Beginning Monday, January 31, it will be performed in the Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn. Bronx: January 31-February 4, 10:30 a.m., February 5, 2 p.m., Lehman College, Lovinger Theater, 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, between Paul and Goulden avenues, Bronx. Queens: February 10 and 11, 10:30 a.m., February 12, 2 p.m., York College Performing Arts Center, 94-45 Guy R. Brewer Boulevard, between Liberty and Archer avenues, Jamaica, Queens. Brooklyn: February 14-18, 10:30 a.m., February 17, 7 p.m., Kingsborough Community College, Goldstein Theatre, 2001 Oriental Boulevard, between Quentin Street and Decatur Avenue, Brooklyn. All performances: 212-573-8791 ext. 242, $18.

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