ANIMALS

ZOO YORK The Bronx Zoo celebrates Valentine’s Day with two-for-one admission. Visitors can learn about mating habits of crocodiles and see snow leopards during their peak breeding season. Saturday-Monday, February 14, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Bronx Zoo, Bronx River Parkway and Fordham Road, Bronx, 718-367-1010, regular admission is $10 general, $7 children and seniors.

ART

FAMILY PORTRAITS El Museo del Barrio opens its doors to the public for a day of free family activities. The exhibit “Retratos: 2,000 Years of Latin American Portraits,” which includes more than 100 portraits from 15 countries, is the day’s focus. Visitors can create their own family portrait using period costumes inspired by the exhibit. Saturday, noon-4 p.m., El Museo del Barrio, 1230 Fifth Ave. at 104th Street, 212-831-7272, free.

BENEFIT

CHARITY FOR CHILDREN The acrobatic dance group AntiGravity performs at a benefit dinner for the Children’s Museum of the Arts. Kelly Ripa is the honorary chairwoman of “Artwork and Antics,” which benefits the museum’s educational arts programs. Thursday, February 17, 6:30-9:30 p.m., National Arts Club, 15 Gramercy Park South, between Irving Place and Gramercy Park West, 212-274-0986 ext. 11, $250.

BOOKS

LITTLE LIT Illustrator Tomie dePaola will accept a lifetime achievement award from Child magazine honoring the best in children’s books. He will also sign copies of his latest book, “Stagestruck” (Tommy), along with other authors and illustrators who will be present. That long list includes Jules Feiffer, Sonia Manzano (Sonia on “Sesame Street”), Mo Willems, Linda Sue Park, Mary Ann Hoberman, and Simms Taback. Thursday, 7 p.m., Barnes & Noble Union Square, 33 E. 17th St. at Broadway, 212-253-0810, free.

NEW YORK CITY GIRL Carol Weston signs her most recent “Melanie Martin” book for ‘tween readers, “Melanie in Manhattan” (Yearling). Thursday, 6 p.m., Corner Bookstore, 1313 Madison Ave. at 93rd Street, 212-831-3554, free.

FILM

WILD WORLD “Fantasia 2000” (1999) is an updated version of the old cartoon classic. Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” accompanies a 1930s New York scene illustrated in the style of Al Hirschfeld and Shostakovich plays during Hans Christian Andersen’s story “The Steadfast Tin Soldier.” James Levine conducts the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on the score, and introductions are provided by James Earl Jones, Itzhak Perlman, and Bette Midler. Saturday, 11 a.m., Brooklyn Public Library, Central Library, Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, 718-230-2100, free.

MAGIC

KEN THE MAGNIFICENT “The Amazing Ken” presents a magic show for the kindergarten set at a Brooklyn coffee shop. A live goldfish and rabbit, balloon animals, and magically multiplying cookies are among the very special guests. Wednesday, 4 p.m., Vox Pop, 1022 Cortelyou Road, Brooklyn, 718-940-2084, free.

MUSIC

BAGEL BRUNCH Families can listen to live klezmer music while they enjoy a brunch of bagels, lox, juice, and coffee. Sunday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Tribeca Hebrew, 67 Hudson St. at Jay Street, 212-608-0555, $15 general, $30 for family, $5 children, reservations recommended.

LITTLE DRUMMER BOYS AND GIRLS The New York Art Ensemble presents a concert for preschool children, young teenagers, and everyone in between. Musicians will perform new American music and interact with children in the audience, who will be given percussion instruments and glow-in-the-dark bracelets. Composer Preston Stahly hosts the event and creates live music on the spot with Garage-Band, a new Apple computer program. Sunday, 4 p.m., Unitarian Church of All Souls, Lexington Avenue at 80th Street, 212-234-4325, $10, reservations recommended.

PARENTING

TEEN SCREAMS The director and founder of the NYU Child Study Center, Harold Koplewicz, gives a talk offering advice to parents of moody teenagers – specifically, “What makes them so difficult to live with?” Tomorrow, 7-9 p.m., the Churchill Center, 301 E. 29th St. at Second Avenue, 212-722-0610, $40.

TOUR

INSIDE THE MUSEUM The director of collections at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Beth Alberty, leads a tour focusing on the 19th-century building’s architecture. The Municipal Art Society “Space and Kids” tour includes a look at the original brownstone building and a discussion of a new addition being planned by Rafael Vinoly Architects. Today, 11 a.m., meet in the lobby of the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave. at St. Mark’s Avenue, Crown Heights, Brooklyn, 212-439-1049, $12 general, $10 members.

VALENTINE’S DAY

LAVENDER LOVE Families can make sweet-smelling lavender herbal sachets and unique Valentine’s Day cards at a workshop in Brooklyn. Saturday, 1-3 p.m., Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum, 5816 Clarendon Road, Brooklyn, 718-629-5400, $4 each person, reservations required.

SAILORS’ SMOOCHES Landlubbers can find out about the history of sailor Valentines at a family program this weekend. Children can make homemade cards of their own, too. Saturday, 1-4 p.m., South Street Seaport Museum, 12 Fulton St., between Front and South streets, 212-748-8758, free with museum admission, $8 general, $6 seniors and students, $4 children ages 5 to 12, free for members and children under 5.

To submit an event for consideration for the Calendar, please wire the particulars to calendar@nysun.com, placing the date of the event in the subject line.