ANIMALS

SHEAR MADNESS

Spring is here, and that means one thing for the sheep at the Queens and Prospect Park zoos: It’s haircut time. Both zoos celebrate “Sheep-Shearing Weekend” with live country music, wool-based crafts, and demonstrations of carding and spinning wool. Queens Zoo: Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., 53-51 111th Street, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, 718-271-1500, $5 general, $1.25 seniors, $1 children ages 3 to 12, free for children under 3. Prospect Park Zoo: Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., 450 Flatbush Ave. at Empire Boulevard, Prospect Park, Brooklyn, 718-399-7339, $5 general, $1.25 seniors, $1 children ages 3 to 12, free for children under 3.

BOOKS

LAUGH AND LEARN

Actress Jenny McCarthy signs her new book, “Baby Laughs: The Naked Truth About the First Year of Mommyhood” (Penguin). Tomorrow, 1 p.m., Barnes & Noble Rockefeller Center, 600 Fifth Ave. at 48th Street, 212-765-0592, free.

MYSTERY SCRIBES

The Mystery Writers of America holds its annual Edgar Allan Poe Awards this week to honor the best mysteries of the year, from novels to television shows. The night before the awards, three of the nominated children’s authors gather at a bookstore to read from their stories. The participants are Zilpha Keatley Snyder, nominated for “The Unseen” (Delacorte); Marcus Sedgwick, nominated for “The Book of Dead Days” (Wendy Lamb Books), and Lee Weatherly, nominated for “Missing Abby” (David Fickling Books). Wednesday, 5-7 p.m., Books of Wonder, 18 W. 18th St., between Fifth and Sixth avenues, 212-989-3270, free.

METAMORPHOSIS

The author and illustrator of “A Boy and His Bunny” (Arcade), Sean Bryan and Tom Murphy, sign their children’s book about a tot who wakes up with a hare on his hair. Saturday, 11 a.m., Barnes & Noble Upper East Side, 240 E. 86th St. at Second Avenue, 212-794-1962, free.

FOOD & DRINK

ALL SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM

Eli’s Vinegar Factory presents an ice cream social with a sundae bar that boasts Zabar’s decadent flavors such as cheesecake and pecan pie. Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Eli’s Vinegar Factory, 431 E. 91st St., between First and York avenues, 212-987-0885.

GARDENING

PLANTS AND PLAY

The Queens Botanical Garden’s annual family gardening day features a scavenger hunt, T-shirt workshops, composting demonstrations, and a plant shop. The event, which takes the theme “Eco-tude,” encourages families to make small changes to foster clean air and water. The garden itself is in the middle of constructing a “green” design project that boasts three working roofs: one with photovoltaic panels to capture and use the sun’s energy, another to capture rain for water uses, and a green, planted roof that will be accessible to the public. Sunday, noon-5 p.m., Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main Street, Flushing, Queens, 718-886-3800, free.

MUSIC

CARIBBEAN TUNES

Trinidadian singer-songwriter Asheba performs a concert of Caribbean songs with “Putamayo Kids” from the ensemble Putamayo World Music. The concert is intended for children ages 4 and older. Saturday, 11 a.m., Symphony Space, Peter Jay Sharp Theatre, 2537 Broadway at 95th Street, 212-864-5400, $18 general, $14 members, $11 children.

CHINESE OPERA

The Chinese-American Arts Council performs a variety of traditional operas and dances from China. Children can also learn about the history of Chinese masks, face painting, and costumes. Saturday, 2:30 p.m., Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave. at St. Mark’s Avenue, 718-735-4400, $4 general, members free.

POETRY

SHEL GAME

A “Shelebration” of poet Shel Silverstein includes performances of his songs and reading of his poetry. Fans can bring their favorite Silverstein poem to read during an open-mic session. There’s also a slide show of his cartoons. Saturday, 11 a.m., Poets House, 72 Spring St., between Crosby and Lafayette streets, 212-431-7920, free.

TOUR

JEWISH HISTORY

A walking tour focuses on the Jewish community of colonial New York. The tour includes stops at the “Jewish Flagpole,” the former home of the city’s first kosher butcher, and a hands-on children’s program about everyday colonial toys and tools. Kosher refreshments are served. The tour is sponsored by the Lower East Side Conservancy. Wednesday, 11 a.m.- 1 p.m., meet in front of the Fraunces Tavern Museum, 54 Pearl St. at Broad Street, 212-374-4100, $8 in advance, $6 children in advance, $2 additional charge for tickets at the door.

WORKSHOPS

FAMILY CRAFTS

Contributors to “Family Fun: My Great Idea” (Disney Editions) lead a workshop of Mother’s Day crafts based on the collection of “creative parenting and problem solving ideas.” Saturday, 2 p.m., the BookMark Shoppe, 6906 Eleventh Ave. at Bay Ridge Avenue, Brooklyn, 718-680-3680, free.

CLAY TIME

Artist Michelle Sholtis leads a family workshop in clay sculpting. Saturday, 2-4 p.m., Rubin Museum of Art, 150 W. 17th St., between Sixth and Seventh avenues, 212-620-5000, free with museum admission, $7 general, $5 seniors and students, free for children under 12.

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.