Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with illustrator Kathleen Kemly and "Shannon and the World’s Tallest Leprechaun" Tuesday, 17 March at 7 p.m.

This event will be held at Secret Garden Books located on Northwest Market Street.

Shannon is a stepdancer with a broken shoe. How can she ever win the Saint Patrick's Day stepdancing contest? Enter Liam, the world's tallest leprechaun. A leprechaun grants wishes, right? But Liam not only doesn't look like a leprechaun, he grants wishes in his own unusual way.

Secret Garden is offering treats, clovers to search for, gold coins to find at the end of a rainbow, and Irish Line Dancers from Tara Academy to entertain.

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Author of "Cape Disappointment" Earl Emerson will read from his book Wednesday, March 18 at the Ballard Library.

"In this extraordinary and long-awaited new thriller, Seattle private eye Thomas Black returns after more than a decade, and he must put together the shattered fragments of his life. His country depends on it."

Earl Emerson is a lieutenant in the Seattle Fire Department.

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Portland author Benjamin Parzybok will read from his book "Couch" at the Ballard Library March 19, 6:30 p.m.

"Couch" is Parzybok's debut novel about a freak flood that evicts three unlikely roommates from their apartment, forcing them to get up off the couch and start carrying it.

Benjamin Parzybok is the creator of "Gumball Poetry," a poetry journal published through gumball machines, and the "Black Magic Insurance Agency," a citywide treasure hunt.

Parzybok will read from his new book, answer fan questions, and autograph copies of the books.
Secret Garden Books

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Author Laurie Halse Anderson will read from her book "Wintergirls," at the Ballard Library Tuesday, March 24 at 6:30 p.m.

According to the sponsors of the reading, Secret Garden Books, "Wintergirls" is the "haunting story of a friendship frozen between life and death. Lia and Cassie are best friends, wintergirls frozen in matchstick bodies, competitors in a deadly contest to see who can be the skinniest. But what comes after size zero and size double-zero?

When Cassie succumbs to the demons within, Lia feels she is being haunted by her friend’s restless spirit. In her most emotionally wrenching, lyrically written book since Speak (2009 marks ten years since its’ publication), Laurie Halse Anderson explores Lia’s descent into the powerful vortex of anorexia, and her painful path toward recovery."

Halse Anderson is the author of the multiple-award-winning and New York Times best-selling novel "Speak," as well as "Catalyst," "Prom," and "Twisted." She is the recipient of the prestigious ALAN Award for 2008, which honors those who have made outstanding contributions to the field of adolescent literature.

The author will read from her new book, answer fan questions, and autograph copies of the books available for sale at the event.

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Tuesday, March 31, 7 p.m. at Secret Garden Books, welcome author of "Boo Hoo Bird" Jeremy Tankard.

On what the bookshop calls "Ultimate Tuesdays." It's a story time where the reader is the author or the illustrator.

Also that night at the Ballard Library at 6:30 p.m., Knute "Skip" Berger, will read from his book about Seattle, "Pugetopolis."

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Other upcoming events:

April 2, Meet Lisa Lutz, with "Revenge of the Spellmans!" (Ballard Library)
April 20, Erica Bauermeister, "The School of Essential Ingredients."
April 28, Wendy Wahman, "Don't Lick the Dog." (Secret Garden Books)
May 11, Tamora Pierce, "Bloodhound: Beka Cooper #2."(Secret Garden Books) May 11, Michael Perry, "Coop: A Year of Poultry, Pigs, and Parenting." (Ballard Library)
May 19, Bree Loewen, "Pickets and Dead Men: Seasons on Rainier" (Ballard Library)
May 20, Stephanie Kallos, "Sing Them Home" (Ballard Library)
May 26, D.J. MacHale, the final Pendragon ("The Soldiers of Halla"). (Ballard Library)
May 26, Bonny Becker, "Visitor for Bear" (Secret Garden Books)
May 28, Jennifer Worick, "Backcountry Betty: Crafting with Style" (Ballard Library)
June 1, Julie Reinhardt, "She Smoke" (Smokin' Pete's BBQ)

The Ballard Library is located at 5614 22nd Ave. N.W. The readings are free of charge and sponsored by Secret Garden Books located on Northwest Market Street.