In this episode, host Rebecca Thandi Norman and comedian & writer Tocarra Elise dive into the 1991 Faith Ringgold classic Tar Beach. Told from the point of view of eight year old Cassie Louise Lightfoot, the book is based on the story quilt by the same artist. Tocarra shares where she was when she first read this book - her local library - what it felt like, and how it continues to impact her today. Tocarra hosts a delightful recap of children's literature via her TikTok and Instagram.

Read Tar Beach

Listen to Faith Ringold read Tar Beach

Watch the Reading Rainbow episode featuring Tar Beach

Interested in learning more about the story quilt that inspired the book? Listen to this episode of Why'd They Put That in a Museum?

Follow Tocarra Elise on TikTok

Follow Tocarra Elise on Instagram

Listen to The List, Tocarra's comedy podcast

This podcast is hosted by Rebecca Thandi Norman, produced by Kate Krosschell, and sound engineered by Winther Robinson. Title music is by DJARTMUSIC. We'd love to hear from you! If you have questions or comments, reach out at bookimprintpodcast@gmail.com, or follow us at @bookimprintpodcast on Instagram.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Content warning: this episode contains references to sexual assault, child abuse, and suicide.

Nashville-based songwriter Bonnie J. Baker comes from an ultra-convservative Christian background and knew she had to leave; Margaret Atwood's 1985 novel The Handmaid's Tale gave her the push she needed, reflecting back to her the oppressive system she lived in, allowing her to identity it and understand that she wasn't alone.

In this episode, Bonnie and host Rebecca Thandi Norman discuss how reading this book in college was a seminal moment in Bonnie's life, the history it reflects, and the future it foreshadows for us in the US right now. They touch on the patheticness of power, Atwood's cut-glass writing style, and the differences between reading this book as a young person and later in life.

Read The Handmaid's Tale.

Find out more about Bker Music and sign up for Bonnie's newsletter.

Follow Bonnie on Instagram.

This podcast is hosted by Rebecca Thandi Norman, produced by Kate Krosschell, and sound engineered by Winther Robinson. Title music is by DJARTMUSIC. We'd love to hear from you! If you have questions or comments, reach out at bookimprintpodcast@gmail.com, or follow us at @bookimprintpodcast on Instagram.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Musician, writer, and record producer Adam Schatz drops in to talk about From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, a 1968 middle grade book by E.L. Konigsburg about two siblings who run away from their suburban Connecticut home to live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Are the kids kind of annoying? Yes. Do they talk about money a lot? Also yes. But there's something so charming and grounded about this book that has allowed it to endure as a classic since its release. Adam discusses why this is a real New York City book, how often he goes to the Met (almost never!), and what he forgot about this book before re-reading it for the podcast.

Buy From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.

Listen to Adam's music (as Landlady).

Follow Adam on Instagram.

Read Adam's advice.

Sign up for Adam's Patreon.

See The Geometry of Circles.

This podcast is hosted by Rebecca Thandi Norman, produced by Kate Krosschell, and sound engineered by Winther Robinson. Title music is by DJARTMUSIC. We'd love to hear from you! If you have questions or comments, reach out at bookimprintpodcast@gmail.com, or follow us at @bookimprintpodcast on Instagram.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.