Audiobooks narrated by Tashi Thomas

Prose to the People: A Celebration of Black Bookstores

"An homage to Black bookstores, featuring a selection of shops around the country alongside essays that celebrate the history, community, activism, and culture these spaces embody, with an original foreword by Nikki Giovanni. Black literature is perhaps the most powerful, polarizing force in the modern American zeitgeist. Today-as Black novels draw authoritarian ire, as Black memoirs shape public debates, as Black polemics inspire protest petitions-it's more important than ever to highlight the places that center these stories: Black bookstores. Traversing teeming metropolises and tiny towns, Prose to the People explores a these spaces, chronicling these Black bookstore's past and present lives. Combining narrative prose, one-on-one interviews, original essays, and specially curated poetry, Prose to the People is a listener's road trip companion to the world of Black books. Thoughtfully curated by writer and Black bookstore owner Katie Mitchell, Prose to the People is a must-have addition to the shelves of anyone who loves book culture and Black history. Though not a definitive guide, this dynamic book centers profiles of over fifty Black bookstores from the Northeast to the mid-Atlantic, the South, and the West Coast. Interspersed throughout are essays, poems, and interviews by New York Times bestsellers Kiese Laymon, Rio Cortez, Pearl Cleage, and many more journalists, activists, authors, academics, and poets that offer deeper perspectives on these bookstores' role throughout the diaspora. Complete with a foreword by world-renowned poet and activist Nikki Giovanni, Prose to the People is a beautiful tribute to these vital pillars of the Black community."

Katie Mitchell (Author), Adenrele Ojo, Cary Hite, Katie Mitchell, Landon Woodson, Tashi Thomas (Narrator)

Audiobook

House Party

"Ten bestselling, critically acclaimed authors deliver a fresh novel of interconnected stories that follows a group of young adults over the course of a few wild, transformative hours at an epic house party! The biggest event of the year is happening, and you're invited! Join us for Florence Hills High School seniors' last hurrah before graduation. THE LOCATION: A megamansion in one of Chicago's wealthiest suburban enclaves THE HOST: DeAndre Dixon, aka FHHS's golden boy THE GUESTS: The populars, the jocks, the artists, and heck, even that one kid THE HOPE: All the drama ensues. Kisses are swapped between old friends, new friends, and could've-sworn-they-were-enemies kind of friends. Relationships get tested. Animals roam free. Secrets are spilled. Add dope music that's thumping, and there's a good chance the whole neighborhood will be disrupted. Featuring: Angeline Boulley • Jerry Craft • Natasha Díaz • Lamar Giles • Christina Hammonds Reed • Ryan La Sala • Yamile Saied Méndez • justin a. reynolds • Randy Ribay • Jasmine Warga House Party offers a delightful snapshot of diverse classmates getting ready to say goodbye to high school and hello to life's next chapter-but not before they make their final night together one they'll never forget! * This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF that contains the house floor maps from the book."

Justin A. Reynolds (Author), Angel Pean, Delanna Studi, Emana Rachelle, Erin Ruth Walker, Frankie Corzo, Gail Shalan, Genesis Oliver, Kevin R. Free, Khristine Hvam, Matthew J. Harris, Nicky Endres, Nile Bullock, Ron Nery, Tashi Thomas (Narrator)

Audiobook

Cool. Awkward. Black.

"Real or imaginary, geekdom is where it's at in this multi-genre YA anthology that celebrates 'the geek,' with stories by some of today's top bestselling, critically acclaimed Black authors. Contributors include Amerie, Kalynn Bayron, Terry J. Benton-Walker, Roseanne A. Brown, Elise Bryant, Tracy Deonn, Desiree S. Evans, Isaac Fitzsimons, Lamar Giles, Jordan Ifueko, Leah Johnson, Amanda Joy, Kwame Mbalia, Tochi Onyebuchi, Shari B. Pennant, K. Arsenault Rivera, Julian Winters, and Ibi Zoboi. A girl who believes in UFOs; a boy who might have finally found his Prince Charming; a hopeful performer who dreams of being cast in her school's production of The Sound of Music; a misunderstood magician of sorts with a power she doesn't quite understand. These plotlines and many more compose the eclectic stories found within the pages of this dynamic, exciting, and expansive collection featuring exclusively Black characters. From contemporary to historical, fantasy to sci-fi, magical to realistic, and with contributions from a powerhouse list of self-proclaimed geeks and bestselling, award-winning authors, this life-affirming anthology celebrates and redefines the many facets of Blackness and geekiness-both in the real world and those imagined."

Karen Strong (Author), Karen Strong, Langston Darby, Tashi Thomas (Narrator)

Audiobook

Alien Summer #1

"'An exciting series opener.'-Kirkus From the mind of Murr from the Impractical Jokers comes a new hilarious, action-packed series about a world of bizarre creatures, wacky gadgets, and four kid interns at the most interesting place on Earth: Area 51! It's the first day of summer vacation, and Viv Harlow just wants to relax with her friends at the beach before they all go to different high schools next year. She is definitely not interested in visiting her mom's office, even if Director Harlow works at the famous Area 51. But when an alarm sounds beneath the secret base and a whole race of aliens escape, she's about to get much more than she bargained for. Viv, Charlotte, Ray, and Elijah (who Viv is totally NOT crushing on) will have to work together, gear up with gadgets, and even protect a baby alien to save the day and defend Area 51. The debut middle-grade series from Murr of the Impractical Jokers, Area 51 Interns is filled with enough high-tech hijinks, bizarre creatures, and laugh-out-loud humor to make even alien skeptics hooked for more!"

Carsen Smith, James S. Murray (Author), Tashi Thomas (Narrator)

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Black Love Matters: Real Talk on Romance, Being Seen, and Happily Ever Afters

"An incisive, intersectional essay anthology that celebrates and examines romance and romantic media through the lens of Black readers, writers, and cultural commentators, edited by Book Riot columnist and librarian Jessica Pryde. Romantic love has been one of the most essential elements of storytelling for centuries. But for Black people in the United States and across the diaspora, it hasn't often been easy to find Black romance joyfully showcased in entertainment media. In this collection, revered authors and sparkling newcomers, librarians and academicians, and avid readers and reviewers consider the mirrors and windows into Black love as it is depicted in the novels, television shows, and films that have shaped their own stories. Whether personal reflection or cultural commentary, these essays delve into Black love now and in the past, including topics from the history of Black romance to social justice and the Black community to the meaning of desire and desirability. Exploring the multifaceted ways love is seen-and the ways it isn't-this diverse array of Black voices collectively shines a light on the power of crafting happy endings for Black lovers. Jessica Pryde is joined by Carole V. Bell, Sarah Hannah Gomez, Jasmine Guillory, Da'Shaun Harrison, Margo Hendricks, Adriana Herrera, Piper Huguley, Kosoko Jackson, Nicole M. Jackson, Beverly Jenkins, Christina C. Jones, Julie Moody-Freeman, and Allie Parker in this collection."

Jessica P. Pryde (Author), André Santana, Angel Pean, Gina Daniels, Jessica P. Pryde, Julienne Irons, Tashi Thomas (Narrator)

Audiobook

Not Enough Lollipops

"Alice thinks it's her lucky day when she wins a wagon full of lollipops, but sharing them with her classmates is more complicated than it seems. Can she find a fair way to divvy up the sweets? When Alice wins an enormous basket of lollipops in the raffle she's happy to share her good fortune with friends and classmates, but everyone seems to have a different opinion about how she should divide the bounty. Suddenly, Alice's big prize becomes a big conundrum. Should she give extras to her friends? Should she withhold lollipops from the kids who always hog the tire swing? As she weighs her options, the panic grows. What if there aren't enough to go around!? This hilarious and thought-provoking story uses lollipops in the school yard to illustrate how cooperation and generosity can make even the most daunting problems solvable."

Megan Maynor (Author), Tashi Thomas (Narrator)

Audiobook

Blue: A History of the Color as Deep as the Sea and as Wide as the Sky

"Discover a world of creativity and tradition in this fascinating picture book that explores the history and cultural significance of the color blue. From a critically acclaimed author and an award-winning illustrator comes a wonderful audiobook for listeners of all ages. For centuries, blue powders and dyes were some of the most sought-after materials in the world. Ancient Afghan painters ground mass quantities of sapphire rocks to use for their paints, while snails were harvested in Eurasia for the tiny amounts of blue that their bodies would release. And then there was indigo, which was so valuable that American plantations grew it as a cash crop on the backs of African slaves. It wasn't until 1905, when Adolf von Baeyer created a chemical blue dye, that blue could be used for anything and everything--most notably that uniform of workers everywhere, blue jeans. This vibrant and fascinating picture book, adapted for audio, follows one color's journey through time and across the world, as it becomes the blue we know today."

Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond (Author), Tashi Thomas (Narrator)

Audiobook

Brown Girls

"‘Brown Girls flows like a late night FM-radio dedication to the crew, the block, and the mission. This book’s a gift’ Paul Beatty, author of The Sellout ‘An ode to girlhood’ Raven Leilani, author of Luster A fiercely poetic coming-of-age novel following a group of young women of colour in Queens, New York. If you really want to know, we are the colour of 7-Eleven root beer. Colour of the charcoal pencil our sisters use to rim their eyes. Colour of peanut butter. Brown Girls dives deep into the lives of a group of young women of colour growing up in Queens, New York. Here, streets echo with many languages, subways rumble above dollar stores and the briny scent of the ocean wafts in from Rockaway Beach. Here, girls like Nadira, Gabby, Naz, Trish, Angelique, and many others, struggle to reconcile their immigrant backgrounds with the American culture they come of age in. Here, they become friends for life. Or so they vow. In this bold debut told in a uniquely lyrical voice, Daphne Palasi Andreades paints a stunning collective portrait of the journey from girlhood to adulthood, set against a backdrop of race, class, and marginalisation in America today. Brown Girls is an unforgettable love letter to women of colour everywhere from a daring new writer. ‘Joyous, bittersweet, hilarious … a coming of age story for us all’ Nikesh Shukla, author of Brown Baby ‘A song of celebration, of mourning, of rage, of fierce living’ Rowan Hisayo Buchanan, author of Starling Days ‘If you liked LUSTER try BROWN GIRLS’ Sunday Times Style ‘Attracting huge amounts of buzz … a lyrical, urgent voice’ ipaper, Ten best books to read in 2022 ‘A cracker of a first novel’ Glamour ‘A sensation in the US’ Guardian ‘Transporting … not to be missed’ Stylist ‘A daring debut … fearless’ New York Times SHORTLISTED FOR THE CENTRE FOR FICTION 2022 FIRST NOVEL PRIZE ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS OF 2022 IN THE NEW YORK TIMES, GUARDIAN, INDEPENDENT, GLAMOUR, STYLIST, INEWS, SUNDAY TIMES STYLE, LITERARY FRICTION PODCAST AND MORE."

Daphne Palasi Andreades (Author), Tashi Thomas (Narrator)

Audiobook

What Was the Harlem Renaissance?

"In this audiobook from the #1 New York Times bestselling series, learn how this vibrant Black neighborhood in upper Manhattan became home to the leading Black writers, artists, and musicians of the 1920s and 1930s. Travel back in time to the 1920s and 1930s to the sounds of jazz in nightclubs and the 24-hours-a-day bustle of the famous Black neighborhood of Harlem in uptown Manhattan. It was a dazzling time when there was an outpouring of the arts of African Americans--the poetry of Langston Hughes; the novels of Zora Neale Hurston; the sculptures of Augusta Savage and that brand-new music called jazz as only Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong could play it. Author Sherri Smith traces Harlem's history all the way to its seventeenth-century roots, and explains how the early-twentieth-century Great Migration brought African Americans from the deep South to New York City and gave birth to the golden years of the Harlem Renaissance."

Sherri L. Smith (Author), Tashi Thomas (Narrator)

Audiobook

Recognize!: An Anthology Honoring and Amplifying Black Life

"In the stunning follow-up to The Talk: Conversations About Race, Love & Truth, award-winning Black authors and artists come together to create a moving anthology collection celebrating Black love, Black creativity, Black resistance, and Black life. 'A multifaceted, sometimes disheartening, yet consistently enriching primer on the unyielding necessity of those three words: Black Lives Matter.' -Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review BLACK LIVES HAVE ALWAYS MATTERED. Prominent Black creators lend their voice, their insight, and their talent to an inspiring anthology that celebrates Black culture and Black life. Essays, poems, short stories, and historical excerpts capture the pride, prestige, and jubilation that is being Black in America. In this audiobook, find the stories of the past, the journeys of the present, and the light guiding the future. BLACK LIVES WILL ALWAYS MATTER."

Cheryl Willis Hudson, Wade Hudson (Author), Cary Hite, Chanté Mccormick, Cheryl Willis Hudson, Ella Turenne, James Fouhey, Joshua David Scarlett, Karen Murray, Ryan Vincent Anderson, Shayna Small, Tashi Thomas, Wade Hudson (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Tashi Thomas