For decades, Houston has known Benjamin Thompson III as The Madd Hatta—the unmistakable voice behind Majic 102.1’s The Madd Hatta Show and a Texas Radio Hall of Famer.
Now, he’s adding another title to his resume: children’s book author.
His debut book, Kase’s Little Adventures, grew from a heartfelt family moment into a project centered on literacy, representation and entrepreneurship, particularly for Black and Brown children. Throughout August, those themes will come alive during Storytime with Madd Hatta, a partnership with Houston Public Library that encourages families to read together while rediscovering neighborhood libraries.
From a rhyme to a children’s book
Ironically, Kase’s Little Adventures wasn’t Madd Hatta’s first writing project.
“I’ve written books before: One about the music industry, and one was just personal anecdotes. But I never published anything,” he said. “The one about my son, I guess it moved differently.”
The inspiration for his children’s book was far different than the driving force behind Hatta’s unpublished works.
“It starts with my wife (Ashley Thompson) being pregnant, and I’m just rhyming. I call myself a pseudo-MC,” he said. “The actual words of the book’s first four pages are really the rhyme I said to my wife’s belly.”
Ashley laughed and suggested Hatta turn it into a book. And though he assumed his wife was just kidding, the idea stayed with him.
“The book starts off with this rap about my son and all the great things he wants to do… and being an entrepreneur,” he shared.
A book his son could see himself in
Before Kase was born, Madd Hatta intentionally filled his home with books, just as his parents had done.
“I started gathering books before my son was around because I wanted books everywhere. That’s how it was when I was growing up,” he stated.
Hatta especially wanted his son to see himself reflected in what he read.
“I thought, wouldn’t it be nice to have a book that has a picture of my son on it… so he can see a book that looks like him? I wanted a children’s book that not only has his face, but totally looks like him.”
The project took time to finish after he returned to radio full-time.
“I got busy with that life again and kind of pushed the book project to the curb. But little by little, I did things to get the book completed,” recalled Hatta.
Everything changed when illustrator Adam Bailey created artwork based on a photo of Kase.
“I looked at his work and said, ‘Man, he really does look like my son.'”
When Kase, then two years old, saw the illustration, Madd Hatta asked who it was.
“He said, ‘Oo, me.'”
Bailey later redesigned the parents in the story to resemble Madd Hatta and his wife, making the book even more personal.
“What was supposed to be something just for my son,” he said, “really, really looked good.”
After seeing the finished project, friend Holly Charles-Pearson offered the encouragement he needed.
“She immediately said, ‘You’re an author. We’ve got to do something with this,'” said Hatta.
Literacy and entrepreneurship
While the book promotes reading, it also introduces children to entrepreneurship.
“It was important for me to have my son in the book be an entrepreneur,” Hatta said. “I want him to grow into that mindset.”
Hatta wants the same for children, in general.
“You have to start planting these seeds early… ‘I’m supposed to work for self. I’m supposed to be independent.'”
Those aspirations reflect the qualities he already sees in Kase, whom he describes as insightful, compassionate, empathetic, confident, and self-assured.
Bringing families back to libraries
Those themes will continue during Storytime with Madd Hatta, a three-stop Houston Public Library tour recognizing Back-to-School season and National Black Business Month.
The tour visits the African American Library at the Gregory School on Aug. 1, Alief-David M. Henington Regional Library on Aug. 8 and McGovern-Stella Link Neighborhood Library on Aug. 15.
Families can enjoy book readings, audience Q&A, photo opportunities, book signings, and giveaways, with books available through CLASS Bookstore (www.classbookstore.com; IG @classbookstore).
The partnership with HPL is especially meaningful to Hatta because libraries have shaped his own life. His father, Benjamin Thompson Jr., regularly took him to the library as a child. It was there that he first read a book about the music industry, and during college, the library became one of his favorite places to study and work.
Despite today’s digital world, he believes libraries remain invaluable and hopes the tour reminds families of what libraries offer.
“I don’t think people see the local library as the resource it is,” he said. “This book tour is an opportunity to get people back into libraries, specifically young folks. It’ll be fun, and they’ll see that they have these resources… right there in their communities. And it’s absolutely free.”
The events will be a family affair, with Hatta’s wife Ashley interviewing him before audience members ask questions.
His ultimate goal extends beyond selling books.
“I want book tour attendees to come there, have a good time, ask all kinds of questions, and learn about entrepreneurship, because I’m big on that,” he said. “Even if you work for somebody else, I think you should always have something of your own because… ‘You never, never, never, never know.'”
To attend one of the book tour stops, register now at Houston Public Library to save your spot!
| The African American Library at the Gregory School 1300 Victor St. Houston, TX 77019 | Sat, Aug. 13pm-4:30pm |
| Alief-David M. Henington Regional Library 11903 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX 77072 | Sat, Aug. 8 3pm-4:30pm |
| McGovern-Stella Link Neighborhood Library 7405 Stella Link Rd, Houston, TX 77025 | Sat, Aug. 15 3pm-4:30pm |
