Abstract: A talking book and audio player apparatus includes a book having a back face, a mounting platform attached to the back face, a cassette tape mounted within the mounting platform, the book, mounting platform and tape together forming a cartridge, and a player base assembly for removably receiving the mounting platform and for playing the tape, so that the user can play the tape while following printed contents of the book, and such that any of several book and tape cartridges can be inserted into the base assembly to provide variety and selection of reading material. The player base assembly preferably includes a housing having a top wall portion and a recessed area in the top wall portion for receiving the mounting platform so that the book is positioned for use, a mechanism for removably connecting the mounting platform to the top wall portion, and a cassette tape player within the housing having elements positioned to engage and play the tape when the mounting platform is inserted into the recessed area.