Part of Doc Spotlight
For 26 seasons, PBS’s Reading Rainbow met young viewers in their living rooms, whisking them away on far-off adventures into the boundless world of books. With the help of celebrity narrators and nine-year-old book reviewers, the show’s iconic host, LeVar Burton, brought real-life lessons and honest conversations to life in a way we had never before seen on screen. Despite ongoing funding hurdles and new public school testing standards, Burton and the show’s creators held tight to their authentic, down-to-earth approach to fuel kids’ lifelong love of reading. Inspiring and nostalgic, BUTTERFLY IN THE SKY tells the tale of a revolutionary reading movement. Reliving the show’s legacy is a refreshing return to the written page. But you don’t have to take our word for it.
“A heartfelt, beautiful celebration of one of the most influential educational children's programs to grace our television… In an age when people can believe almost anything they read on the internet, BUTTERFLY IN THE SKY shows it's truly a shame that Reading Rainbow isn't around anymore to keep a proper love for reading alive in the hearts and minds of children.” —Ethan Anderton, Slash Film
“An ode to Burton, a man ‘with all of the best qualities of a kid’ willing to do any outlandish experience in order to connect with a child watching their TV. He was dazzled by the bigness of the world. He gave kids someone to look up to, a Black man who changed his facial hair every scene, who wore a hoop earring, and who lived life to the fullest. And, most essentially, who believed reading happened to be fun.” —Michael Frank, Film Stage
“LeVar Burton should be granted sainthood, and BUTTERFLY IN THE SKY is a must for anyone who grew up reading with him.” —Cory Woodroof, Nashville Scene