You know the tune. You can hear it right now. That synth-heavy, 80s-soaked melody kicks in, and suddenly you’re thinking about a butterfly in the sky reading rainbow and a guy in a striped polo who actually cared about what you were thinking. LeVar Burton didn't just host a show; he started a movement that lasted 26 years and 155 episodes. It wasn't just about reading. It was about seeing the world.
Honestly, it’s kinda wild how well it holds up.
Most kids' TV back then was a loud, chaotic mess of toy commercials disguised as cartoons. Reading Rainbow was different. It was quiet. It was thoughtful. It took us to places we’d never go—like the inside of a crayon factory or the cockpit of a plane—and then handed us a book and said, "Hey, you can go here whenever you want."
The Story Behind the Butterfly in the Sky Reading Rainbow Theme
That iconic opening wasn't just a catchy jingle. It was a mission statement. The phrase butterfly in the sky reading rainbow became a cultural shorthand for the limitless potential of a child's imagination. When the show premiered on PBS in 1983, the creators, Twila Liggett, Cecily Truett, and Larry Lancit, weren't trying to replace teachers. They were trying to solve the "summer slide"—that annoying period where kids forget everything they learned during the school year because they stop reading.
They needed a hook. They found it in LeVar Burton. Fresh off the massive success of Roots, Burton brought a level of sincerity that resonated with kids. He didn't talk down to us. He talked to us.
The theme song itself underwent a few facelifts. The original version, composed by Steve Horelick and sung by Tina Fabrique, is the one most of us have burned into our brains. It’s got that dreamlike, soaring quality that perfectly matches the visuals of a literal butterfly made of light fluttering through a storybook world. Later on, they updated it with Chaka Khan, which gave it a totally different vibe, but that core message stayed the same: "I can go anywhere."
📖 Related: Big Brother 27 Morgan: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
Why the "Kid Book Reviews" Were the Secret Sauce
If you ask anyone what they remember most about the show—besides the theme—it’s the kids. The "But you don't have to take my word for it" segment was genius. Pure genius.
Here’s why it worked:
- It removed the "adult authority" element from reading.
- It showed real kids with real voices, sometimes stuttering or getting excited, talking about books they actually liked.
- It created a peer-to-peer recommendation engine decades before TikTok "BookTok" was even a thought.
Watching a kid talk about The Snowy Day or Gila Monsters Meet You at the Airport made those stories feel accessible. It wasn't a lesson. It was a tip from a friend. If Jimmy from Ohio thought this book about a giant turnip was cool, then maybe it actually was cool. This segment turned the butterfly in the sky reading rainbow concept into something tangible. It wasn't just a pretty song; it was a call to action.
The 2024 Documentary and the Legacy of LeVar Burton
If you haven't seen the documentary Butterfly in the Sky, go find it. It premiered recently and it’s a total tear-jerker for anyone who grew up with the show. It goes deep into the struggle to keep the show funded. You’d think a show that won 26 Emmys and a Peabody would be a no-brainer for PBS, but they were constantly fighting for their lives.
The documentary highlights something we often forget: the show was incredibly diverse before "diversity" was a corporate buzzword. They featured stories from every culture imaginable. They showed kids living in cities, on farms, in the desert, and in the snow.
👉 See also: The Lil Wayne Tracklist for Tha Carter 3: What Most People Get Wrong
LeVar Burton's commitment to the project is honestly legendary. He stayed with it through budget cuts, changing TV landscapes, and the rise of the internet. He understood that the butterfly in the sky reading rainbow wasn't just nostalgia—it was a lifeline for kids who didn't see themselves represented in mainstream media.
The Tech Evolution: From TV to Apps to VR
When Reading Rainbow finally went off the air in 2006, it felt like the end of an era. But LeVar wasn't done. In 2012, he launched a Kickstarter to bring the brand back for a new generation. It became one of the most successful campaigns in the platform's history, raising over $5 million.
The transition wasn't always smooth. There were legal battles over rights—which are always messy and boring—but eventually, the spirit of the show lived on through the Skybrary service.
Today, you can find digital versions of these experiences, but the core philosophy remains:
- Engagement first: Use the medium kids are already using (whether it's TV or a tablet).
- Field trips: Show, don't just tell. If the book is about the ocean, take them to the ocean.
- Authenticity: Keep the "take my word for it" energy alive.
The Real Impact on Literacy Rates
There’s actual data here, not just vibes. Studies have shown that programs like Reading Rainbow significantly impact a child's "print motivation." That’s the fancy way of saying it makes them want to read. When kids see books as a source of adventure rather than a chore, their literacy scores naturally climb.
✨ Don't miss: Songs by Tyler Childers: What Most People Get Wrong
Critics sometimes argued that watching TV to learn to read was counterintuitive. They were wrong. The show acted as a bridge. It used the visual power of television to spark a curiosity that could only be satisfied by picking up a physical book. It turned the butterfly in the sky reading rainbow from a flickering image on a cathode-ray tube into a tangible library card in a kid's pocket.
How to Use the Reading Rainbow Method Today
If you’re a parent or a teacher, you can still use the "LeVar Method" to get kids interested in reading. It’s not about forcing them to sit still for 20 minutes with a book they hate.
- Follow the "Field Trip" Rule: If you're reading a book about dinosaurs, go to a museum. If you're reading about baking, make a mess in the kitchen. Make the book part of the real world.
- Let Them Choose: The kid reviews worked because the kids chose the books. Stop picking "important" books and start picking "fun" ones.
- Read Aloud With Passion: LeVar didn't just read; he performed. Change your voice. Use your hands. Be a little ridiculous.
- The "Take My Word for It" Moment: After finishing a book, ask your kid to "review" it for you. Record them on your phone. They love seeing themselves, and it forces them to synthesize what they just read.
The Enduring Magic of the Butterfly
It’s easy to be cynical about reboots and nostalgia, but Reading Rainbow is different. It represents a time when we actually invested in the intellectual curiosity of children without trying to sell them a plastic toy at the end of the segment.
The butterfly in the sky reading rainbow remains a powerful symbol. It’s a reminder that a book is the only piece of technology that allows you to inhabit someone else's mind. It’s the ultimate empathy machine.
Next time you see a copy of The Paper Bag Princess or Abiyoyo at a garage sale, pick it up. Give it to a kid. Tell them it’s a magic trick. Because, honestly, that’s exactly what LeVar Burton taught us it was.
Actionable Steps for Enhancing Literacy:
- Audit your library: Check if the books available to the kids in your life reflect a wide variety of lived experiences, much like the show did.
- Use the "But You Don't Have to Take My Word For It" technique: Have your child record a 30-second "commercial" for their favorite book to send to a grandparent or friend.
- Watch the 2024 documentary: Use it as a conversation starter with older kids about how media is made and why storytelling matters.
- Visit the library together: Don't just drop them off. Make it a shared "field trip" where the goal is discovery, not just checking off a school requirement.