Reading Rainbow (1983): 15 Weird Facts You Didn’t Know
#rememberwhen Reading Rainbow made books the coolest thing on TV? From LeVar Burton’s literary adventures to the show’s epic theme song mystery, there’s more to this PBS classic than meets the eye! Get ready to learn some seriously wild facts about the show that inspired generations of readers.
We’re diving into 15 unexpected, hilarious, and totally true behind-the-scenes secrets of Reading Rainbow. Yes, that Butterfly in the Sky intro did take a month to create. And no, you probably didn’t realize LeVar Burton juggled the show with Star Trek!
Reading Rainbow (1983): 15 Weird Facts You Didn’t Know
Chapters:
00:00 – Intro
01:06 – Helping Kids Build a Love of Reading — LeVar Burton
02:44 – A Catchphrase That Sparked Legal Drama
05:04 – Breaking New Ground in Broadcast Sound
06:24 – A Visual Opening That Became Iconic — Bill Davis
07:59 – Famous Voices Bringing Stories to Life — Whoopi Goldberg, James Avery
09:43 – Balancing Two Big TV Roles at Once
11:21 – The Quiet Struggles Behind the Scenes
13:08 – A Policy Shift That Changed Everything
15:10 – How a Revival Brought New Life to the Show
16:41 – Inspiring the Next Generation of Young Writers
18:19 – Proof That Quality Kids’ TV Still Matters
19:48 – A Fresh Look at Why the Show Still Resonates
21:07 – Adapting a Classic for the YouTube Era — KidZuko
22:42 – A Lifelong Mission to Promote Literacy
25:02 – The Truth About That Famous Theme Song — Tina Fabrique
More Nostalgic 80s Kids Shows magic here:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRZTUGHHqdh7F_nZKnlkn7D2DSsoZti8U
#ReadingRainbow #LeVarBurton #PBS #ChildhoodMemories #BooksAreCool #TVNostalgia #EducationalTV #RememberWhen #RetroTV #ReadingRainbowLegacy #PBSKids #Literacy
@RememberWhenHQ
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
If you grew up with LeVar Burton and still remember the magic of Reading Rainbow, you’re definitely our people. 🌈✨ That show didn't just teach us—it helped shape our love for books and stories. What book still sticks with you? Drop your favorites in the comments!
Make sure to hit subscribe and share this video with a friend who still remembers the joy of reading.
More throwback TV goodness here: [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRZTUGHHqdh6OxPqp3M0P1Q5DXSKME9ap%5D
@Rajahereme
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
I LOVED READING RAINBOW!!! And Between the lion too. Both were great. I don't remember thw books I mostly remember it in general
@StorkduhDork
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
talking about modern content creators that are creatively bankrupt . BUT HERE YOU ARE MAKING Numbered LISTS LOL
@KinaruKitanaJade7373
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
Heyyy… you all forgot the DMX remix 😂🤣
@RoboticDragon
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
Dont belittle public broadcasting fundraisers. PBS has done absolute wonders for kids and adults across the US and Canada.
@NashfordTX
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
I miss when learning and reading was cool. ❤️ Reading 🌈
@candoradoes2437
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
No child left behind meant my daughter could graduate school without knowing how to read. Eff that program
@bertdennis8617
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
I loved this video!
@davidbooker8319
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
I grew up with Reading Rainbow. I absolutely loved this very important show! Such great times. I felt this show really spoke to us as kids back then. It was so effective and Levar Burton was the perfect choice as the host!
@mattbaier8547
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
LeVar Burton is possibly the best human ever.
@wired420
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
If only Lavar Burton didn't turn into a douche bag.
@Nathan-raimmy
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
i loved this show. I also loved growing up in a world where critical thinking skills were nurtured.
@SoufWessMuziKGroop
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
When I saw John legend, and Gabrielle union, that immediately destroyed that. Both of them got caught up in pizza gate for trafficking
@JayBelafonte
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
This was a huge part of my childhood and my love for reading. I read every book shown on this series, and I can still sing the theme word for word. 🌈 📖 🦋
@Derekzparty
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
Grew up in the 90s and I never liked Reading Rainbow.
Was more interested in Power Rangers, cartoons and SNES.
It's kind of ironic that I ended up working in Library IT.
@zdrums24
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
Dude, i get it. You dont like media today. But im less than halfway through and the joke has been old for most of that time.
@fgonzalez78959
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
Just magical ✨️
@sugarbum99
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
Will always love Reading Rainbow and Levar Burton will always be a legend!! 😍
@Hzrdus2touch
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
Every child left behind Act. What a joke of a piece of legislation.
@Gemini_Godhand
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
08:21 I had no idea that Julia Childs' narration sounds like Herbert the Pervert from Family Guy. Made me look up at my screen when I heard it!!! 🙄🙄
@StopReadingTheComments
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
we need another generation raised on Reading Rainbow, Mr Rogers, Sesame Street,Magic School Bus, Bill Nye , Mister Wizard, etc
@lreadyHigh
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
Fun fact, that guy is a racist
@imcubanb2870
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
23:43 I understand what you are saying, but I can think of many books that I would ban from school libraries.
@Marje-k5r
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
What's surprised me was being sued for the phrase 😂 I love the original song it needs no remake or remix. Why mess up a good thing? If it broke don't fix it.
@SunnyBearRescue
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
Wow I never realized how much this show meant to me growing up. This video made me cry. I need to go watch the documentary.
@chaztitan6457
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
I hated reading till the concept of "books having information in them that the system doesnt want you to think about" was an option. Then stupid pointless torture turned into a life changing histeria
@williamstohl2066
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
Man, LaVar Burton was my absolute favorite celebrity before I knew what a celebrity was. I remember watching his show in the mid 80's and he was my favorite famous person. Watching the show when I was home sick was must see TV.
@WeaselSuper
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
Loved that show, LeVar ended up a disappointment though.
@kultur-vultur
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
Embellishing stereo sound a bit. Its not Smell-O-Vision.
@MistaClawTech
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
A guy I grew up with's wife's dad worked on the show. Her & Her sister use to do the book reviews.
@Railfan-uf9mw
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
I thought reading rainbow 🌈 was released in the 90s
@redfishbluefish5151
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
Not going to lie, I started tearing up watching this. My school used to play reading rainbow for us every other week. It was highlight for me to sit on the floor and sing along to the intro.
I still remember when Reading Rainbow read the Fool and the Flying Ship. I was so fascinated by story and the weird drawings, and it became one of my most remembered childhood stories.
I never would have even known about it if not for Reading Rainbow.
@HoleeSheeitPyro
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
Pbs in the 80s and early 90s was epic. Especially the shows that came on during the morning while everyone else was in school. Shame how it turned into some weirdo agenda hyper leftist propaganda channel
@natep1661
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
The world sucks now.
90s were the best.
I wanna go back.
@josephgrimminck6855
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
I grew up on Neverending story. Reading Rainbow had the same style music and I was a big fan of books so it was a show I tried to make it home in time to catch the program!
@Logan-v3k8p
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
Viola swamp
@TheRedHeadedOne18
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
I still love that opening and the theme is on my playlist. Levar Burton is a gem, and Reading Rainbow is a show I'd stop and watch even as an adult.
@nrbeck1
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
A Chair for my Mother and The Great Kapok Tree are two titles that still stand out to me.
@nrbeck1
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
I loved the star trek episode of reading rainbow. I am rationing episodes of the LeVar Burton Reads podcast. It is finished but I don't want it to be over. Like Reading Rainbow, I have found so many great authors through him.
@jennyb.8357
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
Is the app still around and the teacher resource?
@brandonginsburg3120
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
16: A camera operator farted in ziplock bags?
@JayDee-qm7zl
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
No child left behind didn’t focus on phonics that was a major problem when they got to high school
@jasonclixandquesadillas7563
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
Gotta say, I don’t remember much about any celebrity-guest readers.
Can’t believe CBS tried to sue Levar. What a dick move
@RobertPearce-w8k
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
The government strikes again 14:07
@TimmyDriver
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
This was a badass show from when I was a kid and a black dude was the host awesome 😎
@AntonioEligius
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
I used to watch this show ALL THE TIME; Loved the show! Don't remember ever thinking about changing the channel! … It never got me to read a single book, not one book! Hated reading! I'd probably prefer vegetables to reading at the time… Idk what that tells you.
@MrGrombie
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
4:55 "But you don't have to take my word for it"
Looks like 10 to me. Or technically 11.
@FluxyKitty
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
Reading Rainbow and early JRPG video games are the reason I love a good story, and love to read. Reading Rainbow made an entire 30 minutes of making books come alive. Even nonfiction books took on a life in those shows. And well, early JRPGs, there was a LOT of reading in those. Because of LeVar Burton, I enjoy reading so much that I'm actually attempting to write my own novels.
@77MRVIC
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
I loved that show
@mattnobrega6621
January 1, 2026 at 4:36 pm
I was born in 1983 so i wasnt really acknowledged in the beginning of the show, but, i do remember watching it all through the 90s.😎👍
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