Reading Rainbow is making a comeback. This week LeVar Burton launched (and funded in 12 hours!) a Kickstarter campaign to bring brand new stories and videos to kids everywhere, whether they are learning at home or in the classroom. Get ready to take a trip down memory lane as Reading Rainbow begins a whole new chapter in the digital age.
Reading Rainbow For Everyone, Everywhere
In 2012, Reading Rainbow was re-launched as an app that went on to win numerous awards, but Burton knew that not all children had access tablets. So he started the Kickstarter campaign: “Bring Back Reading Rainbow for Every Child, Everywhere” to help Reading Rainbow move beyond the app, onto computer screens and into classrooms. With over $2 million dollars pledged in the first 2 days, Reading Rainbow aims to help tackle illiteracy in children (pssst…did you know that one in every four kids in America will grow up illiterate?).
Prepare for an unlimited library of books and video fields trips that’ll take you and your kids on new adventures, or down memory lane. Reading Rainbow will bring new and repurposed content to your browser (hint: techie parents can hook up their computers to TVs for an old-school experience). For classrooms, Burton plans to provide teachers with guides, tools and more so that young readers will feel encouraged to read, and empowered when doing so.
Subscription cost for the web users at home will be $10/month or $30/6 months. This cost also ensures that kids in disadvantaged classrooms (who may often be without computer access) can enjoy Reading Rainbow for free.
You Can Help Now
Wait for Reading Rainbow to be released on the web, or participate in the Kickstarter campaign now. The multiple perks (memorabilia, stickers, subscriptions, etc) for contributing will satisfy every parent who’s a book lover, Trekkie, Burton-fan, children’s education supporter or mom/pop looking for a way to get their kids to read. Make pledges of your choice, ranging from $5-200. Depending on the amount of your donation, perks include autographs, tickets, and a cool adopt-a-classroom where a classroom of your choice will receive a year-long class subscription to Reading Rainbow).
Click play to see LeVar Burton give a personal rundown of his campaign.
How excited are you for the brand new Reading Rainbow? Let us know in the Comments below!
– Christal Yuen
