"Butterfly in the Sky"(2024)

Hosted in partnership with Fulton Street Books and Coffee
BUTTERFLY IN THE SKY tells the story of the beloved PBS children’s series "Reading

Rainbow," its iconic host LeVar Burton, and the challenges its creators faced in

cultivating a love of reading through television. Two seconds into the bubbling synth

theme song will have a child of the 1980s or ‘90s exclaiming “Reading

Rainbow!” Such is the beloved nature of the classic children’s literary television show

that introduced millions of kids to the wonder of books.

Not only did the series insist on having kids speak to kids about their favorite

time, LeVar Burton. Thanks to his direct, non-patronizing and, most importantly, kind

delivery, Burton became a conduit to learning for children of every background -

stories, Reading Rainbow introduced the world to one of the most adored television hosts

delving behind the pages to the people, places, and things each new story explored.

DIRECTORS’ STATEMENT

Bradford Thomason (Director / Editor): As a Mexican-American growing up in Houston, TX, I was surrounded by diversity. More than any show on television, Reading Rainbow reflected the cultures that surrounded me. I also loved to read but lacked the discipline to do so. Something about the way the books were represented made me want every single one. When the book fair came to my school, I went straight for the Reading Rainbow titles. I didn’t know it at the time, but the show’s mission statement was manifesting itself in me. I devour books to this day, and I know Reading Rainbow had a hand in that.

Brett Whitcomb (Director / Cinematographer): I grew up in the Texas suburbs. Whether I knew it or not, Reading Rainbow was my window into the big city and into diverse cultures. New York, where LeVar spent so much time, didn’t seem scary like in movies of the time, but instead seemed colorful and full of life. Additionally, with segments like those in “Hill of Fire,” “Liang and and the Magic Paintbrush,” and countless other episodes, Reading Rainbow was arguably the first time I encountered “documentary-style” television as a young person, planting a seed that would inspire me for the rest of my life.

We believe Reading Rainbow is among the most important shows ever produced and an early example of distance learning before distance learning was on everyone’s mind. It’s a true unsung hero of children’s programming, and we want more than anything to tell its story in a way that honors its legacy and teaches a new generation about this important milestone in television history.

–Bradford & Brett

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Fulton Street Books & Coffee, 21 North Greenwood Avenue, Tulsa, United States