Reading Rainbow

“Butterfly in the sky, I can go twice as high
Take a look, it’s in a book – Reading Rainbow.

I can go anywhere!
Friends to know and ways to grow – Reading Rainbow.”

I guess all good things do come to an end. I always thought I would one day watch Reading Rainbow with my child the way my mom watched it with me. I remember as a kid being addicted to Reading Rainbow. I also read a ton, dragging my mom to the library as I checked out 10 books at a time.

That’s why it’s so disheartening to have to write that after 26 years, Reading Rainbow will air it’s final episode today. The show began in 1983 and is right behind Sesame Street and Mister Rogers for longest running children show.

The show is ending due to financial reasons. To renew the show would have cost several hundred thousand dollars and PBS didn’t have the money.

“Reading Rainbow taught kids why to read,” Grant says. “You know, the love of reading — [the show] encouraged kids to pick up a book and to read.”