'Reading Rainbow' Is Coming Back Thanks to Kickstarter Host LeVar Burton is adapting the classic show for the web.

By Laura Entis

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Take a look! It's in a book! A reading rainbooooow.

Talk about a theme song steeped in nostalgia. Takes you back, right? (C'mon: A butterfly in the sky! I can go twice as high!)

Hosted by LeVar Burton, Reading Rainbow debuted on PBS in June of 1983 and ran for 26 years. The show encouraged kids to read by recommending books and exploring literary themes. It worked (for this kid, anyway) and so when PBS finally pulled the show from its lineup in 2009, Burton bought the rights to the brand; he felt there was still more he could do with the material.

Related: Actor LeVar Burton on Relaunching Reading Rainbow as a Mobile App

Two years ago, Burton launched a 'Reading Rainbow' iPad app but he hasn't been satisfied with its reach. Not everyone has an iPad, after all, and he wanted 'Reading Rainbow' to be more accessible. So he turned to Kickstarter to raise money for a web version.

Launched yesterday, the campaign reached its $1 million goal in a matter of hours. At the time of this writing, Burton has raised nearly $1.7 million, and he still has 34 days to go. Clearly, the project has struck a chord with the public.

The goal, outlined on the project's Kickstarter page, is three-pronged: Build a program that brings Reading Rainbow's digital collection of hundreds of books, video and fieldtrips to the web in an interactive format, build a version meant for teachers to use in classrooms that includes teachers guides, leveling and dashboards and lastly, provide that version to as many low-income schools as possible for free (with the initial $1 million, Burton says over 1,5000 classrooms should receive the program at no cost).

"The point of the television show was to feature children's literature, quality children's literature, that revealed to them the width and breadth of the world in a variety of ways and then connect that literature to real world experience," Burton told Entrepreneur.com last summer. "My role was taking kids on an adventure that is life through literature."

Related: Report: U.S. Adults Lag Behind International Peers in Literacy, Math and Tech Skills

The intention of the web series remains the same; only the medium has been updated. "Of course, when Reading Rainbow began in 1983, we were using television to bring books to kids, meeting them where they wanted to be," Burton wrote on the project's Kickstarter page. "In 2014, TV is not that place anymore. Now, we're trying to reach a new generation of digital natives."

Watch the full Kickstarter video here.

Laura Entis is a reporter for Fortune.com's Venture section.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business News

'I Love Doing Product Reviews': Bill Gates Stepped Down from Microsoft in 2020, But Admits He Still Spends 15% of His Time Working at the Company

In a new interview with the Wall Street Journal, Gates also said he is still close with Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

Elon Musk's DOGE Is Hiring People Eager to 'Work Long Hours' to Eliminate 'Waste, Fraud and Abuse' in the Government. Here's How to Apply.

The Department of Government Efficiency is hiring U.S. citizens to help cut spending and headcounts in the federal government.

Business News

'Everyone Can Profit From It': What Is DeepSeek? China's 'Cheap' to Make AI Chatbot Climbs to the Top of Apple, Google U.S. App Stores

DeepSeek researchers claim it was developed for less than $6 million, a contrast to the $100 million it takes U.S. tech startups to create AI.

Franchise

Franchise Models Explained — How to Choose the Right One for Your Goals

Navigating the franchise world starts with understanding key business models. Here's how project-based and subscription franchises differ in investment, scalability, and recession resistance.

Business News

Uber's CEO Says Drivers Have About 10 Years Left Before They Will Be Replaced

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi says the jobs of human drivers are safe for the next decade, but after that, another type of driver will take over.