Reading Rainbow Kickstarter Campaign Overview
The Reading Rainbow Kickstarter campaign was relaunched in 2014 by LeVar Burton and the team behind the original PBS series. The campaign set a funding goal of 1 million dollars to develop a digital library and interactive reading platform for children. It quickly became one of the most backed Kickstarter projects in history, surpassing its initial target within hours and ultimately raising over 6 million dollars from tens of thousands of backers. The project aimed to provide a subscription-based app with curated books and video field trips to encourage early literacy. The campaign's success was driven by widespread nostalgia for the original show and strong support from educators and parents. For the original campaign details, see the Kickstarter project page on the platform itself, which documents the funding milestones and stretch goals that were announced during the drive. The project's pitch video, featuring LeVar Burton, emphasized the importance of equitable access to books for children across the United States and globally.
Following the Kickstarter success, the team behind Reading Rainbow launched the Skybrary platform as a digital subscription service. Skybrary, formerly known as Reading Rainbow, transitioned from a one-time Kickstarter reward into an ongoing commercial product available on multiple devices. The service partners with publishers and content creators to offer a curated library of children's books and video content. As of the most recent public information, Skybrary remains an active digital platform focused on elementary-age readers. The platform's business model shifted to a recurring subscription, aligning with the edtech industry's trend toward software-as-a-service for schools and families. The Reading Rainbow Kickstarter campaign is often cited as a case study in how nostalgia and a clear mission can drive crowdfunding success. The original Kickstarter page, which remains accessible on the crowdfunding platform, shows the exact funding timeline and backer count that made the project a record-breaking effort at the time.
Funding, Backers, and Platform Development
The Reading Rainbow Kickstarter campaign raised a total of 6,493,308 dollars from 105,857 backers, making it one of the highest-funded publishing projects on the platform. The funds were allocated to developing the Skybrary digital library, producing new video content, and licensing books from publishers. LeVar Burton served as the primary public face of the campaign, leveraging his decades-long association with the Reading Rainbow brand. The project's team included experienced educators and developers who worked to build an intuitive interface for young readers. Stretch goals announced during the campaign included expanding the book library and adding features for classroom use. The campaign's rapid funding demonstrated a strong public demand for digital reading tools that combine entertainment with education. The Kickstarter platform's own records show the exact backer count and funding total that the campaign achieved during its active period.
After the Kickstarter campaign concluded, the development team focused on launching the Skybrary subscription app for tablets and web browsers. The platform curates hundreds of books and video field trips, organized by reading level and topic to support personalized learning. Skybrary is designed for children in kindergarten through third grade, with content aligned to common early literacy standards. The service is used in some schools as a supplemental reading tool, with institutional pricing available for classrooms. The app's interface retains the visual style and spirit of the original PBS television series. The Reading Rainbow Kickstarter campaign's success directly funded the initial version of this digital library and its accompanying video content. The platform's current features and subscription model reflect the evolution of the original Kickstarter vision into a sustainable commercial product.
Current Status and Legacy of the Campaign
The Reading Rainbow Kickstarter campaign is widely recognized as a landmark effort in children's media and crowdfunding. The project's legacy includes the creation of Skybrary, which continues to operate as a digital reading platform for kids. The campaign's record-breaking backer count and funding total have been documented in multiple industry reports and news articles covering crowdfunding trends. The original Reading Rainbow television series, which aired on PBS from 1983 to 2006, was revived in public attention through the Kickstarter effort.