Inspiring look at Reading Rainbow's legacy; mild language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Violence & Scariness
some
News footage of September 11, 2001, shows the Twin Towers falling in Manhattan; also clips of children recalling memories and feelings from that event. Multiple clips from the miniseries Roots include depictions of enslavement, imprisonment, bondage, and whips used as weapons. Birth scene shows a baby's head emerging, covered with blood. Scenes in a dark bat cave, with discussions about "guano" and "carnivorous worms" and visuals of bat skeletons.
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Multiple logos and clips from Reading Rainbow and other popular PBS children's TV shows, including Sesame Street and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, along with multiple highlighted children's books from various authors.
Sex, Romance & Nudity
a little
Video of baby being born includes nonsexual nudity (a baby's genital area is shown on camera). One verbal reference to "vagina."
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Excellent messages for both parents and kids, especially when it comes to empowering children by fostering a love of reading and introducing them to a diverse, relatable world through books that represent all children. Belief in television's power to encourage kids to be readers for life. Normalizes diversity and overcoming racial and gender inequalities, prejudices, and sexist ideals in public broadcasting and the entertainment industry. Presents messages of hope and resilience in kids, along with emotional expression, acceptance, integrity, and empathy.
Positive Role Models
a lot
LeVar Burton is portrayed as a man of integrity who connects and empathizes with children through his direct, authentic, kind delivery. Reading Rainbow filmmakers and celebrity interviewees are genuinely invested in encouraging children to read, using their skills, passion, and creativity to create inspirational episodes that help engage kids and promote a lifetime of love of reading.
Diverse Representations
a lot
The central figure of the documentary, Reading Rainbow host LeVar Burton, is a very admirable Black man. All of the other filmmakers are White, but the TV series featured women and men who had equal agency. Kid book reviewers, celebrities, and other people featured on the show represent a diverse world in terms of race/ethnicity, sexual identity (one queer person is featured), socioeconomic background, and body type.
Parents need to know that Butterfly in the Sky is an inspiring documentary about the legacy and impact of the beloved PBS children's TV series Reading Rainbow. Executive-produced by Whoopi Goldberg, the film features interviews with TV series host LeVar Burton, along with the show's creators, filmmakers, and celebrities as it chronicles the show's journey and belief in television's power to instill a love of reading in kids. Language isn't frequent but includes "ass," "hell," "jerk," and "oh my God." There's some potentially upsetting footage of historic events, including September 11; clips from the miniseries Roots; and discussions about difficult topics including grief, depression, racial stereotypes, and sexism. Video of a baby being born includes nonsexual nudity (the baby's genital area is seen on camera), and there's a verbal reference to "vagina." One still image shows Burton holding a cigarette in his hand. The movie's positive, uplifting takeaways focus on Reading Rainbow's impact on child empowerment, overcoming racial stereotypes in the entertainment industry, and embracing diversity in children's literature. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
This documentary was interesting and informative and leaves viewers with the same feeling that an episode has on a child. My elementary school aged child was riveted and said this was the best documentary he’s ever seen. He looked at me after viewing it and said “this was magical, and I feel lighter.”
The film unfolds the story. At first the documentary appears to live in sentiment but moves to sophisticated while maintaining the same hopeful tone one might expect from an episode. Reading Rainbow reflects the best of humanity, and_Butterfly in the Sky_ shows us how.
What's the Story?
BUTTERFLY IN THE SKY chronicles the journey and legacy of PBS's beloved show Reading Rainbow through interviews with host LeVar Burton, filmmakers, and staff members, along with clips from episodes that had particularly memorable impact. Reflecting and emotionally unraveling the passion, love, and tears that went into the show's 26-year run, the documentary tells the story of the many challenges its creators faced by leaning into the belief that television can inspire children with a lifelong love of reading.
Take a look; it's (maybe!) better than a good book. Butterfly in the Sky is an emotionally inspiring, educational deep dive into one of the most beloved children's TV programs ever created. The documentary authentically portrays the heartfelt passion, love, and challenges that creators faced while making the influential series. And it's an uplifting, nostalgic walk down memory lane for Reading Rainbow lovers, offering rare behind-the-scenes moments, modern-day reflections, and emotional stories about the personal journeys of host Burton and the show's creators. If you didn't think you could love Burton any more than you already did, just wait. This film will touch your heart in ways you didn't think possible. But you don't have to take my word for it...
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Butterfly in the Sky portrays the impact of Reading Rainbow and reading. Why was Reading Rainbow's mission to instill a love of reading in children?
Why do you think that Reading Rainbow was such a successful show? How did it stay relevant for 26 years?
What were some of the challenges that Burton and filmmakers had to overcome on Reading Rainbow?
Why do Burton and the filmmakers believe in the value of public broadcasting? Do you agree? Why, or why not?
Do you think that Butterfly in the Sky accurately portrays the impact of Reading Rainbow? Are documentaries required to be objective?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Christie Cronan
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
