LeVar Burton Would be Proud

Remember Reading Rainbow? The show launched in 1983 to address the "summer slide" in which kids lose academic progress by letting their brains veg out all summer. 

It ran for 26 seasons and won more than 250 awards, including 26 Emmy Awards. But I think we can all agree that the best part of Reading Rainbow is LeVar Burton. His enthusiasm for books is contagious. His warm smile is inviting and calming. And his voice is a national treasure.

Watching Reading Rainbow as a kid made me want to read. Think about how revolutionary that is: watching a TV show made me want to turn off the TV and read a book. 

I'm still that kid who caught Reading Rainbow fever from LeVar Burton. I just have a busier schedule and more responsibilities. And bigger clothes. But I don't want to use my adulthood as an excuse to stop reading.

In January I pledged to read one book a month, and so far I've stuck to it. I'd like to think LeVar Burton would be proud of me. I know one book a month is not a stretch for some (like Gretchen Rubin, who read more books in June than I'll read in a year), but it is an achievement for me. 

Here's what I've read so far:

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I really (really really) want to lay down some thoughts on each of these books but I'm not making any promises. In January I promised to post a monthly book report and, well, you can see how that turned out. 

Three questions for you (and I really mean YOU):
1. Any tips on making time for reading?
2. Have you read any of the books in this list? 
3. What should I read next?

Three things that will make your day better:
1. Spend five minutes with LeVar Burton as he goes full Renaissance Faire on Reading Rainbow. It's visual Xanax. 
2. Subscribe to LeVar Burton Reads to hear the legend himself read handpicked short fiction in that voice.
3. Turn your little monsters into little lit aficionados with the LeVar Burton Kids Skybrary app. ​