Take a look its in a book

Q: Who sang the original Reading Rainbow song?

Tina Fabrique, the voice behind the Reading Rainbow” theme, learned about the TikTok trend through her grandson. Some might not recognize her name or her face. But for nearly four decades, Tina Fabriques voice has been beloved by kids across the country.

After using the same iconic theme song originally sung by disco soul singer Tina Fabrique for 16 years, children’s television show Reading Rainbow replaced the beloved intro in 2001 with a new one recorded by 10-time Grammy Award winner Chaka Khan.

Table of Contents Show

July 11, 1983-January 1, 1999 version[]
January 4, 1999-December 31, 1999 version[]
January 3, 2000-November 10, 2006 version[]
Song and lyrics
Original song
Troy's cover version
Reading Rainbow
Who sang the original Reading Rainbow song?
Why was Reading Rainbow Cancelled?
When was Reading Rainbow canceled?
Is Reading Rainbow coming back?

Reading Rainbow was on television from June 6, 1983 to November 10, 2006 and is the fourth-longest running children’s show on PBS. During its span of 21 seasons and 155 episodes, Reading Rainbow won over 200 broadcast awards, including a Peabody Award as well as 26 Emmy Awards.

Lyrics[]

July 11, 1983-January 1, 1999 version[]

Butterfly in the sky
I can go twice as high
Take a look
It's in a book
A reading rainbow

I can go anywhere
Friends to know
And ways to grow
A reading rainbow

I can be anything
Take a look
It's in a book
A reading rainbow (A reading rainbow)
A reading rainbow (A reading rainbow, a reading rainbow)

January 4, 1999-December 31, 1999 version[]

(Reading Rainbow)

Butterfly in the sky
I can go twice as high
Take a look
It's in a book
A reading rainbow

I can go anywhere
Friends to know
And ways to grow
A reading rainbow

I can be anything
Take a look
It's in a book
A reading rainbow

(Reading Rainbow)

January 3, 2000-November 10, 2006 version[]

(Reading Rainbow)

Butterfly in the sky
I can go twice as high
Take a look
It's in a book
A reading rainbow

I can go anywhere
Friends to know
And ways to grow
A reading rainbow

I can be anything
Take a look
It's in a book
A reading rainbow

(Reading Rainbow)

Butterfly in the sky, I can go twice as high...Take a look, it's in a book...A Reading Rainbow!

Troy reacts to LeVar singing
the Reading Rainbow theme song.

In the study group's second year at Greendale, Pierce overdosed on pain medication and ended up in the hospital. He took advantage of the situation to get revenge on his friends for ignoring him all year. Pretending to be on his death bed he bequeathed things to each member of the study group to mess with them. He hired the actor LeVar Burton to meet with Troy who was left catatonic in the presence of his idol. An upset Troy hid in the hospital restroom and sang the theme song to LeVar's TV show "Reading Rainbow". Sometime later, LeVar and Troy were having a private dinner in the study room. When Burton started singing the Reading Rainbow song Troy ran screaming out of the room. The song was first heard in the Season Two episode "Intermediate Documentary Filmmaking".

Song and lyrics

Original song

Reading Rainbow Intro 1983-1999

Reading Rainbow old theme (Performed by Tina Fabrique)

Lyrics:

Butterfly in the sky, I can go twice as high.
Take a look, it's in a book, a Reading Rainbow!
I can go anywhere.
Friends to know,
and ways to grow.
A Reading Rainbow!
I can be anything.
Take a look,
it's in a book.
A Reading Rainbow.
A Reading Rainbow.
A Reading Rainbow.
A Reading Rainbow!
A Reading Rainbow!
Butterfly in the sky, I can go twice as high.
I can go anywhere.
Friends to know,
A Reading Rainbow!
I can be anything.
Take a look,
A Reading Rainbow.
A Reading Rainbow.
A Reading Rainbow!
Take a look, it's in a book, a Reading Rainbow!
I can go anywhere.
and ways to grow.
A Reading Rainbow!
I can be anything.
it's in a book.
A Reading Rainbow.
A Reading Rainbow!
A Reading Rainbow!

Troy's cover version

Community Troy Reading Rainbow

Lyrics:

“

Butterfly in the sky, I can go twice as high.
Take a look, it's in a book, a Reading Rainbow!
A Reading Rainbow!
[Crying]
Set phasers to love me!

”

Trivia

Reading Rainbow

Reading Rainbow was an American children's TV program which originally aired on PBS from July 11, 1983 to November 10, 2006. It was hosted by actor LeVar Burton and its purpose was to encourage kids to read. It was one of three longest running PBS children's show running from July 11, 1983 until November 10, 2006. The theme song for the show was written by Steve Horelick, Dennis Neil Kleinman, and performed by Tina Fabrique. This version was used January 3, 2000 and was replaced by one sung by R&B artist Chaka Khan.

Reading Rainbow Theme (performed by Chaka Khan)

v·d·e

Songs

Season One		"Don't You (Forget About Me)" • "At Least It Was Here" • "Wise Up" • "Daylight" • "How You Like Me Now" • "101 Rap" • "The Way It Is" • "Gettin' Rid of Britta" • "Whistle for the Choir" • "Somewhere Out There" • "Kiss With A Fist" • "Night Caps" • "Home" • "Party Where Your Heart Is" • "Pierce You Are A B" • "I Never Die" • "Merry Happy" · "Annie's song" • "Come, Take A Trip On My Airship" · "Greendale is Where I Belong" • "Werewolves of London" • "We Are Not Alone" · "Going Crazy" · She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain" · "Yi Shui Ge" · "Fish in a barrell"

Season Two		"Baby Fratelli" • "Linger" · "Anthropology Rap" • "Best of the Best" • "Dancing Queen" • "Waterloo" • "SOS" • "Gimme, Gimme, Gimme (A Man After Midnight)" • "Fernando" · "Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas opening theme" • "Jeff-in-the-box's Christmas exit song" • "Gravity" • "That's What Christmas Is For" • "Fancy Footwork" · "Reading Rainbow (theme song)"

Season Three		"We're Gonna Finally Be Fine" • "Roxanne" • "Hello (Song)" • "Glee" • "Christmas Infiltration" • "Baby Boomer Santa" • "Teach Me How To Understand Christmas" • "Happy Birthday Jesus!" • "Carol of the Bells" • "Pocket Full of Hawthornes" • "Daybreak" • "Ave Maria" • "Kiss From A Rose" • "HIs Name Was Alex: A Star-Burns Memorial"

Season Four		"Abed's Happy Community College Show (theme song)" • "Greendale Babies (theme song)" · "You Get What You Give" • "Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover" • "PEE Song" • "As I Lay Me Down" • "That's an Adventure" • "Here In The Woods" · "My Most Terrible Secret"

Season Five		"Jeff Winger Hero-At-Law" · "Creep" • "Ass Crack Bandit (song)" • "Come Sail Away • "More Than This" • "Fat Dog" · "Payday Apology Rap" · "G.I. Joe (theme song)" · "Open the Door" · "Ants Marching"

Season Six		"How You've Grown" · "Pillar of Garbage" · "Gay Dean" · "I Have Been Vicki the Most" · "Starlight" · "Ends of the Earth"

Who sang the original Reading Rainbow song?

Tina Fabrique, the voice behind the “Reading Rainbow” theme, learned about the TikTok trend through her grandson. Some might not recognize her name or her face. But for nearly four decades, Tina Fabrique's voice has been beloved by kids across the country.

Why was Reading Rainbow Cancelled?

Due to a legal dispute, licensing of the Reading Rainbow brand was revoked from RRKidz in October 2017, and all its platforms (including Skybrary) were rebranded to LeVar Burton Kids.

When was Reading Rainbow canceled?

10 November 2006Reading Rainbow / Final episode datenull

Is Reading Rainbow coming back?

Reading Rainbow Live is hosted by a group of 20 somethings dubbed "The Rainbows." Reading Rainbow is about to get a reboot tailored to a generation of kids who rarely get their entertainment from broadcast TV.