Levar Burton and Reading Rainbow Releases Children's Book

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ Multi-award winning actor, director and education advocate LEVAR BURTON has written his first children's book, THE RHINO WHO SWALLOWED A STORM, to be published on October 7. The first book published by the iconic and beloved READING RAINBOW brand, THE RHINO WHO SWALLOWED A STORM brings to parents and their children an uplifting, warm and powerful story that helps kids cope with difficult moments in everyday life.

Co-written by Susan Schaefer Bernardo and illustrated by Courtenay Fletcher, this tale-within-a-tale of a brave little blue rhino continues Burton's lifelong commitment to using stories to empower children and help them see the world in a new way.

"It was crucial to me that my first children's book was one of meaning and purpose that kids and their parents could read together," said Burton. "RHINO reminds all of us that though life has tough moments, we are surrounded by friends, family and love that's what helps us get through them."

Accomplishing a rare trifecta of iconic career roles, Burton is best-known for his starring as Kunta Kinte in Roots, Lt Cmdr. Geordi La Forge in Star Trek: The Next Generation, and of course as host and executive producer of the Peabody-winning PBS television series Reading Rainbow for 26 years. In 2012, Burton and his business partner Mark Wolfe formed RRKidz to launch the Reading Rainbow brand into the digital era for the next generation of children. The company has the #1 educational app and this summer mounted a record-breaking Kickstarter campaign to launch a web-based platform that will deliver thousands of books and video field trips into homes, schools and libraries throughout the country.

The 32-page picture book will be available at both national retailers and independent bookstores on October 7, with a digital version available in the Reading Rainbow App for the holiday season. Pre-order now at Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

About the Authors & Reading Rainbow:

Actor, director and educator LeVar Burton has been an icon for more than 35 years. 1977's TV miniseries Roots propelled the 19-year-old Burton onto the world stage with his unforgettable performance as Kunta Kinte. As Star Trek: The Next Generation's blind chief engineer Geordi LaForge, Burton reminded audiences that it's not our disabilities but our contribution to society that defines us. However, in 2012 he formed RRKidz with his business partner Mark Wolfe. They hold the global rights to the Reading Rainbow brand through a partnership with series creator, WNED/Buffalo. For more information, visit www.readingrainbow.com.

Co-author Susan Schaefer Bernardo is a published poet and the author of Sun Kisses, Moon Hugs. Courtenay Fletcher is a designer and the illustrator of Sun Kisses, Moon Hugs.

PRESS: Julie Nathanson Rogers & Cowan jnathanson@rogersandcowan.com 310.854.8191

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SOURCE Reading Rainbow

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