Every child deserves a lifeline—something that opens their eyes to worlds beyond their own.

For so many of us, that lifeline was Reading Rainbow—the beloved PBS program that carried children of the ’80s, ’90s, and the dawn of the new millennium into uncharted worlds, sparked our imaginations, and became a trusted friend, reminding us that every book is a gateway and every page a step toward endless possibility.

Now, one visionary creator is carrying that torch forward, showing us how stories can carry us twice as high as we ever thought possible.

Director, Animation Producer, & Children’s Author, Ezra Edmond, joins our John Masiulionis and Little Forrest on Episode #252 of PR From The Heart’s Children’s Books Spotlight Series to share his inspiring story, the release of his new children’s book, My Friend LeVar (published by Charlesbridge), how his cherished experience meeting LeVar Burton—the beloved host of Reading Rainbow—and the program’s enduring influence sparked his mission to help children everywhere discover the joy of reading, why it’s more important than ever to continue creating wholesome, quality children’s programming that nurtures young minds and hearts, and practical strategies to inspire literacy in our youth today—plus much more.

We invite you, our friends and neighbors, to support Ezra by grabbing your copies of My Friend LeVar and enjoying this empowering read with your little ones: https://bit.ly/4mHPT0j.