STRONGER BRAINS = SMARTER KIDS

In creating PBS’s beloved Reading Rainbow, Cecily helped redefine what children’s television could be. For twenty years, she led a team of educators, authors, and filmmakers in transforming great books into imaginative journeys that opened doors to worlds beyond the page. Under her creative direction, Reading Rainbow became one of public television’s most honored series—winning sixteen National Daytime Emmy Awards, including seven personal Emmys for Best Children’s Series, and the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award. More importantly, it became a touchstone for families, teachers, and children who grew up believing that reading could be as exciting as any adventure on screen.

Beyond Reading Rainbow, Cecily’s creative reach extended across an extraordinary range of family programming. She created and produced Ramona for PBS, based on the classic Beverly Cleary books; Backyard Safari, inspired by naturalist Jim Arnosky’s children’s titles; The Saddle Club for Fox Family, adapted from the Bantam book series; and The Zack Files, also for Fox Family, drawn from Dan Greenburg’s best-selling supernatural mysteries for young readers. Her credits also include Outward Bound for the Discovery Channel and The Puzzle Place for PBS—programs celebrated for their engaging blend of storytelling, adventure, and social learning.

Throughout her career, Cecily’s work has earned the trust and partnership of leading corporate and philanthropic funders who share her commitment to high-quality educational media. Support has come from Fisher-Price, Sony, Toys “R” Us, Kellogg’s, Barnes & Noble, B. Dalton, and IBM, along with such esteemed institutions as the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Science Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation, and the Pew Charitable Trusts.

Cecily’s lifelong passion for reading and brain development has evolved into her newest initiative, Reading Brainpower—a program designed to coach parents and caregivers on how to read daily with their children from birth. Rooted in modern neuroscience, Reading Brainpower translates the finding that 90% of a child’s brain growth occurs by age three into practical guidance for nurturing language, emotional intelligence, and pre-reading skills. Her mission remains the same as it was with Reading Rainbow: to give every child the strongest possible start through the simple, powerful act of reading together.

An engaging and inspiring speaker, Cecily has been invited to share her insights on children’s literacy and media with professional organizations across the country, including the Reinberger Children’s Library Center at Kent State University’s School of Information. She continues to advocate for policies and practices that elevate the importance of reading in early childhood development.

In addition to her work in literacy, Cecily and her husband, producer-director Larry Lancit, continue to create acclaimed documentary films. Their feature Blues on Beale spotlights the 36th Annual International Blues Challenge in Memphis and is now streaming on more than twenty-five on-demand platforms worldwide, including Amazon and iTunes. They also appear as principal voices in Butterfly in the Sky, the feature documentary that premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and chronicles the legacy of Reading Rainbow and its impact over its twenty-three-year run on PBS.

Cecily earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English, with a minor in Spanish, from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and a Master’s degree in Journalism and Media Arts from the University of South Carolina in Columbia. Her alma maters have recognized her achievements with both a Doctor of Humane Letters from Winthrop University and the Diamond Circle Award from the University of South Carolina for distinguished excellence in media.

From classrooms to living rooms, from beloved books to award-winning broadcasts, Cecily Lancit’s career reflects a singular devotion to children’s growth through reading. She continues to champion the transformative power of story—reminding us all that when adults read with children, they are not just teaching literacy; they are helping to build better brains, stronger families, and brighter futures.