April might be the cruellest month, but at least we’re starting this one off with some good news, thanks to actor and Reading Rainbow host LeVar Burton.

To the delight of literature lovers everywhere, Burton announced on Twitter that he’ll be reading stories for both kids and adults in the coming weeks.

“THIS FRIDAY, APRIL 4th, it begins right here,” Burton tweeted, with a picture of him sitting in a very fancy looking library. He then amended his tweet: “…and by the 4th, I meant of course, the 3rd! Apologies… It’s been a very long day… #bydhttmwfi.”

(The hashtag stands for “but you don’t have to take my word for it.” We don’t, LeVar, but we will.)

Burton will read stories for children on Mondays, young adults on Wednesdays and not-so-young adults on Fridays. His first selection, scheduled for this Friday at 9 p.m. EDT, will be “a selection from master storyteller” Neil Gaiman.

Burton has long been an advocate for reading. He’s especially well-known among book fans for hosting Reading Rainbow, the children’s television show that ran for 23 years on PBS. And last November, he hosted the National Book Awards ceremony in New York.

On Twitter, Burton’s fans reacted to the news with unalloyed glee. “Yay!! #levarburton is back reading to us!!!!” enthused author Jacqueline Woodson. And journalist Bobby Rivers wrote, “This country is lucky to have @levarburton. Can I get an ‘Amen’ on that?”

(Hey, Bobby: Amen.)

Michael Schaub is a Texas-based journalist and regular contributor to NPR.