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Series · 1983 – 2006 · Kids

Reading Rainbow

Take a look, it’s in a book, a Reading Rainbow!

★8.4 1983 – 2006 21 Seasons TV-MA

Journey to exciting places and build a lasting connection with your favorite books. Each episode centers on a theme from a book, or other children's literature, which is explored through a number of segments or stories.

Seasons & episodes

21 seasons · 155 episodes

Tight Times

Episode 01

Tight Times

Jun 6, 1983 · 30 min

A young girl's father loses his job.

Miss Nelson Is Back

Episode 02

Miss Nelson Is Back

Jun 7, 1983 · 30 min

As part of his birthday celebration, LeVar gets made-up like a movie monster, and then gets involved in Harry Blackstone's magic act. Ruth Buzzi reads Miss Nelson Is Back, all about a group of rowdy students who try to take advantage of their teacher's absence when she's out sick one day, and how she gets revenge on them by pretending to be "the meanest teacher in the world, Viola Swamp."

Bea and Mr. Jones

Episode 03

Bea and Mr. Jones

Jun 8, 1983 · 30 min

LeVar is already worn out after working on several scenes all day long on the production of the series. He feels he needs to take on another identity, segueing into introducing the featured book, Bea and Mr. Jones. Madeline Kahn reads the book about a kindergarten student and her father who get so bored with their jobs that they decide to experiment by switching places for the day.

Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain

Episode 04

Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain

Jun 9, 1983 · 30 min

Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain

Louis the Fish

Episode 05

Louis the Fish

Jun 10, 1983 · 30 min

Louis the Fish

Digging Up Dinosaurs

Episode 06

Digging Up Dinosaurs

Jun 13, 1983 · 30 min

Technically not the first science-related show in its history, LeVar seeks a place where archaeologists retrieve dinosaur bones. At the end of the program, LeVar buries a time capsule, containing (among other things) a can of old Coke and his picture. Linda Gilman reads Digging Up Dinosaurs, a story about how paleontologists unearth dinosaurs skeletons and preserve them in museum exhibits.

Liang and the Magic Paintbrush

Episode 07

Liang and the Magic Paintbrush

Jun 14, 1983 · 30 min

Liang and the Magic Paintbrush

Gila Monsters Meet You at the Airport

Episode 08

Gila Monsters Meet You at the Airport

Jun 15, 1983 · 30 min

In the featured book, a young boy and his family move from New York City to the Southwest and he has many misconceptions about what his new home is like.

Three Days on a River in a Red Canoe

Episode 09

Three Days on a River in a Red Canoe

Jun 16, 1983 · 30 min

Three Days on a River in a Red Canoe

The Gift of the Sacred Dog

Episode 10

The Gift of the Sacred Dog

Jun 17, 1983 · 30 min

The first of many programs favoring Native Americans. In this instance, a Midwestern legend suggests how horses arrived to the tribe. Later in this episode is the song "Ancient Places, Sacred Lands" which lists several words originating from various locations of the United States and the tribal meaning of their names.

Gregory, the Terrible Eater

Episode 11

Gregory, the Terrible Eater

Jun 20, 1983 · 30 min

Today's subject is goats and what they eat.

Three by the Sea

Episode 12

Three by the Sea

Jun 21, 1983 · 30 min

Three by the Sea

Arthur's Eyes

Episode 13

Arthur's Eyes

Jun 22, 1983 · 30 min

LaVar explores seeing and our other senses, as Bill Cosby tells the story of how the young aardvark, Arthur Read acquired his pair of glasses.

The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash

Episode 14

The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash

Jun 22, 1983 · 30 min

The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash

Ty's One Man Band

Episode 15

Ty's One Man Band

Jun 23, 1983 · 30 min

LeVar is ready to find music everywhere, and he does. This show includes the animation Onomatopoeia. Lou Rawls reads the story of Ty's One-Man Band, about a man who teaches a boy how to make music using household items.

About the series

Reading Rainbow poster
Audience score
★ 8.4 /10

based on 52 votes

Synopsis

Journey to exciting places and build a lasting connection with your favorite books. Each episode centers on a theme from a book, or other children's literature, which is explored through a number of segments or stories.

Kids

Cast

1 principal cast

LeVar Burton

LeVar Burton

Self - Host

Where to watch Reading Rainbow

Reading Rainbow is available to stream on Flicksy via 6 verified sources, aggregated from publicly available embed providers. The kids has 21 seasons and 155 total episodes, rated 8.4/10 by 52 viewers.

Frequently asked

How many seasons does Reading Rainbow have?

Reading Rainbow has 21 seasons with 155 episodes in total.

Is Reading Rainbow still on the air?

Reading Rainbow has ended and is no longer in production.

What network airs Reading Rainbow?

Reading Rainbow airs on PBS.

When did Reading Rainbow first air?

Reading Rainbow first aired on June 6, 1983.

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