Reading Rainbow

FavoritedFavorite 55
PBS (ended 2006)
EDIT

Show Summary

  • Ended
Reading Rainbow is a children's series designed to promote reading comprehension in elementary school age children. Host LeVar Burton introduces the theme of the episode and the book to be profiled in an animated story using the illustrations from the book and narrated by a celebrity, such as Bill Cosby, Ruby Dee, Richard Gere, and the late great stars Ossie Davis, Julia Child, Raul Julia and Gilda Radner, for example. After the story is finished, feature stories in the same subject as the book are profiled, and youth reviewers give critiques of three additional books. LeVar usually introduces the children critics by saying, "but you don't have to take my word for it..."moreless
8.3
out of 10
Avg Rating: Great
253 votes
  • Your Rating: 10
    "Perfect"
  • Your Rating: 9.5
    "Superb"
  • Your Rating: 9
    "Superb"
  • Your Rating: 8.5
    "Great"
  • Your Rating: 8
    "Great"
  • Your Rating: 7.5
    "Good"
  • Your Rating: 7
    "Good"
  • Your Rating: 6.5
    "Fair"
  • Your Rating: 6
    "Fair"
  • Your Rating: 5.5
    "Mediocre"
  • Your Rating: 5
    "Mediocre"
  • Your Rating: 4.5
    "Poor"
  • Your Rating: 4
    "Poor"
  • Your Rating: 3.5
    "Bad"
  • Your Rating: 3
    "Bad"
  • Your Rating: 2.5
    "Terrible"
  • Your Rating: 2
    "Terrible"
  • Your Rating: 1.5
    "Abysmal"
  • Your Rating: 1
    "Abysmal"
Rate Now!

Episode Guide

See All
S 21 :  Ep 5 Aired 11/10/06
S 21 :  Ep 4 Aired 11/9/06
S 21 :  Ep 3 Aired 11/8/06
S 21 :  Ep 2 Aired 11/7/06
S 21 :  Ep 1 Aired 11/6/06

Cast & Crew

See All EDIT

Reading Rainbow News

See All

Fan Reviews (23)

See All

  • I love this show because I love LeVar Burton for hosting Reading Rainbow so much.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By DeonFlood2, Aug 26, 2011
    I love LeVar Burton so much and I love Reading Rainbow because everybody and the whole world learn how to read. Books and everything is always on your side. PBS Kids is always proud for #1 recommendation for children and the world would love Reading Rainbow. Even I am. I'm in love with Reading Rainbow, and the Reading Rainbow guy named LeVar Burton.

  • The educational show that tells us that reading can be fun.

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By Woahwoah312, Aug 17, 2011
    Remember when PBS Kids in it's "It's your imagination" days? Remember the network that didn't have that awful Wild Kratts,that idiotic Sid the Science Kid and that terrible The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot about That? Besides Arthur,this is one of it's best shows ever to air on PBS Kids. Reading Rainbow is a show about a guy (Forgot his name) who promotes reading to kids,and he even reads a story like Stellaluna or something like that. It may sound like a snoozefest like Nick News,however,it ends up being great. This show doesn't say "Hey you,turn off that TV and start reading",this promotes it very well. And I loved the theme song,though I loved the new one better. However,now,it's canceled. Why? So PBS can make room for it's other stupid shows. Thank you,Reading Rainbow,for inspiring us to read.moreless

  • It's more like zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Rainbow

    1.0
    "Abysmal"
    By McLarenDude1, Jul 21, 2011
    Who thought of this lame show ! LaVar makes the show lame it was lame all together ! All they did was talk about books . In school they all ways made me watch it ! I thought I'd rather watch Mr.Rodgers or even TELLITUBIES (even though i hate them ) i would rather watch them ! 41 words W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W O O O O O O O O R R R R S S S T T S S S H H H O W EVER!moreless

  • A great educational show!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By z-agent, Dec 01, 2010
    Ever since age 4 I've always loved this show even taping over 10 volumes! I even let my mother borrow some episodes every now and then. Besides getting kids into reading books, it also shows them the world as well sometimes with animated segments. Can't say what my favorite episode is, there's too many good ones! It's also a great thing to hear various celebrity voices to those who have passed away (Raul Julia, Eartha Kitt, and Gilda Radner are among them). On certain volumes besides this, I also recorded many other treasures of PBS, some incomplete but good nostalgia nonetheless. Even though the show is ended, we need more shows like this.moreless

  • Help me find this episode please!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By i2uthanne, Apr 28, 2010
    I am trying to find an interstitial from RR and which episode it appeared in, although I think it appeared in more than one episode. It was live action video and it was a family who lived in a house near the woods (or a prairie?) and the house was very messy. The mother leaves, and the kids clean up the house. Most of the video is the children cleaning. The mother returns and everyone is happy. I remember the video had natural lighting, and I believe the mother left with a basket in her hand. The whole video is set to a music, like a music video. If you could tell me which episode this appears, I would be very grateful!moreless
WRITE A REVIEW
 

Reading Rainbow Forums


Add a Topic See All
Last Activity
Replies

Photos

See All

Related Shows

Contributors

Become a contributor
More
Less

TV Listings

Full Listings

More Info About This Show

Categories

Kids

Themes

celebrity cameos, childlike sense of wonder, cultural phenomenon, for the child in you, long running show

TV.com Properties | Shows | Videos | News | Listings | Forums | People | Photos | TV.com Blog

CBS Entertainment | About TV.com | About CBS Interactive | Jobs | Advertise

© 2012 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Ad Choice | Terms of Use