Reading Rainbow 1983
“Take a look, it’s in a book, a Reading Rainbow!”
★ 8.3/10 · 48 votes TV-Y Kids 21 seasons · 155 eps Ended
Where to watch:
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Quick answer
What is Reading Rainbow?
The television series "Reading Rainbow" features a format where each episode centers on a theme from a book or other children's literature. The theme is explored through a number of segments or stories.
- Type
- TV series
- Year
- 1983
- Status
- Ended
- Episodes
- 155
- Runtime
- 30 minutes
- First aired
- Jun 6, 1983
- Last aired
- Nov 10, 2006
- Original language
- EN
- Origin
- US
- Networks
- PBS
- Genres
- Kids
- Updated
Availability by region
Where to watch
Buy
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PBS Kids Amazon ChannelBuy
Amazon VideoApple TV StoreStreaming availability data provided by JustWatch via TMDB. Availability changes by country and date; verify on the provider before subscribing or purchasing.
Planning tool
How long to binge?
Estimate the schedule using 155 episodes and an average 30-minute runtime.
Trailer
Overview
The television series "Reading Rainbow" features a format where each episode centers on a theme from a book or other children's literature. The theme is explored through a number of segments or stories. The series aims to build a lasting connection with children and their favorite books, allowing them to journey to exciting places.
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Should you watch it?
“Explore the magic of children's literature through themed episodes.”
Reasons to watch
- Encourages reading and literacy in children
- Features diverse children's literature themes
- Takes viewers on imaginative journeys
Keep in mind
- Targeted primarily at children
- May feel dated to modern audiences
Watch it if you want to foster a love of reading in young viewers.
Suitable for children and families seeking educational programming.
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Cast
LeVar Burton
Self - Host
Ruby Dee
Self - Narrator (voice)
Arnold Stang
Self - Narrator (voice)
Fred Newman
Self - Narrator (voice)
Vincent Gardenia
Self - Narrator (voice)
Michael Ansara
Self - Narrator (voice)
☻
Linda Gelman
Narrator (voice)
James Avery
Self - Narrator (voice)
Lea Salonga
Self - Narrator (voice)
Julia Child
Self - Narrator (voice)
Ruth Buzzi
Self - Narrator (voice)
Madeline Kahn
Self - Narrator (voice)
Comprehensive Directory
Episode guide
🛡️ SPOILER SHIELD
Spoiler-Safe Browsing Progress
Future titles & recaps blurred. Tap "Reveal" on any item to peek.
Season 1 · 15 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide & lore primer →- E1 Tight Times Mytharc Jun 6, 1983
- E2 Miss Nelson Is Back Core Jun 7, 1983
- E3 Bea and Mr. Jones Core Jun 8, 1983
- E4 Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain Core Jun 9, 1983
- E5 Louis the Fish Core Jun 10, 1983
- E6 Digging Up Dinosaurs Core Jun 13, 1983
- E7 Liang and the Magic Paintbrush Core Jun 14, 1983
- E8 Gila Monsters Meet You at the Airport Core Jun 15, 1983
- E9 Three Days on a River in a Red Canoe Core Jun 16, 1983
- E10 The Gift of the Sacred Dog Core Jun 17, 1983
- E11 Gregory, the Terrible Eater Core Jun 20, 1983
- E12 Three by the Sea Core Jun 21, 1983
- E13 Arthur's Eyes Core Jun 22, 1983
- E14 The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash Mytharc Jun 22, 1983
- E15 Ty's One Man Band Mytharc Jun 23, 1983
Season 2 · 5 episodes
Open the complete Season 2 guide & lore primer →- E1 Hot-Air Henry Mytharc Jan 1, 1984
- E2 Simon's Book Core Jan 1, 1984
- E3 Ox-Cart Man Core Jan 1, 1984
- E4 Mystery on the Docks Core Jan 1, 1984
- E5 A Chair for My Mother Mytharc Jan 1, 1984
Season 3 · 5 episodes
Open the complete Season 3 guide & lore primer →- E1 Paul Bunyan Mytharc Jul 1, 1985
- E2 The Patchwork Quilt Core Jul 2, 1985
- E3 Hill of Fire Core Jul 3, 1985
- E4 The Tortoise and the Hare Core Jul 5, 1985
- E5 Perfect the Pig Mytharc Jul 22, 1985
Season 4 · 10 episodes
Open the complete Season 4 guide & lore primer →- E1 Animal Cafe Mytharc Jun 23, 1986
- E2 Alistair in Outer Space Core Jun 24, 1986
- E3 Feelings Core Jun 25, 1986
- E4 Watch the Stars Come Out Core Jun 26, 1986
- E5 Mama Don't Allow Core Jun 27, 1986
- E6 Space Case Core Jun 30, 1986
- E7 The Milk Makers Core Jul 1, 1986
- E8 Imogene's Antlers Core Jul 2, 1986
- E9 Germs Make Me Sick! Mytharc Jul 3, 1986
- E10 Abiyoyo Mytharc Jul 4, 1986
Season 5 · 10 episodes
Open the complete Season 5 guide & lore primer →- E1 The Life Cycle of the Honey Bee Mytharc Jun 22, 1987
- E2 Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie Core Jun 23, 1987
- E3 Chickens Aren't the Only Ones Core Jun 24, 1987
- E4 The Paper Crane Core Jun 25, 1987
- E5 The Runaway Duck Core Jun 28, 1987
- E6 A Three Hat Day Core Jun 29, 1987
- E7 Rumplestiltskin Core Jun 30, 1987
- E8 Best Friends Core Jul 1, 1987
- E9 Meanwhile Back at the Ranch Mytharc Jul 2, 1987
- E10 My Little Island Mytharc Jul 3, 1987
Season 6 · 10 episodes
Open the complete Season 6 guide & lore primer →- E1 The Bionic Bunny Show Mytharc Aug 15, 1988
- E2 Bugs Core Aug 16, 1988
- E3 The Robbery at the Diamond Dog Diner Core Aug 17, 1988
- E4 Brush Core Aug 18, 1988
- E5 The Purple Coat Core Aug 19, 1988
- E6 Barn Dance! Core Aug 27, 1988
- E7 Duncan and Dolores Core Aug 28, 1988
- E8 Knots on a Counting Rope Core Aug 29, 1988
- E9 Mummies Made in Egypt Mytharc Aug 30, 1988
- E10 Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters Mytharc Aug 31, 1988
Season 7 · 10 episodes
Open the complete Season 7 guide & lore primer →- E1 Humphrey the Lost Whale: A True Story Mytharc Jul 3, 1989
- E2 Stay Away from the Junkyard! Core Jul 4, 1989
- E3 Little Nino's Pizzeria Core Jul 5, 1989
- E4 Ludlow Laughs Core Jul 6, 1989
- E5 Dinosaur Bob and his Adventures with the Family Lazardo Core Jul 7, 1989
- E6 Dive to the Coral Reefs Core Mar 26, 1990
- E7 Desert Giant: The World of the Saguaro Cactus Core Mar 27, 1990
- E8 Tooth-Gnasher Superflash Core Mar 28, 1990
- E9 Bored-Nothing to Do! Mytharc Mar 29, 1990
- E10 Sports Pages Mytharc Mar 30, 1990
Season 8 · 5 episodes
Open the complete Season 8 guide & lore primer →- E1 The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth Mytharc Sep 10, 1990
- E2 Jack, the Seal and the Sea Core Sep 11, 1990
- E3 The Bicycle Man Core Sep 12, 1990
- E4 Florence and Eric Take the Cake Core Sep 13, 1990
- E5 Sunken Treasure Mytharc Sep 14, 1990
Season 9 · 10 episodes
Open the complete Season 9 guide & lore primer →- E1 Alistair's Time Machine Mytharc Sep 16, 1991
- E2 The Adventures of Taxi Dog Core Sep 17, 1991
- E3 The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush Core Sep 18, 1991
- E4 Galimoto Core Sep 19, 1991
- E5 Fox on the Job Core Sep 20, 1991
- E6 Opt: An Illusionary Tale Core Sep 23, 1991
- E7 Raccoons and Ripe Corn Core Sep 24, 1991
- E8 The Lady with the Ship on her Head Core Sep 25, 1991
- E9 Kate Shelley and the Midnight Express Mytharc Sep 26, 1991
- E10 Snowy Day: Stories and Poems Mytharc Sep 27, 1991
Season 10 · 10 episodes
Open the complete Season 10 guide & lore primer →- E1 Tar Beach Mytharc Oct 5, 1992
- E2 The Wall Core Oct 6, 1992
- E3 Sam The Sea Cow Core Oct 7, 1992
- E4 Rechenka's Eggs Core Oct 8, 1992
- E5 Sophie and Lou Core Oct 9, 1992
- E6 Come a Tide Core Oct 12, 1992
- E7 The Piggy in the Puddle Core Oct 13, 1992
- E8 Seahorse Surprises Core Oct 14, 1992
- E9 Through Moon and Stars and Night Skies Mytharc Oct 15, 1992
- E10 Berlioz the Bear Mytharc Oct 16, 1992
Season 11 · 10 episodes
Open the complete Season 11 guide & lore primer →- E1 Amazing Grace Mytharc Oct 11, 1993
- E2 The Furry News Core Oct 12, 1993
- E3 Mrs. Katz and Tush Core Oct 13, 1993
- E4 The Salamander Room Core Oct 14, 1993
- E5 Silent Lotus Core Oct 15, 1993
- E6 Follow the Drinking Gourd Core Oct 18, 1993
- E7 If You Give a Mouse a Cookie Core Oct 19, 1993
- E8 Is This a House for Hermit Crab? Core Oct 20, 1993
- E9 And Still the Turtle Watched Mytharc Oct 21, 1993
- E10 June 29, 1999 Mytharc Oct 22, 1993
Season 12 · 10 episodes
Open the complete Season 12 guide & lore primer →- E1 Nosey Mrs. Rat Mytharc Oct 3, 1994
- E2 Borreguita and the Coyote Core Oct 4, 1994
- E3 Summer Core Oct 5, 1994
- E4 Once There Was a Tree Core Oct 6, 1994
- E5 Appelemando's Dreams Core Oct 7, 1994
- E6 The Lotus Seed Core Oct 10, 1994
- E7 Hail to Mail Core Oct 11, 1994
- E8 Stellaluna Core Oct 12, 1994
- E9 My Shadow Mytharc Oct 13, 1994
- E10 Ruth Law Thrills a Nation Mytharc Oct 14, 1994
Season 13 · 5 episodes
Open the complete Season 13 guide & lore primer →- E1 The Wonderful Towers of Watts Mytharc Oct 2, 1995
- E2 Martha Speaks Core Oct 3, 1995
- E3 Alejandro's Gift Core Oct 4, 1995
- E4 The Sign Painter's Dream Core Oct 5, 1995
- E5 Archibald Frisby Mytharc Oct 6, 1995
Season 14 · 5 episodes
Open the complete Season 14 guide & lore primer →- E1 Fly Away Home Mytharc Oct 8, 1995
- E2 Uncle Jed's Barber Shop Core Oct 9, 1995
- E3 How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World Core Oct 10, 1995
- E4 Owen Core Oct 11, 1995
- E5 How Much is a Million? Mytharc Oct 12, 1995
Season 15 · 5 episodes
Open the complete Season 15 guide & lore primer →- E1 Always My Dad Mytharc Oct 7, 1996
- E2 Bread is for Eating Core Oct 8, 1996
- E3 Hotel Animal Core Oct 9, 1996
- E4 Someplace Else Core Oct 10, 1996
- E5 Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin Mytharc Oct 11, 1996
Season 16 · 5 episodes
Open the complete Season 16 guide & lore primer →- E1 On the Day You Were Born Mytharc Apr 7, 1997
- E2 Hip Cat Core Apr 8, 1997
- E3 Regina's Big Mistake Core Apr 9, 1997
- E4 Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message Core Apr 10, 1997
- E5 The Carousel Mytharc Apr 11, 1997
Season 17 · 5 episodes
Open the complete Season 17 guide & lore primer →- E1 Math Curse Mytharc Oct 5, 1998
- E2 My Life with the Wave Core Oct 6, 1998
- E3 Saturday Sancocho Core Oct 7, 1998
- E4 When Aunt Lena Did the Rhumba Core Oct 8, 1998
- E5 Work Song Mytharc Oct 9, 1998
Season 18 · 6 episodes
Open the complete Season 18 guide & lore primer →- E1 The Shaman's Apprentice: A Tale of the Amazon Rainforest Mytharc Oct 23, 2000
- E2 Pet Stories You Don't Have to Walk Core Nov 20, 2000
- E3 Lemonade For Sale Core Jan 19, 2001
- E4 The Secret Shortcut Core Feb 16, 2001
- E5 My America: A Poetry Atlas of the United States Mytharc Mar 16, 2001
- E6 Badger's Parting Gifts Mytharc Apr 20, 2001
Season 19 · 4 episodes
Open the complete Season 19 guide & lore primer →- E1 The Tin Forest Mytharc Sep 2, 2002
- E2 Max Core Sep 3, 2002
- E3 Enemy Pie Core Sep 5, 2002
- E4 Our Big Home: An Earth Poem Mytharc Sep 6, 2002
Season 20 · 5 episodes
Open the complete Season 20 guide & lore primer →- E1 Visiting Day Mytharc Dec 15, 2004
- E2 Unique Monique Core Dec 16, 2004
- E3 Mr. George Baker Core Dec 17, 2004
- E4 Beegu Core Jan 20, 2005
- E5 Two Old Potatoes and Me Mytharc Jan 21, 2005
Season 21 · 5 episodes
Open the complete Season 21 guide & lore primer →- E1 The Biggest Test in the Universe Mytharc Nov 6, 2006
- E2 I Lost My Tooth in Africa Core Nov 7, 2006
- E3 Boxes for Katje Core Nov 8, 2006
- E4 Game Day Core Nov 9, 2006
- E5 Show Way Mytharc Nov 10, 2006
Verified insights
Frequently asked questions
What age group is this show for?
The show is designed for children and families.
What is the main focus of each episode?
Each episode explores a theme from children's literature through various segments.
Does the show feature real books?
Yes, episodes are centered around books and other children's literature.
Are there recurring segments in episodes?
Episodes include multiple segments or stories related to the featured theme.
What type of places does the show visit?
The show takes viewers to exciting places related to the episode themes.
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