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Reading Rainbow Signs Off
It was with a surprising sadness that I read that PBS' third-longest-running series, Reading Rainbow, would be airing its final episode on Friday, Aug. 28, 2009 -- after 26 years on television. I couldn't stop singing the theme song -- "Take a look, it's in a book, Reading Raaainbow" -- for days, and I felt like it was the end of an era.
To me, the show's end signals a fundamental shift in the way we view educational television -- and possibly childhood literacy as a whole. The emphasis, as PBS' Vice President for Children's Programming Linda Simensky told NPR last week, is no longer on teaching a love of books or an introduction to great children's literature, but on teaching young kids how to read. Full stop.
Why can't there be room for both in children's television? Of course shows like Super WHY! and WordGirl should be commended for providing preschoolers with the tools to unlock words. As studies have shown, kids who aren't necessarily read to at home benefit most from these types of early literacy programs. In fact, educational television is preschool for some children.
But what about kids who are read to on a daily basis, who do take trips to the library with their parents? Reading Rainbow spoke to them, reinforcing their love of books by stressing literary themes and the out-and-out wonder of storytelling. It provided the tools for examining a book -- thinking about its plot, its themes, its life applications. That's just as vital, in my opinion, as learning to break down a word phonetically or how "cat" and "hat" rhyme.
Like many adults in their twenties and thirties, I have fond memories watching LeVar Burton introduce new books (at age 6 or 7, I desperately wanted to be chosen as one of the kids who gave book reviews on the show). As a mother, I've often referred to the show's Web site for book recommendations, many of which are among my children's favorites.
It's a shame that there won't be any additional Reading Rainbow picks for my children to enjoy. It's a shame that a show about the joy of reading can't co-exist with programs stressing how to read.
Sandie Angulo Chen has been an entertainment writer and editor for her entire professional career and is the mother of three. Her work has appeared in Variety, Moviefone.com, EW.com, Entertainment Weekly, and InStyle. The opinions in this article reflect the views of the author and not necessarily those of Common Sense Media.
How do you feel about the end of the Reading Rainbow era?
There are 12 community opinions on this topic
"The emphasis ... is no longer on teaching a love of books or an introduction to great children's literature, but on teaching young kids how to read" Does anyone else see the glaring irony of this statement?
What better way to teach children to read than to instill the love of reading? There is no other program like Reading Rainbow on any network. LeVar Burton is engaging, kind, and invites our young potential and current readers into topics and adventures of which they may never have known without this program. The young kids give thier own book reports reports, having read the book; peer performance is a great vehicle by which entousiasm is shared and growth is encouraged. The ultimate beauty of this program is that the content of the books presented then opens doors into areas of biology, geography, other cultures, astronomy, the symbiosis of plants, animals, and humans , without having separate programs for each decipline, and encouraging the preception that we are indeed part of a whole organism.
Sheer madness that Reading Rainbow has been cancelled.
68 years old, no children (I had to invent one to sign on), no grandchildren, always at work during the day so I didn't get to see Reading Rainbow very often, but I am so sad it's off the air. I grew up reading and loved Mr. Burton's ability to convey his own love of reading to children who increasingly didn't get Total Reading Indoctrination from their parents, even if they were read to every day. Also, I loved the opportunity to connect with LaForge.
Thats rude! LeVar worked so hard to educate us!
NO!! i love reading rainbow! altough im nine, i still like to watch the Star trek one. Bye LeVar burton... T_T T_T T_T T_T T_T :'( :'(
Oh, I remember when we used to watch those every friday. They were my favorite. Though I haven't seen one in 8 or 9 years, I can still remember the theme song. I can't believe they're ending it! I'm sure in it's place they are going to put up some other mass-produced boring-as-ever cartoon, that, let's face it, doesn't help kids at all! (I saw one WordGirl where the bad guy was teaching his henchies to steal something, which in turn, introduces kids to stealing!!!!) RIP READING RAINBOW. When I think of you, I think of my childhood.!
I remember watching tons of episodes of this show back in elementary school, at school, and at home. *Sigh* those were the good days...when teachers actually knew how to get kids interested into learning new things, and life went by like a gentle breeze. I can still remember the intro song with relative ease.
-To all kids under 12, you'll understand the nostalgia of re-viewing these shows when you get into your teens and later on, and remember those times you watched these as a kid, and all the good times you had during your early life. Never grow up, and cherish each day you have to be a kid, it goes by too fast, believe me, I know just being 16. =(
omygod i couldnt care less that the show is ending that show is boring and it stinks even when i was a little kid i hated this show. to reading rainbow:GOOD RIDDANCE and to the people who like reading rainbow, your better off watching something else even spongebob is something better to watch
i never liked the show anyway
No! My girls both love the show like I did. I can understand a host change, but why end it? I love Levar though, Star Trek and all.
I am so sorry to learn this news. My three sons grew up with this show and enjoyed it so much. Shows like this one should never be taken off the air. I love to read and past that love on to my sons. Thanks to LeVar Burton for such a loving and committment to our little ones for so many years.
I cant believe the news!..Its so sad to hear this. I use to watch this when i was a little girl,Im 30 now,but can still remember the opening song- And of course ill miss seeing LeVar Burton as well,whom made the show even better.