My 3 1/2 year old loves this show! I pick her up from school at 1pm 2 days a week and she asks if it is time for Between the Lions and then says "And I will watch Reading Rainbow after. That is my favorite show". Nice to know that classic shows can survive!!
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Reading Rainbow
(Rated TV-Y, Educational, Where to watch: PBS)
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings(Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)
Not age appropriate for kids under 0, age appropriate for kids over 4; suggested age 4. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Encouraging kids to read, one book at a time.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 4 and Up
The good stuff
What to watch out for
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Violence & scariness:
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Language:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
About Reading Rainbow
Parents need to know that this program, which encourages kids to read, has been on for more than 20 years. Critics at first thought it was counter-intuitive to emphasize reading books on television. But this program makes story time rich and interesting. Along with stories narrated by renowned actors, documentary-style investigations explore everything from locomotives to city markets to slavery.
Read our full review by Joly Herman
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about the different subjects of each episode. The featured books and investigations can make great starting points for Internet research or a trip to the library. What do kids enjoy about story time? Did you watch this program when you were younger? Does this show make your kids want to read more? Why is reading so important?
Our Members Say
See all 7 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
GREAT show!
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
(just read)
This is a great show. I use to LOVE it. It's all about books (which i refer to as my "truest luffies" and everyone knows that I mean books). Reading Rainbow features many classic and entertaining books with very animated readers. They also make it more excitig by making the story "come to life". They take all the pictures and animate them. And Levar Burtan (if he's still the host) has some very interesting scenarios that he gets into. My brother and I always found it entertaining to guess the age of the episode as well. :) It's an amazing show and I'm so glad they show all the reruns endlessly. I'm also thankful to the fact that my parents shoved PBS and the news down my throat from the time I was born.
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
Read all day
This Show helped start to love reading. Back when I couldn't even read and to see that it is still on the air is wonderful Parents let your kids watch this show its wonderful you learn from it unlike a lot of shows today. We just love it
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
Great Show!!!
This show has been there a long time. Thank god PBS still airs ALL of the reruns of this magificent show. It never lost any of the educational content it had ever since 1983. THANK GOD PBS FOR KEEPING ALL OF THE RERUNS OF READING RAINBOW, if only you would bring back the early episodes of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (1979 and up reruns still air), and Sesame Street (bring back the earlier 1969 episodes, please) and bringing back retired PBS shows like Lamb Chop, Electric Company, 3-2-1 Contact, Theodore Tugboat, Puzzle Place, Magic School Bus (still reruns on Discovery Kids and TLC), Shining Time Station (I did hear rumors about this one rerunning on Playhouse Disney later this Fall), Ghostwriter, Wishbone, Wimzie's House, Bloopy's Buddies, Adventures in the Book of Virtues, Square One Television, and so much more retro PBS KIDS titles you remember!!! LEVAR'S THE MAN!!!
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