 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Reading Rainbow
- PBS
- Genre: Educational
Common Sense Media says
Encouraging kids to read, one book at a time.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
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.
What's the story?
READING RAINBOW has been introducing books to kids since the early '80s. The series "promotes reading as a way children can sample the world around them." Host and executive producer LeVar Burton explores a wide range of social topics, including the United Nations' children's initiatives, holidays celebrated by other cultures, and worker's rights. By using the combination of a documentary/ magazine-style format and the wonderful illustrated books that populate the show's shelves, Burton manages to open young minds to the world.
Is it any good?
Kids of all colors, races, and ethnicities speak about their favorite books for a period during each program. It's a treat to watch the kids speak on their subjects. They run the gamut: self-confident, nervous, passionate, awkward, graceful, and eloquent. Hearing kids speak this passionately about books that they love is inspirational. It all adds up to a gentle, diverse, and effective educational program that can be enjoyed by all kids -- and their parents.
Many people know Burton from the series Star Trek: The Next Generation, on which he had the key role of Geordi La Forge. Others might recognize him from his gut-wrenching performance in the television adaptation of Roots. But the imprint that Burton has made on a generation of readers through Reading Rainbow is arguably his most important project to date.
What 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?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
(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.
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AGE
A classic-- best ever!
Ever since I was a child watching this show I've loved it-- me and my friends can still sing the theme song even though we're in college. Great, classic show for encouraging kids to read!!! But you don't have to take my word for it...
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AGE
GREAT show!
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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AGE
Mr. Rogers.. is always my neighbor!
I use to enjoy this show when I was a kid. I'm an 80s baby, and I miss how Mr. Rogers likes to visit "real life" events and teaches kids how things are made, and I use to love it how he use to take off his coat and his shoes everyday and puts a new coat on ^^ I use to love the Trolly Train
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AGE
Iffy for 5-9
This is a great show, and 99% of the episodes are appropriate for children over the age of 4 or 5, but I remember one episode was centered around the theme of slavery, and this is definitely not appropriate for 5 year olds.
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AGE
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
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Kid, 12 years old
June 1, 2011
AGE
Its all about imagination and reading.
Its all about imagination and reading.
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AGE
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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| Topics: | book characters, numbers and letters |
| TV rating: | TV-Y |
| Network: | PBS |
| Genre: | Educational |
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