Reading Rainbow

1983 - 2006

Tight Times

Episode 1

A young girl's father loses his job.

Miss Nelson Is Back

Episode 2

As part of his birthday celebration, LeVar gets made-up like a movie monster, and then gets involved in Harry Blackstone's magic act. Ruth Buzzi reads Miss Nelson Is Back, all about a group of rowdy students who try to take advantage of their teacher's absence when she's out sick one day, and how she gets revenge on them by pretending to be "the meanest teacher in the world, Viola Swamp."

Bea and Mr. Jones

Episode 3

LeVar is already worn out after working on several scenes all day long on the production of the series. He feels he needs to take on another identity, segueing into introducing the featured book, Bea and Mr. Jones. Madeline Kahn reads the book about a kindergarten student and her father who get so bored with their jobs that they decide to experiment by switching places for the day.

Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain

Episode 4

Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain

Louis the Fish

Episode 5

Digging Up Dinosaurs

Episode 6

Technically not the first science-related show in its history, LeVar seeks a place where archaeologists retrieve dinosaur bones. At the end of the program, LeVar buries a time capsule, containing (among other things) a can of old Coke and his picture. Linda Gilman reads Digging Up Dinosaurs, a story about how paleontologists unearth dinosaurs skeletons and preserve them in museum exhibits.

Liang and the Magic Paintbrush

Episode 7

Liang and the Magic Paintbrush

Gila Monsters Meet You at the Airport

Episode 8

In the featured book, a young boy and his family move from New York City to the Southwest and he has many misconceptions about what his new home is like.

Three Days on a River in a Red Canoe

Episode 9

Three Days on a River in a Red Canoe

The Gift of the Sacred Dog

Episode 10

The first of many programs favoring Native Americans. In this instance, a Midwestern legend suggests how horses arrived to the tribe. Later in this episode is the song "Ancient Places, Sacred Lands" which lists several words originating from various locations of the United States and the tribal meaning of their names.

Gregory, the Terrible Eater

Episode 11

Today's subject is goats and what they eat.

Three by the Sea

Episode 12

Three by the Sea

Arthur's Eyes

Episode 13

LaVar explores seeing and our other senses, as Bill Cosby tells the story of how the young aardvark, Arthur Read acquired his pair of glasses.

The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash

Episode 14

The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash

Ty's One Man Band

Episode 15

LeVar is ready to find music everywhere, and he does. This show includes the animation Onomatopoeia. Lou Rawls reads the story of Ty's One-Man Band, about a man who teaches a boy how to make music using household items.

Top Cast

Journey to exciting places and build a lasting connection with your favorite books. Each episode centers on a theme from a book, or other children's literature, which is explored through a number of segments or stories.

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Production Companies

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Full Cast

LeVar Burton Image

LeVar Burton

Self - Host

Full Crew

Steve Horelick

Music

LeVar Burton Image

LeVar Burton

Executive Producer

Larry Lancit Image

Larry Lancit

Executive Producer

Larry Lancit Image

Larry Lancit

Supervising Producer

Cecily Truett Lancit Image

Cecily Truett Lancit

Executive Producer

Twila Liggett

Executive Producer

David C. McCourt

Executive Producer

Tony Buttino

Producer

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