reading rainbow book review sound

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Reading Rainbow

June 6, 1983 - November 10, 2006

Reading Rainbow is an American half-hour educational children's television series that aired on PBS Kids from June 6, 1983 to November 10, 2006, with a total of 155 half-hour episodes spanning over 21 seasons.

• 1 Storyline
• 2 TV Show Intro
• 3 Sound Effects Used
• 4 Image Gallery
• 5 Audio Samples
• 6 External Links

Storyline [ ]

Host Levar Burton introduced the viewers to various books and the theme of each book. The book of the day would be narrated by a celebrity. Then, children would give their own reviews about the books they read. Finally, Levar would say, "I'll see you next time!" as the credits rolled. After the credits, LeVar would review the books of the day.

TV Show Intro [ ]

Sound effects used [ ].

• Audio Fidelity, "Boings"
• Hollywoodedge, Doppler Horn By LeftT PE079801
• Hollywoodedge, High Pitch Moose Cal CRT013101 (Heard in "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie" story.)
• Hollywoodedge, Horses 1 High Pitched TE016301 (Heard once in "The Carousel.")
• Hollywoodedge, Horses High Pitched W TE016303 (Heard once in "The Carousel.")
• Hollywoodedge, Medium Crowd AdultsY PE142901 (Heard at the end of "The Carousel")
• Hollywoodedge, Metallic Boink Repe CRT017506 (Windup part heard once in "Archibald Frisby".)
• Hollywoodedge, Rooster Crows Two Uni AT086701 (Heard 5 times in "I Lost My Tooth in Africa!".)
• Hollywoodedge, Small Group Kids Chee PE142801 (Heard at the end of "The Carousel")
• Hollywoodedge, Train Exterior Persp PE064701 (Heard once in "Kate Shelley and the Midnight Express.")
• Sound Ideas, APPLAUSE, CHEERING - INDOOR: LARGE CROWD IN CONCERT HALL, AUDIENCE 01 (Heard in "Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin" story.)
• Sound Ideas, BIRD, ROOSTER - ROOSTER: TWO CALLS, ANIMAL (Heard once in "Barn Dance.")
• Sound Ideas, BOING, CARTOON - BIG, LONG BOING (Heard several times in "Hot Air Henry" and once in "Alistair's Time Machine".)
• Sound Ideas, CARTOON, BOING - THIN METAL PING AND WARBLE 01
• Sound Ideas, CARTOON, TWANG - RICOCHET TWANG 01 (Heard once in "Desert Giant".)
• Sound Ideas, CARTOON, ZIP - RISING ZIPS (Heard once in "Alistair's Time Machine".)
• Sound Ideas, CHILDREN - CHEERING, CROWD 02 (Heard twice in "Enemy Pie".)
• Sound Ideas, PARADE, MARCHING BAND - BRASS BAND, PASS BY, MUSIC (Heard once in "Brush.")
• Sound Ideas, WHISTLE, SLIDE - REPETITIOUS SLIDES UP AND DOWN (Heard once in "The Runaway Duck".)

Image Gallery [ ]

• Reading Rainbow/Image Gallery

Audio Samples [ ]

External links [ ].

• 1 Hanna-Barbera Sound Effects Library
• 2 SpongeBob SquarePants
• 3 Warner Bros. Sound Effects Library

READING RAINBOW has a resource library that includes teacher guide materials as well as reading programs for use in the public libraries. You can download these resources from GPN at: www.gpnresources.com

If you would like more information about READING RAINBOW or if you would like to learn more about other educational products please visit the GPN web site.

In celebration of 40 years of Reading Rainbow, we will be sharing 40 FULL EPISODES of Reading Rainbow on our YouTube channel !  For a limited time only, enjoy full episodes of the original series. Episodes will be made available to stream on YouTube one at a time, released every Tuesday and Thursday - through February 2024. 

Stay posted to see which episodes are included in this special 40th Anniversary treat for YOU (or check YouTube if you just can't wait ) and subscribe to our YouTube channel to never miss an episode.

  Watch Reading Rainbow Full Episodes

Mr. george baker.

Harry sits on the porch with 100-year-old Mr. George Baker who can dance and play the drums but goes to school, just like Harry, so he can learn to read. LeVar explores how learning is an ageless adventure as he introduces The Steppers, a group of senior women who are learning to dance and perform, and the Ferrara family who runs a bakery where the youngest to the oldest have been mixing up sweet treats for five generations.   Author: Amy Hest  Illustrator: Jon J. Muth  Narrator: Wayne Brady  This episode of Reading Rainbow premiered on PBS in 2004. We are celebrating Reading Rainbow's 40th anniversary with the release of 40 full episodes of the classic PBS children's series. Look for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday through February 2024 on the Reading Rainbow YouTube Channel.

Activities and Educational Resources

When his dad suggests making an ""enemy pie,"" the boy in this book is excited, but confused about the requirement of spending an entire day with his adversary. In the end, he learns how to turn a best enemy into a best friend. A series of young friends share how they became friends and how they make their friendships work. Then LeVar introduces us to two friends from very different backgrounds who spend the day exploring their cultural differences. They discover that they are more similar than they ever would have thought. Author: Derek Munson  Illustrator: Tara Calahan King  Narrator: Ed Harris  This episode of Reading Rainbow premiered on PBS in 2002. We are celebrating Reading Rainbow's 40th anniversary with the release of 40 full episodes of the classic PBS children's series. Look for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday through February 2024 on the Reading Rainbow YouTube Channel. 

Tight Times

What can you do with very little money? That's what the featured book and LeVar must face. To set the tone for the entire series, LeVar shows a friend a wealth of fun at the local library. This is a touching story of a boy who wants a pet when his family is having financial trouble and must hold the line on expenses. LeVar visits a pet show and discovers all kinds of unusual pets, including pet rocks. He explains that even during “tight times” there are all kinds of ways to have fun -- and that working together and using imagination are what is important.   Author: Barbara Shook Hazen Illustrator: Trina Schart Hyman Narrator: Patrick McCaffrey  This episode of Reading Rainbow premiered on PBS in 1983. We are celebrating Reading Rainbow's 40th anniversary with the release of 40 full episodes of the classic PBS children's series. Look for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday through February 2024 on the Reading Rainbow YouTube Channel.

Badger's Parting Gifts

In a touching story about friendship, beloved old Badger dies, and his friends are overwhelmed by their loss. In time, however, they comfort themselves remembering personal moments as well as the good times they shared with their pal. LeVar shares memories and feelings about his late grandmother and joins some young friends who have created artwork in honor of their loved ones. Then a dancer with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater shares how the founder’s spirit is still present. Author & Illustrator: Susan Varley  Narrator: Ruby Dee  This episode of Reading Rainbow premiered on PBS in 2001. We are celebrating Reading Rainbow's 40th anniversary with the release of 40 full episodes of the classic PBS children's series. Look for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday through February 2024 on the Reading Rainbow YouTube Channel. 

Lemonade for Sale

In this math-based story, members of the Elm Street Kids’ Club need money to fix up their clubhouse, so they decide to sell lemonade and monitor their success by tracking daily sales. LeVar takes viewers to the floor of the American Stock Exchange for a closer look at the economics and challenges of running a business. We explore two very different kinds of companies: Nantucket Nectars, a rapidly growing for-profit business that began on a boat in Nantucket Harbor, and Dress for Success, a non-profit organization that helps low-income women make tailored transitions into the workforce. Author: Stuart J. Murphy  Illustrator: Tricia Tusa  Narrator: Andrea McArdle  This episode of Reading Rainbow premiered on PBS in 2001. We are celebrating Reading Rainbow's 40th anniversary with the release of 40 full episodes of the classic PBS children's series. Look for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday through February 2024 on the Reading Rainbow YouTube Channel. 

The Shaman's Apprentice

In this true story, a fatal disease leaves Tirio villagers with little faith in the shaman's healing. An outsider helps them understand the importance of the shaman's wisdom and enables a young boy to realize his dream to become a shaman. LeVar and ethnobotanist Mark Plotkin visit this Amazon Tirio village and meet the boy from the story who has become a shaman. We learn about rain forest plants with healing qualities and find out what life is like in an Amazon village. Authors: Lynne Cherry and Mark Plotkin  Illustrator: Lynne Cherry  Narrator: Susan Sarandon  This episode of Reading Rainbow premiered on PBS in 2000. We are celebrating Reading Rainbow's 40th anniversary with the release of 40 full episodes of the classic PBS children's series. Look for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday through February 2024 on the Reading Rainbow YouTube Channel. 

Work Song is a lyrical presentation of people at work. As another workday begins, LeVar heads off to a busy breakfast spot and speculates on all the jobs there are to do. We explore a wide variety of jobs — ordinary and unusual — all pieces of the puzzle that fit together to make up our world of work. Author: Gary Paulsen  Illustrator: Ruth Wright Paulsen  Narrator: David Canary  This episode of Reading Rainbow premiered on PBS in 1998. We are celebrating Reading Rainbow's 40th anniversary with the release of 40 full episodes of the classic PBS children's series. Look for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday through February 2024 on the Reading Rainbow YouTube Channel. 

This episode, based on the book Math Curse, is a zany and hilarious look at how most everything in our lives is math related. LeVar tracks down, scouts out and sneaks up on math in action. He finds out firsthand that a factory, shipping company, or artist can’t run without it. Author: Jon Scieszka  Illustrator: Lane Smith  Narrator: Michelle Trachtenberg  This episode of Reading Rainbow premiered on PBS in 1998. We are celebrating Reading Rainbow's 40th anniversary with the release of 40 full episodes of the classic PBS children's series. Look for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday through February 2024 on the Reading Rainbow YouTube Channel. 

Giving Thanks

This prayer of the Iroquois Indians celebrates the precious and rare gift of the natural world — and the resources of the Earth. On a fall day, LeVar stops to express appreciation for the gifts of the Earth. We connect to the Earth with a visit to a family who grows and harvests cranberries, then on to a pueblo where native artists use clay from the Earth to make pottery. Finally, we visit a group of children who are planting trees in their neighborhood. Children sing “Come You Dreamers,” a song about taking care of the Earth. Author: Chief Jake Swamp  Illustrator: Erwin Printup Jr.  Narrator: Nicholson Earl Billey  This episode of Reading Rainbow premiered on PBS in 1997. We are celebrating Reading Rainbow's 40th anniversary with the release of 40 full episodes of the classic PBS children's series. Look for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday through February 2024 on the Reading Rainbow YouTube Channel. 

A cat creates a sound all his own and then experiences how the rhyme and rhythm enchant his audience. Jazz is America’s most original music form. LeVar explores examples of improvisation in music, literature, art and dance, and we meet Joshua Redman, a jazz saxophonist who talks about how music has influenced his life. Author: Jonathan London  Illustrator: Woodleigh Hubbard  Narrator: Ann Duquesnay  This episode of Reading Rainbow premiered on PBS in 1997. We are celebrating Reading Rainbow's 40th anniversary with the release of 40 full episodes of the classic PBS children's series. Look for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday through February 2024 on the Reading Rainbow YouTube Channel. 

Zin! Zin! Zin! a Violin

This book explores how rhyming, melodies and mathematics help combine sounds of different instruments, making music fun — and fun music. Taking a trip to The Julliard School in New York City, LeVar discovers how orchestra members combine their sounds and work as a team under the leadership of the conductor. Then STOMP, a percussion performance group, demonstrates how creativity, expression, rhythm, dance and self-expression are incorporated into a team effort that’s very active and entertaining.   Author: Lloyd Moss  Illustrator: Marjorie Priceman  Narrator: Gregory Hines  This episode of Reading Rainbow premiered on PBS in 1996. We are celebrating Reading Rainbow's 40th anniversary with the release of 40 full episodes of the classic PBS children's series. Look for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday through February 2024 on the Reading Rainbow YouTube Channel. 

Bread Is for Eating

This book explains the process of making bread - from growing the grain to baking it - in a song sung in English and in Spanish. Bread is a staple in every culture, and LeVar talks about how the differences in cultures impact on this common food. A Hopi woman shows how she makes blue cornmeal bread, and we visit an East Indian restaurant where they bake bread in a tandoori oven.   Authors: David and Phillis Gershator  Illustrator: Emma Shaw-Smith  Narrators: Cecilia Arana and Michael Uribe  This episode of Reading Rainbow premiered on PBS in 1996. We are celebrating Reading Rainbow's 40th anniversary with the release of 40 full episodes of the classic PBS children's series. Look for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday through February 2024 on the Reading Rainbow YouTube Channel. 

How Much Is a Million?

Illustrations and text from this feature book help readers visualize how much a million, a billion and a trillion really are. LeVar explores ways of counting large numbers as he talks to people who share grouping and estimating techniques. In a visit to the Crayola Crayon Factory, workers show how crayons are made and talk about the large number of crayons they handle in their jobs. Then on to Giants Stadium where vendors and stadium employees use estimation to prepare for game day.   Author: David M. Schwartz  Illustrator: Steven Kellogg  Narrator: Nick Sullivan  This episode of Reading Rainbow premiered on PBS in 1996. We are celebrating Reading Rainbow's 40th anniversary with the release of 40 full episodes of the classic PBS children's series. Look for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday through February 2024 on the Reading Rainbow YouTube Channel. 

How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World

With the market closed, a cook travels around the world to gather ingredients for making an apple pie. LeVar joins chef Curtis Aikens in his kitchen, which is also his laboratory where he creates new recipes, to get some cooking tips from the chef. Curtis tells LeVar that when he was younger, he hid the fact he was not able to read. Finally, at the age of 26, he asked for help. Viewers also find out how chemistry is used every day at the Turkey Hill ice cream factory. Author & Illustrator: Marjorie Priceman  Narrator: Helen Mirren  This episode of Reading Rainbow premiered on PBS in 1996. We are celebrating Reading Rainbow's 40th anniversary with the release of 40 full episodes of the classic PBS children's series. Look for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday through February 2024 on the Reading Rainbow YouTube Channel. 

Uncle Jed’s Barber Shop

Sara Jean’s Uncle Jed, the only black barber in the county, overcomes many setbacks, including the Great Depression of the 1930s, as he works to save enough money to open his own barbershop. LeVar finds out about making dreams come true with determination and faith, as he talks with The Persuasions, an a cappella quartet. These friends pursued their dream in spite of being told that a singing group without musical instruments didn’t have a chance for success.  Author: Margaree King Mitchell  Illustrator: James Ransome  Narrator: Regina Taylor  This episode of Reading Rainbow premiered on PBS in 1996. We are celebrating Reading Rainbow's 40th anniversary with the release of 40 full episodes of the classic PBS children's series. Look for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday through February 2024 on the Reading Rainbow YouTube Channel. 

Fly Away Home

The feature book is a touching story of a homeless boy and his father who move from terminal to terminal in an airport, trying not to be noticed and discovered. The boy expresses frustration about being homeless yet has hope for the future. Children whose families have been homeless share how this happened and how it felt. LeVar encourages us to make a difference in our communities. Viewers meet a boy who volunteers at City Harvest, an organization which gathers prepared food for distribution to the homeless, and the girl who began Common Sense, an organization whose members collect pennies and use them to buy items for homeless shelters. Author: Eve Bunting  Illustrator: Ronald Himler  Narrator: Daniel Saltzman  This episode of Reading Rainbow premiered on PBS in 1996. We are celebrating Reading Rainbow's 40th anniversary with the release of 40 full episodes of the classic PBS children's series. Look for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday through February 2024 on the Reading Rainbow YouTube Channel. 

Alejandro's Gift

The “gift” Alejandro gives to various desert animals is that of water. LeVar explores how important water is for all living things. He visits a California oasis and talks with a naturalist about the importance of this water source for the Cahuilla, a Native American tribe of the past, as well as for animals. Viewers visit Niagara Falls and find out how waterpower can provide electricity. Author: Richard E. Albert  Illustrator: Sylvia Long  Narrator: Francisco Rivela  This episode of Reading Rainbow premiered on PBS in 1995. We are celebrating Reading Rainbow's 40th anniversary with the release of 40 full episodes of the classic PBS children's series. Look for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday through February 2024 on the Reading Rainbow YouTube Channel. 

Ruth Law Thrills a Nation

This true story describes the record-breaking flight of a daring woman pilot, Ruth Law, from Chicago to New York in 1916. LeVar takes viewers on a trip through time from the barnstorming days and flying machines of Bessie Coleman, the first African American woman to get her pilot’s license, to modern aviation machines and female pilots. Viewers will also see a teenage pilot who takes to the air for the first time, following in the footsteps of the great women who went before her. Author & Illustrator: Don Brown  Narrator: Linda Lavin  This episode of Reading Rainbow premiered on PBS in 1994. We are celebrating Reading Rainbow's 40th anniversary with the release of 40 full episodes of the classic PBS children's series. Look for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday through February 2024 on the Reading Rainbow YouTube Channel. 

This is the charming story of a baby bat who falls headfirst into a bird’s nest and is raised in a most peculiar way by a family of birds until she is reunited with her mother. LeVar discovers a mysterious and fascinating world of nocturnal animals. Viewers see bats in their natural habitats and visit with a bat expert. Then, at the New York University Sleep Disorders Program, viewers learn about the world of slumber and dreams, and follow a young girl as she takes part in a sleep study. Author & Illustrator: Janell Cannon  Narrator: Anne Jackson  This episode of Reading Rainbow premiered on PBS in 1994. We are celebrating Reading Rainbow's 40th anniversary with the release of 40 full episodes of the classic PBS children's series. Look for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday through February 2024 on the Reading Rainbow YouTube Channel. 

The Lotus Seed

When forced to leave her country, a young Vietnamese girl takes a lotus seed with her as a reminder of her past. This book inspires LeVar to explore traditions and heritage passed down through generations when he meets young people from Vietnam, Yemen, Russia and South Africa who have recently come to the United States. Each retains unique attributes of their own heritage yet also contribute to a multicultural, harmonious society. Author: Sherry Garland  Illustrator: Tatsuro Kiuchi  Narrator: Rona Figueroa  This episode of Reading Rainbow premiered on PBS in 1994. We are celebrating Reading Rainbow's 40th anniversary with the release of 40 full episodes of the classic PBS children's series. Look for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday through February 2024 on the Reading Rainbow YouTube Channel. 

Borreguita and the Coyote

A little lamb becomes very clever to keep a coyote from eating her up. This book introduces viewers to Mexican American culture which is reflected in music, art, stories and language. LeVar spends time with a family who have made guitars for three generations, visits a mural painter and her students who are working on self-portraits, and joins Los Lobos as they share their music and cultural ties. Author: Verna Aardema Illustrator: Petra Mathers Narrator: Olga Merediz This episode of Reading Rainbow premiered on PBS in 1994. We are celebrating Reading Rainbow's 40th anniversary with the release of 40 full episodes of the classic PBS children's series. Look for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday through February 2024 on the Reading Rainbow YouTube Channel. 

And Still the Turtle Watched

A turtle carved in rock many years ago by Native Americans watches the river below. In the span of time it observes, many ecological changes with a great deal of sadness. LeVar takes viewers on a historical journey from the first settlers in this country to the present and explores our responsibility to care for the earth. Scientists show how they care for and raise nearly extinct bald eagles and release them into their natural habitat. Author: Sheila MacGill-Callahan  Illustrator: Barry Moser  Narrator: Michael Ansara  This episode of Reading Rainbow premiered on PBS in 1994. We are celebrating Reading Rainbow's 40th anniversary with the release of 40 full episodes of the classic PBS children's series. Look for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday through February 2024 on the Reading Rainbow YouTube Channel. 

Follow the Drinking Gourd 

Runaway slaves journey north along the Underground Railroad by following directions in a song, ""The Drinking Gourd."" LeVar celebrates the road to freedom paved by the Underground Railroad, introducing viewers to the history, heroes, stories and music of the African American culture which emerged from slavery. An a cappella group, Sweet Honey in The Rock, perform and share their historical knowledge of slavery. Author & Illustrator: Jeanette Winter  Narrator: Keith David  This episode of Reading Rainbow premiered on PBS in 1993. We are celebrating Reading Rainbow's 40th anniversary with the release of 40 full episodes of the classic PBS children's series. Look for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday through February 2024 on the Reading Rainbow YouTube Channel. 

Amazing Grace

Grace is a little girl who wants to be Peter Pan in the school play. She refuses to give up her dream even though she’s a different race and sex than the traditional Peter Pan. Actress Whoopie Goldberg and other women share how they’ve succeeded in nontraditional situations — like working as a boiler mechanic and playing hockey. Author: Mary Hoffman Illustrator: Caroline Binch Narrator: Tyne Daly This episode of Reading Rainbow premiered on PBS in 1993. We are celebrating Reading Rainbow's 40th anniversary with the release of 40 full episodes of the classic PBS children's series. Look for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday through February 2024 on the Reading Rainbow YouTube Channel. 

Through Moon and Stars and Night Skies

A young boy tells of coming to this country to be adopted. He remembers how unfamiliar and frightening some things were in his new home, before he accepted the love found there. This tender story about a family formed through adoption leads LeVar to explore the variety of ways families are created. The Harris family has two children, both adopted. The Peck family is a single mother and nine adopted children. The Abney family is a set of parents, two brothers and an adopted sister. Viewers learn that families are really created by love. Author: Ann Turner  Illustrator: James Graham Hale  This episode of Reading Rainbow premiered on PBS in 1992. We are celebrating Reading Rainbow's 40th anniversary with the release of 40 full episodes of the classic PBS children's series. Look for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday through February 2024 on the Reading Rainbow YouTube Channel.   

Rechenka's Eggs

An injured goose rescued by Babushka, having broken the painted eggs intended for the Easter Festival in Moskva, lays thirteen marvelously colored eggs to replace them. She then leaves behind one final miracle — in egg form — before returning to her own kind. The author, Patricia Polacco, demonstrates the traditional Ukrainian egg-painting art (pysanky), and shares how she got the idea for this story. Viewers will gain a new appreciation for the egg in art as LeVar decorates eggs and finds objects that are egg-shaped. Viewers also see the practical side during a montage of animal babies emerging from eggs.   Author & Illustrator: Patricia Polacco  Narrator: Viveca Lindfors  This episode of Reading Rainbow premiered on PBS in 1992. We are celebrating Reading Rainbow's 40th anniversary with the release of 40 full episodes of the classic PBS children's series. Look for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday through February 2024 on the Reading Rainbow YouTube Channel.

A young girl dreams of flying above her Harlem home, claiming all she sees for herself and her family. LeVar takes viewers up on the roof to a “tar beach,” an urban oasis in the sky. A pigeon keeper and a rooftop gardener are interviewed and explain why they have chosen their respective hobbies. LeVar tells about the George Washington Bridge, which was constructed in 1928. Viewers are taken to new heights as present-day bridge workers explain their jobs.  Author & Illustrator: Faith Ringgold  Narrator: Ruby Dee  This episode of Reading Rainbow premiered on PBS in 1992. We are celebrating Reading Rainbow's 40th anniversary with the release of 40 full episodes of the classic PBS children's series. Look for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday through February 2024 on the Reading Rainbow YouTube Channel. 

The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush

Little Gopher follows his destiny of becoming an artist for his people and bringing the colors of the sunset down to the earth. LeVar visits the Pueblo Indian people of Taos, New Mexico where Mother Earth plays a crucial role in their art. He interviews a painter, a family of pottery makers, and a family of dancers. Each explains the traditions behind their art and the Native American culture.  Retold & Illustrated by: Tomie dePaola Narrator: Harold Littlebird  This episode of Reading Rainbow premiered on PBS in 1991. We are celebrating Reading Rainbow's 40th anniversary with the release of 40 full episodes of the classic PBS children's series. Look for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday through February 2024 on the Reading Rainbow YouTube Channel. 

Florence and Eric Take the Cake

This story is about a brother and sister lamb who accidentally cause a major mix-up between a delicious cake and a beautiful hat. This spirited book sets the stage for LeVar to take a trip to the Movie Land Wax Museum where he learns how wax figures are made. Viewers also see how some talented bakers are able to make a cake look like a basketball, a cheeseburger, a sports car or just about anything. Author & Illustrator: Jocelyn Wild Narrator: Julia Child This episode of Reading Rainbow premiered on PBS in 1990. We are celebrating Reading Rainbow's 40th anniversary with the release of 40 full episodes of the classic PBS children's series. Look for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday through February 2024 on the Reading Rainbow YouTube Channel. 

Little Nino's Pizzeria 

Tony loves helping his dad make pizza at their family restaurant until his dad decides to open a fancy new restaurant and everything changes. Teamwork, especially working together as a family, can be very rewarding. A family that works together in the fireworks business is interviewed. This book also inspires LeVar to make his own pizza. He explains how yeast works, shapes the dough, and tops it, not knowing that additional guests (an entire basketball team) would require him to order out! Author & Illustrator: Karen Barbour  Narrator: Josh Saviano  This episode of Reading Rainbow premiered on PBS in 1990. We are celebrating Reading Rainbow's 40th anniversary with the release of 40 full episodes of the classic PBS children's series. Look for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday through February 2024 on the Reading Rainbow YouTube Channel. 

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters

An African tale of Mufaro’s two beautiful daughters – one bad tempered, one kind and sweet – who go before the king who is choosing a wife. Viewers celebrate the culture of Africa in New York City’s Central Park where LeVar learns how African drums are made, then plays some authentic African instruments. He joins in the festival fun with an African dance troupe, Forces of Nature.   Author & Illustrator: John Steptoe  Narrator: Phylicia Rashad  This episode of Reading Rainbow premiered on PBS in 1989. We are celebrating Reading Rainbow's 40th anniversary with the release of 40 full episodes of the classic PBS children's series. Look for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday through February 2024 on the Reading Rainbow YouTube Channel. 

Mummies Made in Egypt 

This book describes the techniques and the reasons for the use of mummification in ancient Egypt. LeVar visits the Museum of Fine Arts Boston where the art of conserving Egyptian artifacts is explored. Through the use of CAT scan technology, viewers also see what a mummy looks like after thousands of years. Author & Illustrator: Aliki  Narrator: Corinne Orr  This episode of Reading Rainbow premiered on PBS in 1989. We are celebrating Reading Rainbow's 40th anniversary with the release of 40 full episodes of the classic PBS children's series. Look for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday through February 2024 on the Reading Rainbow YouTube Channel. 

The Paper Crane

A mysterious man enters a restaurant and pays for his dinner with a paper crane that magically comes alive and dances. LeVar celebrates Japanese culture by visiting Gasho of Japan in Central Valley, New York. Surrounded by lush gardens, LeVar dons a kimono and steps into the enchanting world of Japan, exploring the artistry of a Japanese vegetable carver and the art of origami. He takes a side trip to see how paper can be made from old blue jeans, then joins Soh Daiko, an energetic and colorful group of Japanese drummers and dancers, as they perform the celebratory ""festival of the drums. Author & Illustrator: Molly Bang  Narrator: Keye Luke  This episode of Reading Rainbow premiered on PBS in 1986. We are celebrating Reading Rainbow's 40th anniversary with the release of 40 full episodes of the classic PBS children's series. Look for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday through February 2024 on the Reading Rainbow YouTube Channel. 

Folk singer and storyteller Pete Seeger performs this story song based on a South African lullaby and folk story, in which a boy and his father come up with a plan to save the townspeople from the giant, Abiyoyo. LeVar reveals some of the ways a story can be told with music, including an upbeat music video, a rap music performance by the group Run DMC, a professional dance group’s interpretation of “Beauty and the Beast,” and computer animation accompanied by music.  Author: Pete Seeger  Illustrator: Michael Hays  Narrator: Pete Seeger This episode of Reading Rainbow premiered on PBS in 1986. We are celebrating Reading Rainbow's 40th anniversary with the release of 40 full episodes of the classic PBS children's series. Look for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday through February 2024 on the Reading Rainbow YouTube Channel. 

Germs Make Me Sick!

Our world is shared with millions of microorganisms. In this feature book they explain what germs are, how bacteria and viruses affect the human body, and how the body fights against them. Using a microscope LeVar discovers what germs really look like and talks to lab scientists about germs, and habits that can keep us healthy. A visit to an organic farm illustrates how microorganisms are important to growing food.   Author: Melvin Berger  Illustrator: Marylin Hafner  Narrator: Molly Mandlin  This episode of Reading Rainbow premiered on PBS in 1986. We are celebrating Reading Rainbow's 40th anniversary with the release of 40 full episodes of the classic PBS children's series. Look for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday through February 2024 on the Reading Rainbow YouTube Channel. 

Hill of Fire

Based on a true story of the eruption of Paricutin Volcano in Mexico, a volcano is born in a poor farmer’s corn field. At Volcano National Park in Hawaii, LeVar is only 2,000 feet from a major eruption of Kilauea Volcano. He tells about two kinds of lava and why volcanoes occur. Viewers learn what is inside Earth that causes volcanoes, as LeVar talks to volcanologists who are learning to predict eruptions. LeVar also visits an artist who creates raku pottery.  Author: Thomas P. Lewis Illustrator: Joan Sandin Narrator: Fernando Escandon  This episode of Reading Rainbow premiered on PBS in 1985. We are celebrating Reading Rainbow's 40th anniversary with the release of 40 full episodes of the classic PBS children's series. Look for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday through February 2024 on the Reading Rainbow YouTube Channel. 

The Patchwork Quilt

Using scraps cut from the family’s old clothing, a young girl learns the secret ingredient in her grandma’s special quilt of memories. This episode leads LeVar to the Boston Children’s Museum, where he discovers kids learning to make their own brightly colored patchwork quilts. Then he explores how three generations of an Italian American family work together in their food store making some of the foods that are store specialties.  Author: Valerie Flournoy  Illustrator: Jerry Pinkney  Narrator: Isabel Sanford  This episode of Reading Rainbow premiered on PBS in 1985. We are celebrating Reading Rainbow's 40th anniversary with the release of 40 full episodes of the classic PBS children's series. Look for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday through February 2024 on the Reading Rainbow YouTube Channel. 

Liang and the Magic Paintbrush

Taken from an old Chinese legend, a poor boy who longs to paint is given a magic paintbrush that brings everything he paints to life. LeVar explores how art is integrated into many aspects of the Chinese-American culture. He takes a trip to New York City’s Chinatown and visits with an expert in Chinese calligraphy, a stone carver who makes LeVar a name stamp, and a gourmet Chinese chef. He also takes viewers to the New York Institute of Technology where he is shown how to use computer graphics to create art. Then he participates in a Chinese parade. Author & Illustrator: Demi  Narrator: Lauren Tom  This episode of Reading Rainbow premiered on PBS in 1983. We are celebrating Reading Rainbow's 40th anniversary with the release of 40 full episodes of the classic PBS children's series. Look for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday through February 2024 on the Reading Rainbow YouTube Channel. 

Digging Up Dinosaurs

How dinosaurs evolved, lived and disappeared over 65 million years ago are still intriguing scientists. LeVar seeks a place where archaeologists retrieve dinosaur bones. This book introduces readers to many types of dinosaurs whose skeletons are seen in museums, and explains how scientists uncover, preserve, and study fossils. LeVar explores our fascination with dinosaurs that lived and then disappeared millions of years ago. Dinosaur riddles are interspersed among interviews with a ranger and a paleontologist who take LeVar on a fossil tour of Dinosaur National Monument. Author & Illustrator: Aliki  Narrator: Linda Gelman  This episode of Reading Rainbow premiered on PBS in 1983. We are celebrating Reading Rainbow's 40th anniversary with the release of 40 full episodes of the classic PBS children's series. Look for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday through February 2024 on the Reading Rainbow YouTube Channel. 

Reading Rainbow Books – The Complete List

Remember being so excited that Reading Rainbow was coming on?

Those stories shaped a generation of readers, to the point that even the TV show “Community” did an homage to host Lamar Burton!

And many of those amazing and inspiring books are still in print. Take a little stroll down memory lane as I offer up the a completely list of Reading Rainbow Books.

For more reading ideas, visit our extensive list of childrens books for kids!

This post contains affiliate links. Feel free to purchase these books through the affiliate links provided for your convenience.

Our Personal Favorite Reading Rainbow Books

Many of the Reading Rainbow programs are still available today online through Amazon Prime Video , YouTube and other streaming services.

But before we go into every single book for all 21 seasons of this amazing literary program, I wanted to share my own children’s personal favorites!

And I’d love to hear what your personal favorite book is from the program.

Here are our personal favorites:

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

Martha speaks, zin zin zin a violin, hill of fire.

• The Day Jimmy’s Boa Ate the Wash

Sam the Sea Cow

Reading rainbow books - season 1: 1983.

Tight Times

A small boy, not allowed to have a dog because times are tight, finds a starving kitten in a trash can on the same day his father loses his job.

Miss Nelson Is Back (Miss Nelson, 2)

In this sequel to Miss Nelson is Missing, the scheming kids in Room 207 are in for a big surprise from the scariest substitute around: Miss Viola Swamp.

Bea and Mr. Jones

Tired of kindergarten, Bea Jones trades "jobs" with her father, who works in an office.

Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain

A cumulative rhyme relating how Ki-pat brought rain to the drought-stricken Kapiti Plain. 

Louis the Fish

An unhappy butcher from Flatbush finally achieves happiness.

Digging Up Dinosaurs

How did those enormous dinosaur skeletons get inside the museum? 

Liang and the Magic Paintbrush

When a poor boy in China receives a magical paintbrush, everything he paints turns to life. But the wicked emperor wants to capture the boy when he hears the news. 

Gila Monsters Meet You at the Airport

Marjorie Weinman Sharmat and Byron Barton share a keen sense of the ridiculous and a compassionate understanding of a child's anxieties. 

Three Days on a River in a Red Canoe

Follow the red canoe from page to page as it journeys down river carrying the family on a camping tour. It's the next best thing to paddling it yourself.

The Gift of the Sacred Dog

The Great Spirit gives the sacred dog to an Indian boy seeking relief for his hungry people.

Gregory, the Terrible Eater

Gregory isn't like most goats. Instead of indulging in delicacies like old shoes, boxes, and bottle caps, he prefers to eat fruits, vegetables, eggs, and fish. 

Three by the Sea

After a picnic on the beach, Lolly, Sam, and Spider decide to tell spooky stories. 

Arthur's Eyes: An Arthur Adventure

None of Arthur's friends wear glasses and his classmates tease him! But when he stops wearing them, he gets in all kinds of trouble. Maybe four eyes really are better than two.

The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash

Jimmy's boa constrictor wreaks havoc on the class trip to a farm.

Ty's One-Man Band

Ty meets a man with a wooden peg-leg who promises Ty he will make music if Ty goes home and gets a washboard and some wooden spoons.

Reading Rainbow Books - Season 2: 1984

Hot-Air Henry

The fearless Siamese cat Henry stows away in a hot-air balloon that suddenly takes off with only him on board.

Simon's Book

Simon flees from a friendly monster with the aid of some drawing pens and a bottle of ink.

Ox-Cart Man

Thus begins a lyrical journey through the days and weeks, the months, and the changing seasons in the life of one New Englander and his family. 

Mystery on the Docks

Ralph, the opera-loving short order cook at the diner on Pier 46, helps to save his favorite singer from the clutches of tough rat kidnappers.

A Chair for My Mother

Vera Williams tells of a young girl who, along with her waitress mother, saves coins in a big jar in hopes that they can someday buy a new chair for their apartment, the kind of chair her mother deserves after being on her feet all day in the Blue Tile Diner.

Reading Rainbow Books - Season 3: 1985

Paul Bunyan

A funny retelling of the tallest of tall tales, the rollicking adventures of Paul Bunyan and his great blue ox, paired with the extravagant and lively illustrations of Steven Kellogg.

The Patchwork Quilt

Children from all sorts of family situations and configurations continue to be drawn to its portrait of those bonds that create the fabric of family life.

Every day is the same for Pablo's father. Then one afternoon the ground growls, hisses smoke, and swallows up his plow. A volcano is erupting in the middle of his cornfield!

The Tortoise and the Hare: An Aesop Fable

Parents will love revisiting this story as much as children will love reading it, as its always a good time to be reminded slow and steady wins the race!

Perfect the Pig

A tiny pig is granted his wish which leads to an almost perfect life.

Reading Rainbow Books - Season 4: 1986

Animal Cafe

Old Max, a cafe owner, is helped out after hours when a dog and a cat open up for their wild and well-paying friends — filled with a story and pictures from John Stadler.

Alistair in Outer Space

Serious and sensible Alistair sets out to return his library books, is swept away by a space ship, and has some difficulties sorting things out for himself

Best-selling author Aliki uses a child-friendly cartoon style to build empathy and awareness in young readers — and to help them find appropriate ways to handle their feelings. 

Watch the Stars Come Out

In this warm, poignant and highly praised story, a little girl hears how, long ago, another little red-haired girl — her great-grandmother — sailed across the sea with her older brother to join their immigrant parents in a strange new land called America.

Mama Don't Allow

Saxophone-playing Miles and his Swamp Band find a bevy of sharp-toothed, long-tailed alligators who love to listen to their music. But little do Miles and his band know what the alligators plan for them at the close of their jubilant all-night ball! 

When the thing from outer space visits earth, it is taken first for a trick-or-treater and then for a robot in this hilarious picture book.

The Milk Makers

You probably drink milk at almost every meal. But have you ever wondered where it comes from?

Imogene's Antlers

A little girl who wakes one morning to discover she has grown antlers.

Germs Make Me Sick!

Germs are all around us, but they're too small to see. Many germs are harmless, but two kinds, viruses and bacteria, can make you sick. How? 

A young boy and his father save the town that ostracized them from a hungry giant in this picture book adaptation of a South African lullaby and folk story.

Reading Rainbow Books - Season 5: 1987

The Honeybee

Describes in simple terms the life cycle of the honeybee.

Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie (On My Own History)

This is the exciting true story of Abbie Burgess, who in 1856 single-handedly kept the lighthouse lamps lit during a tremendous storm off the coast of Maine.

Chickens Aren't the Only Ones

Ruth Heller's prose and pictures are the perfect means for discovering the variety of oviparous animals and their unique ways of laying eggs.

The Paper Crane

Business returns to a once-prosperous restaurant when a mysterious stranger pays for his meal with a magical paper crane that comes alive and dances. 

The Runaway Duck

Sebastian ties his wooden duck, Egbert, to his father's car and, when Sebastian's father drives off, Egbert embarks on a whimsical adventure that finally finds him floating out to sea.

A Three Hat Day

R. R. Pottle the Third has a truly wonderful, extra-extraordinary collection of hats. But happiness eludes him. He is lonely and dreams of meeting a perfect wife ' who will, of course, be wearing a perfect hat.

Rumpelstiltskin

In order to appear superior, a miller lies to the king, telling him that his daughter can spin straw into gold (some versions make the miller's daughter blonde and describe the "straw-into-gold" claim as a careless boast the miller makes about the way his daughter's straw-like blond hair takes on a gold-like luster when sunshine strikes it).

Best Friends

To Kathy the greatest thing in the world is a best friend. And Louise Jenkins is hers. They do everything together, from sharing their chocolate milk at lunch to riding Golden Silverwind, their make-believe horse who lives in the imaginary stable between their houses.

Meanwhile Back at the Ranch

When Rancher Hicks drives 84 miles to Sleepy Gulch for excitement, his wife Elna misses the 12-year-old wanted posters in the post office, a never-ending checker game, and hot-spot Millie's Luncheonette. Meanwhile back at the ranch, all that happens is Elna strikes oil, inherits a fortune, and is visited by the President.

My Little Island (Rise and Shine)

Fiery colors and hundreds of details evoke the sun–drenched beauty, the sweet smells, and the joyful sounds of a jewel–like little Caribbean island that a young boy rediscovers while on a visit with his best friend.

Reading Rainbow Books - Season 6: 1988-89

The Bionic Bunny Show

As an ordinary rabbit in real life is portrayed as a bionic bunny on his television series, the reader views all the production efforts that provide that illusion.

Sixteen insects are described in lively couplets, illustrations, and diagrams.

The Robbery at the Diamond Dog Diner

Diamond robbers are in town! Lola Dog, co-owner of the Diamond Dog Diner, wears her diamonds when she cooks, so her friend, Glenda Feathers, suggests a hiding place for the jewels -- inside her eggs.

When a little boy adopts a large brush to replace his banished dog, the brush surprises him by coming to life and actually behaving like a dog.

The Purple Coat

Every year, in the fall, Gabrielle gets a new coat. But this year Gabrielle wants something different -- a purple coat.

Barn Dance!

In an old farmhouse, bathed in the light of a full moon, a young boy creeps to his bedroom window and looks outside. Was that a voice he just heard, or the hooting of an owl?

Duncan & Dolores

Dolores learns to curb some of her more smothering tendencies and wins the affection of her new pet cat, Duncan.

Knots on a Counting Rope

A poignant story about a boy’s emerging confidence in facing his blindness in this beautiful children’s picture book.

Mummies Made in Egypt

Aliki describes and illustrates the techniques and the reasons for the use of mummification in ancient Egypt.

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters : An African Tale

Mufaro's two daughters react in different ways to the King's search for a wife - one is aggressive and selfish, the other kind and dignified. The king disguises himself to learn the true nature of both the girls and chooses Nyasha, the kind and generous daughter, to be the queen.

Reading Rainbow Books - Season 7: 1989–90

Humphrey the Lost Whale: A True Story

In October 1985 a forty-five-foot long, forty-ton humpback whale wandered into San Francisco Bay and for twenty-six days struggled mightily to find his way back to the ocean. 

Stay Away From the Junkyard!

Theo discovers that the junkyard is no place to be feared...in fact, it may even be a place for friendships and fun!

Little Nino's Pizzeria

This exuberant picture book tells the story of Tony, a little boy who helps his father in the family pizzeria. 

Ludlow Laughs

Unsuspecting Ludlow learns to smile and laugh in spite of himself, proving that laughter is indeed contagious.

Dinosaur Bob and His Adventures with the Family Lazardo

A family brings a most unusual souvenir home after vacation in this classic picture book from the brilliant mind that brought you The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore.

Dive to the Coral Reefs Rlb

Describes the formation of a coral reef and the many plants and animals that live in and around these underwater communities.

Desert Giant: The World of the Saguaro Cactus

A venerable saguaro cactus stands like a statue in the hot desert landscape, its armlike branches reaching fifty feet into the air. From a distance it appears to be completely still and solitary--but appearances can be deceptive. 

Tooth-Gnasher Superflash

The Popsnorkle family test drives the Tooth-Gnasher Superflash, pleased with the car's ability to turn into several different animals.

Sports Pages

The world of sports comes alive in a rhythmic celebration of soccer, football, gymnastics, baseball, wrestling, track, tennis, and more.

Reading Rainbow Books - Season 8: 1990

The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth

When the class forgets to do its homework, a fieldtrip through the Earth's crust, into the center of the Earth, and out through a volcano will teach them not to forget their assignments again - and then some!

Jack, the Seal and the Sea

Jack spends his days sailing the sea and taking in nets full of half-dead fish, ignoring the polluted condition of the water, until he finds an ailing seal and receives a message from the sea itself about its sorry state.

The Bicycle Man

The amazing tricks two American soldiers perform on a borrowed bicycle are a fitting finale for the school sports day festivities in a small village in occupied Japan.

Florence and Eric Take the Cake

A brother and sister lamb accidentally cause a major mix-up between a delicious cake and a beautiful hat.

Sunken Treasure

A rotting hull of a ship...lost gold...coins...gems...sunken treasure!

Reading Rainbow Books - Season 9: 1991

Alistair's Time Machine

Alistair's entry in a science competition takes him to many places and time periods, but unfortunately he can't prove this to the judges.

The Adventures of Taxi Dog

Maxi, a homeless mutt in New York City, has always fended for himself. Then one day a kind taxi driver named Jim offers him friendship, a home, and a place in the front seat! 

The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush

In spring, the hills and meadows of Texas and Wyoming are ablaze with the reds, oranges, and yellows of the Indian Paintbrush. How this striking plant received its name is told in an old Indian legend.

Kondi is determined to make a a toy vehicle made of wires. His brother laughs at the idea. By nightfall, his wonderful galimoto is ready for the village children to play with in the light of the moon.

Fox on the Job

When Fox breaks his bike, his mom tells him to get a job to pay for a new one. 

Opt: An Illusionary Tale

A magical tale of optical illusions, in which objects seem to shift color and size while images appear and disappear.

Raccoons and Ripe Corn

Hungry raccoons feast at night in a field of ripe corn.

The Lady With the Ship on Her Head

Madame Pompenstance competes for the Best Headdress Award at the annual Fancy Dress Ball, unaware that a small ship has sailed onto her head and become her headdress.

Kate Shelley and the Midnight Express (On My Own History)

When a heavy storm destroyed the bridge over Honey Creek, near Kate Shelley's home in Moingona, Iowa, fifteen-year-old Kate bravely rushed out into the storm, saving the lives of two men and preventing hundreds of other lives from being lost. 

Snowy Day: Stories and Poems

A delightful collection of stories and poems dealing with the cold winter months includes thirty-three stories and poems.

Reading Rainbow Books - Season 10: 1992

Cassie Louise Lightfoot has a dream: to be free to go wherever she wants for the rest of her life. One night, up on “tar beach,” the rooftop of her family’s Harlem apartment building, her dreams come true.

A young boy and his father visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Meet a gentle giant, a manatee affectionately known as Sam the sea cow, in this informative but beautifully illustrated picture book that's perfect for animal lovers.

Rechenka's Eggs

Old Babushka, known throughout all of Moskva for her beautifully painted eggs, is preparing her eggs for the Easter Festival when she takes in an injured goose. 

Sophie And Lou

Shy Sophie, enticed by the dancing that she sees in the studio across the street, sets out to learn on her own.

Come a Tide

A girl provides a lighthearted account of the spring floods at her rural home.

The Piggy in the Puddle

A determined little piggy absolutely refuses to leave her mud puddle in this rollicking book

Seashore Surprises (Outdoor Science Series)

Explains how waves, sand, and pebbles form at the seashore and describes animals, plants, and shells which can be seen when the tide goes out.

Through Moon and Stars and Night Skies

A boy who came from far away to be adopted by a couple in this country remembers how unfamiliar and frightening some of the things were in his new home, before he accepted the love to be found there.

Berlioz the Bear

What's that strange buzz coming from the double bass? Berlioz has no time to investigate, because he and his bear orchestra are due at the gala ball in the village square at eight. 

Reading Rainbow Books - Season 11: 1993

Amazing Grace

Grace loves stories, whether they're from books, movies, or the kind her grandmother tells. So when she gets a chance to play a part in Peter Pan, she knows exactly who she wants to be.

The Furry News: How to Make a Newspaper

Big Bear, Rabbit, and the other animals work hard to write, edit, and print their newspaper, "The Furry News." Includes tips for making your own newspaper and defines a number of newspaper terms.

Mrs. Katz and Tush

Friends from different backgrounds come together in a heartwarming picture book that is perfect for Passover.

The Salamander Room

A boy finds a salamander in the woods and imagines the many things he can do to turn his room into a perfect salamander home.

Silent Lotus

Although unable to speak or hear, lovely Lotus learns to perform the intricate story dances of the Cambodian court ballet.

Follow the Drinking Gourd

Winter's story begins with a peg-leg sailor who aids slaves on their escape on the Underground Railroad.

If a hungry little mouse shows up on your doorstep, you might want to give him a cookie. And if you give him a cookie, he'll ask for a glass of milk. He'll want to look in a mirror to make sure he doesn't have a milk mustache, and then he'll ask for a pair of scissors to give himself a trim....

Is This a House for Hermit Crab?

Having outgrown his brown-spotted shell, Hermit Crab sets out on a hunt for a new house, finding a haven just in time to avoid a hungry pricklepine fish.

And Still the Turtle Watched

A poignant tale of environmental pollution and recovery with beautiful watercolor illustrations.

The lively imagination of Caldecott medalist David Wiesner forecasts astounding goings-on for a Tuesday in the not too distant future -- an occurrence of gigantic vegetal proportions.

Reading Rainbow Books - Season 12: 1994

Nosey Mrs. Rat

Mrs. Rat makes a career out of spying on her neighbors, but the tables are unexpectedly turned on her.

Borreguita and the Coyote

What's a little lamb to do about a fierce coyote that wants to eat her? Why, trick him, of course...and and trick him again...and trick him one more time! 

Baby animals spend the summer growing, playing, and learning from their parents.

Once There Was a Tree

An old stump attracts many living creatures, even man, and when it is gone, a new tree attracts the same creatures, who need it for a variety of reasons.

Appelemando's Dreams

One rainy day, Appelemando's dreams are blown onto all the wet walls and roofs of the town, covering the houses and stores with fantastic pictures.

The Lotus Seed

When she is forced to leave Vietnam, a young girl brings a lotus seed with her to America in remembrance of her homeland.

Hail to Mail

A certified letter follows its intended recipient all over the world as the postal service attempts to catch up to him.

Knocked from her mother’s safe embrace by an attacking owl, Stellaluna lands headfirst in a bird’s nest. This adorable baby fruit bat’s world is literally turned upside down when she is adopted by the occupants of the nest and adapts to their peculiar bird habits. 

An illustrated version of the poem in which a child describes her relationship with her shadow.

Ruth Law Thrills a Nation

In 1916 a young woman named Ruth Law attempted to fly from Chicago to New York City in one day -- something no one else had ever done. 

Reading Rainbow Books - Season 13: 1995

The Wonderful Towers of Watts

The incredible artwork of an Italian immigrant who followed his dream of monumental proportions in the impoverished Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles is revealed in this fascinating and engaging true story.

When Helen Finney feeds alphabet soup to her dog, Martha, it goes straight up to her brain, and Martha begins to speak! The basis for the Emmy-nominated PBS series.

Alejandro's Gift

This uplifting story about one man's gift to the desert and the gift he receives in return has a powerful environmental lesson.

The Sign Painter's Dream

A spunky old woman's request and a rather unusual dream convince Crabby Clarence the sign painter to make the most glorious and magnificent sign of his career and then give it away.

Archibald Frisby

Worried about her son Archibald's obsession with science, Mrs. Frisby ships him off to summer camp, where she hopes that he will learn to relax and have some fun.

Reading Rainbow Books - Season 14: 1996

Fly Away Home

A homeless boy who lives in an airport with his father, moving from terminal to terminal trying not to be noticed, is given hope when a trapped bird finally finds its freedom.

Uncle Jed's Barbershop

A young girl’s beloved uncle is a talented barber without a shop who never gives up on his dream in this richly illustrated, stirring picture book.

How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World

An apple pie is easy to make...if the market is open. But if the market is closed, the world becomes your grocery store.

Owen’s fuzzy yellow blanket is his favorite possession. Everywhere Owen goes, his blanket goes with him. Soon Owen will begin school, and he can’t take Fuzzy with him then. 

How Much Is a Million?

Ever wonder just what a million of something means? How about a billion? Or a trillion? Marvelosissimo the mathematical magician can teach you!

Reading Rainbow Books - Season 15: 1996

Always My Dad

Though Dad moves around a lot and his jobs keep changing, a young girl and her brother hold fast to memories of his magical, unexpected visits in this portrait of an African-American family held together by a special bond of love.

Bread Is for Eating

A bilingual, rhythmic celebration of bread, from farmer to baker.

Hotel Animal

It is scary being the smallest guests at the biggest, best animal hotel, but Camille and Leon Lizardo try to join in the fun.

Someplace Else

Mrs. Tilby, who has lived in a white house by the apple orchard for her entire life, hops in her green Studebaker and searches for someplace else to live--the city, the seashore, even a riverboat.

When this book begins, the trombone is playing all by itself. But soon a trumpet makes a duet, a french horn a trio, and so on until the entire orchestra is assembled on stage.

Reading Rainbow Books - Season 16: 1997

On the Day You Were Born

In simple words and radiant collages, Debra Frasier celebrates the earth and extends an exuberant welcome to each member of our human family. 

Regina's Big Mistake

When asked to draw a rain forest during art class, Regina is afraid of trying and failing, a feeling recognizable to all school-aged children.

Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message

Giving Thanks is a special children's version of the Thanksgiving Address, a message of gratitude that originated with the Native people of upstate New York and Canada and that is still spoken at ceremonial gatherings held by the Iroquois, or Six Nations. Full color.

The Carousel

“The carousel horses sleep all winter and wake in the spring,” two sisters remember their mother saying. Then one gray-skied February twilight, as they make their way home from school, the girls hear strange whinnying noises coming from the carousel.

Reading Rainbow Books - Season 17: 1998

Did you ever wake up to one of those days where everything is a problem? You have 10 things to do, but only 30 minutes until your bus leaves. Is there enough time? 

My Life with the Wave

Based on a story by Nobel Prize laureate Octavio Paz, this delightful tale of a boy and his pet wave is charmingly retold with beautiful new illustrations. 

Saturday Sancocho

Every Saturday, Maria Lili looks forward to making chicken sancocho with her grandparents Mama Ana and Papa Angelino. But one Saturday they discover that there is nothing in the house except eggs, and Maria Lili wonders how they will ever be able to have their favorite meal. 

When Aunt Lena Did the Rhumba

When her aunt, who loves Broadway musicals, is confined to bed with a sprained ankle, Sophie convinces the rest of the family to put on a show for her.

People at work, doing things that are so essential to us all, are lyrically depicted in Gary Paulsen’s spare and elegant verse and Ruth Wright Paulsen’s richly textured oil paintings. 

Reading Rainbow Books - Season 18: 2000–01

The Shaman's Apprentice: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest

For thousands of years, in the jungles of the Amazon, shamans have passed their wisdom of the medicinal values of rain forest plants from one generation to the next.

Pet Stories: You Don't Have to Walk

Meet a multiplying family of fish, and a cat whose every good intention goes wrong!

Lemonade for Sale (MathStart 3)

In this story, the Elm Street Kids decide to raise money by selling lemonade. The Elm Street Kids use a bar graph to plot the number of cups sold on each day of the week and figure out what to do. Young readers may be inspired to start their own lemonade stands—and use a bar graph to plot their progress.

The Secret Shortcut

Wendell and Floyd have a problem. Hard as they try, they can't seem to get to school on time. So one morning Wendell comes up with a solution--a shortcut so secret that only he knows about it.

My America: A Poetry Atlas of the United States

In My America, Lee Bennett Hopkins weaves together fifty poems -- grouped by geographic region -- to create a remarkable portrait of the United States. 

Badger's Parting Gifts

All the woodland creatures—Mole, Frog, Fox, and Rabbit—love old Badger, who is their confidante, advisor, and friend. When he dies, they are overwhelmed by their loss. Then they begin to remember and treasure the memories he left them.

Reading Rainbow Books - Season 19: 2002

The Tin Forest

In the middle of a dark, lonely wasteland filled with old scrap metal lives an old man. Every night he dreams of a lively forest, full of sunshine, plants, birds, and animals. Every morning he wakes to gloom and bad weather. Then one day, he comes up with an idea to change things. 

Young ballplayers and ballet dancers will share Max's delight when he discovers that dance class is a great way to warm up for a home run.

It was the perfect summer. That is, until Jeremy Ross moved into the house down the street and became neighborhood enemy number one. Luckily Dad had a surefire way to get rid of enemies: Enemy Pie.

Our big home: An earth poem

A beautifully illustrated celebration of the air and water and soil and sky and sun and rain that we all share!

Reading Rainbow Books - Season 20: 2004–05

Visiting Day

In this moving picture book from multi-award winning author Jacqueline Woodson, a young girl and her grandmother prepare for a very special day -- the one day a month they get to visit the girl's father in prison. 

Unique Monique

Monique, who has to wear a uniform to school every day, struggles to find a way to make herself stand out from the rest of her classmates.

Mr. George Baker

George Baker and Harry don’t seem the likeliest of friends. Yet, sitting side by side on George’s porch, waiting for the school bus to come, the two have plenty in common, this hundred-year-old musician with the crookedy fingers going tappidy on his knees and the young schoolboy whose shoelaces always need tying.

Beegu's spirits are sinking lower than ever just as the mother ship arrives, in this simple, bittersweet picture book that shows us our world through the three eyes of an innocent outsider with the help of stylish art and a wry, understated text.

Two Old Potatoes and Me

One day at her dad's house, a young girl finds two old potatoes in the cupboard. ''Gross.'' But before she can throw them away, her dad suggests they try to grow new potatoes from the old ones, which have sprouted eyes.

Reading Rainbow Books - Season 21: 2006

The Biggest Test in the Universe

Fearful of taking the Big Test that he is certain is as bad as everyone says, Sam's nerves begin to get the best of him as he worries about what he will soon be forced to face, in an amusing tale about test-taking hype gone awry with full-color illustrations.

I Lost My Tooth in Africa

More than anything, Amina wants to lose her loose tooth while visiting her family in Mali, West Africa. Only then can she put it under a gourd for the African tooth fairy, who will exchange it for two chickens! 

Boxes for Katje

After World War II there is little left in Katje's town of Olst in Holland. Then one spring morning when the tulips bloom "thick and bright," Postman Kleinhoonte pedals his bicycle down Katje's street to deliver a mysterious box – a box from America! Full of soap, socks, and chocolate, the box has been sent by Rosie, an American girl from Mayfield, Indiana. 

Barry Root's glowing illustrations bring to life all the excitement and energy of a great game and a team working together.

Quilt making has been passed down through eight generations of Soonie's family. Messages were carefully stitched into each quilt, called a Show Way, mapping the family's journey from slavery to present day.

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Reading Rainbow: An Amazing Program That Shattered Expectations for Years

Reading Rainbow inspired generations with its enchanting blend of storytelling and exploration. Discover how this iconic show shaped the way we view the world of books.

For more than two decades, Reading Rainbow was more than just a television program; it was an enchanting journey through the world of books and imagination that left a mark on generations of young minds. From its humble beginnings in 1983 to its conclusion in 2006, this PBS program continues to be celebrated for its role in promoting a love of reading.

The Birth of a Literary Icon

Reading Rainbow was the brainchild of Twila Liggett, who had a passion for reading and teaching. In an interview with Mental Floss , Liggett stated “I wanted to do something to mirror what I did in the classroom, which was read to kids out loud, get kids involved in the experience of reading, and have kids talk to each other about reading.” With this in mind, Liggett partnered with Cecily Truett Lancit and Larry Lancit at Lancit Media Productions in order to push this idea further.

LeVar Burton was later chosen as the host of the series. The actor was already best known for his role as Kunta Kinte in the groundbreaking miniseries Roots . Burton’s unique combination of recognizability, passion for reading, and relatability made him a natural choice to connect with viewers. However, what truly set him apart was his genuine passion for literature and a deep belief in the transformative power of books. His personal commitment to promoting literacy resonated with both children and parents, making him a trusted and enthusiastic guide on the literary adventures showcased in the program.

The show’s format was simple yet effective. Each episode featured a carefully selected children’s book, brought to life through animated sequences and narrated by Burton himself. Viewers were transported into the world of these books, immersing themselves in the story’s characters and settings. One of the show’s signature features was the “field trip” segment, where LeVar Burton would visit various locations related to the theme of the book. These real-world excursions provided a tangible connection to the stories and helped children see the relevance of books in the world around them.

Fostering a Love for Reading

Throughout its more than two-decade run, Reading Rainbow remained true to its mission of fostering a love for reading among children. It encouraged them to explore the world of books and literature, making reading an exciting and accessible adventure. The show’s catchy theme song, Butterfly in the Sky , and its tagline, “Take a look, it’s in a book, a Reading Rainbow,” became synonymous with the program and introduced viewers to the concept that books were gateways to endless adventures. The show’s mission was clear: to make reading exciting, accessible, and enjoyable for young minds.

The series would transform books into vivid, immersive experiences with engaging storytelling and animated adaptations. Host LeVar Burton’s warm and relatable demeanor made literature come alive, connecting with viewers on a personal level. The show’s “field trips” to real-world locations encouraged active participation, as it often featured young readers sharing their own book recommendations.

Additionally, the companion materials and the Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest inspired creativity and writing skills among children, further reinforcing the joy of reading. Through its multifaceted approach, Reading Rainbow instilled a lifelong passion for books, making reading not just a skill but a cherished adventure.

The Impact on Literacy and Education

Reading Rainbow was more than just entertainment; it was a catalyst for learning. The show received critical acclaim and numerous awards, including multiple Daytime Emmy Awards . Its impact extended beyond the television screen, as it encouraged children to explore the world of literature beyond the confines of the show.

The companion Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest inspired countless young writers and artists to express themselves through storytelling and creativity. The program’s reach was extended through classroom materials and outreach programs, making it a valuable resource for educators nationwide. Teachers often used episodes of the show to supplement their reading curriculum since each episode featured a carefully selected children’s book.

The series also helped enhance students’ vocabulary and comprehension skills. Teachers could pause the program to discuss unfamiliar words or ask comprehension questions to ensure students understood the story. The series’ interactivity also included adding writing prompts and activities related to the featured book. These materials encouraged students to write creatively and express their thoughts about the story. Lastly, the featured books explored diverse cultures and perspectives, introducing students to different cultures and promoting discussions about diversity and inclusion.

The Legacy Lives On

While Reading Rainbow ceased regular production in 2006, its legacy endures. The passion for literacy and dedication to promoting the importance of reading in children’s lives continue to shine through the writers’ and producers’ work. The show’s episodes and educational materials are still accessible through digital platforms, ensuring that new generations can benefit from its timeless message.

In a digital age where screens often dominate a child’s attention, Reading Rainbow has stood the test of time in its promotion of writing and storytelling. Its impact on generations of young readers and its role in fostering a love for books cannot be overstated. As long as there are books to be read and stories to be told, the path to imagination and knowledge remains open.

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10 Super-Cool Books from Reading Rainbow

Margret Aldrich

Margret Aldrich is a writer and recovering book editor who has worked with authors from American Indian activist Winona LaDuke to punk-rock guitar legend Cheetah Chrome. (They were equally intense and equally fantastic.) She is also a former editor, blogger, and librarian at Utne Reader, a magazine celebrating the best of the alternative press. Based in Minneapolis, Margret is a devoted Little Free Library owner who wonders what to do when a Sarah Palin biography shows up in one's LFL. Her book about Little Free Libraries—and how they spark community, literacy, and creativity around the world—came out from Coffee House Press in April. Twitter:  mmaldrich

View All posts by Margret Aldrich

Oh, Reading Rainbow , I’ve missed you. If the beloved television show’s host, LeVar Burton, and his Kickstarter campaign have anything to say about it, though, we’ll be seeing new episodes soon. Their one-million-dollar goal was raised in less than twenty-four hours. Now a new “stretch goal” of five million dollars has been set—presumably so they can fly twice as high.

The classic PBS show ran from 1983 until 2009 and featured a satisfying formula: In each episode, a theme was explored and a picture book was read—often by a celebrity. These well-known narrators ranged from Susan Sarandon and Al Roker to Matthew Broderick and Julia Child (who, fittingly, read Florence and Eric Take the Cake ).   Kids also gave mini book reviews, recommending what their fellow young readers might want to pick up at the library.

LeVar Burton showed us how special effects work and how things get recycled. He showed us behind the scenes at aquariums, factories, and fossil digs. He also tipped us off on what to do when life gets hard—like when you have to wear glasses or your dad loses his job. Burton knew that the kids watching were real people, despite being in (or just out of) the single digits.

One of the things I loved about Reading Rainbow (beyond Burton himself—I mean, he just got it ) was that the books were a mix of familiar and challenging. When the show featured Kate Shelley and the Midnight Express —a true story that took place minutes from my hometown—I felt like the material was plucked from my backyard. When it featured something like Liang and the Magic Paintbrush , I was transported somewhere new and unknown. With Burton, you could go anywhere if you took a look in a book, just like the theme song said.

Burton’s Kickstarter campaign was certainly designed to appeal to our collective nostalgia. And while Caitlin Dewey at the Washington Post correctly points out that the campaign isn’t exactly a selfless endeavor (the money will help the for-profit company RRKidz modify an existing app to reboot Reading Rainbow online; it won’t be a nonprofit PBS joint), I’ll wager that most of us are thrilled, nonetheless, at the thought of Burton sharing good books with kids everywhere once again.

To celebrate the (possible) return of Reading Rainbow , here are ten of the greatest books featured on the show during its first run:

1.  All the Colors of the Race by Arnold Adoff, read by Maya Angelou: This book of poems is written from the perspective of a child whose mother is black and father is white. Illustrated with striking portraits done in shades of brown, the powerful material was a natural for narrator Maya Angelou.

2.  Sunken Treasure by Gail Gibbons, read by Robert Morse: Before Robert Morse was doing soft-shoe routines for Don Draper on Mad Men , he was reading about treasure hunting on Reading Rainbow .

3.  On the Day You Were Born by Debra Frasier, read by Patrick Stewart: This one is a tear-jerker, for sure. Just read it.

4.  Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman, read by Tyne Daly: A strong, creative girl; her unstoppable imagination; and lovely, detailed watercolor illustrations. What could be better?

5.  Animal Café   by John Stadler, read by Martin Short: In this silly story, a store owner finds his cash register full every morning. Little does he know, his cat and dog turn the place into a hopping bistro for animal patrons every night.

6.  The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth , read by Keshia Knight Pulliam: Who doesn’t love Magic School Bus books? The fabulously weird teacher. The transforming bus. And on Reading Rainbow , we got to hear one read by Rudy Huxtable!

7.  Paul Bunyan by Steven Kellogg, read by Buddy Ebsen: This tall tale is made even more fanciful by Steven Kellogg’s illustrations. The gumberoos—those creepy troll-like creatures—were just scary enough.

8. Arthur’s Eyes by Marc Brown, read by Bill Cosby: Featuring everyone’s favorite aardvark (he is an aardvark, right?), Arthur gets glasses and also considers getting a nose job. These are real issues, people.

9. Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain by Verna Aardema, read by James Earl Jones: As if the book isn’t beautiful enough, James Earl Jones lends his rich voice to this reading .

10. Abiyoyo by Pete Seeger and Michael Hays, read by Pete Seeger: Watch the video below to see the late folksinger read and perform his story about a ukulele-playing boy and a terrible giant named Abiyoyo. (And don’t miss Burton’s teal blazer, circa 1986.) Fantastic.

What’s your favorite book or memory from  Reading Rainbow ?

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Three Things We Learned From Reading Rainbow

If you attended grade school after 1983, you’re probably able to sing along to the Reading Rainbow theme song from the moment that first note is played. It’s first episode aired in June 1983, and the show quickly became well-loved by teachers and librarians alike to help introduce kids to new books and new ideas. Running from 1983-2009, each of the thirty-minute long episodes would focus on a different children’s book, diving deeper into themes from the book with informational featurettes. 

“PBS would commission surveys, and over an 18-year period, teachers reported Reading Rainbow was the most-used video in their classrooms. They saw it not only as a reading show, but as a way for kids to see things they might not otherwise get exposed to,” says Pam Johnson, former VP of education and outreach at WNED in an article for Mental Floss . 

Hosted by the iconic LeVar Burton (whose birthday is February 16th), each of these episodes (over 155 of them total) would take place in a location relevant to the book. Not only were the locations incredible, but Burton and his ever-changing group of guest stars made it easy for readers of all ages to connect to important story points. Burton also consulted kids in his review process, and would have them provide the reviews for the books on the show, that way it seemed like the book was being talked about by a friend. 

For many, Reading Rainbow helped to spark a love of reading, and now, over a decade after the show stopped airing, the lessons learned from Reading Rainbow still ring true. 

‍ You can “go anywhere” 

Burton had an innate ability to make reading any kind of book feel like an incredible adventure. Using the power of his voice along with the prose from beautifully written books, viewers were swept away on captivating journeys through all kinds of places, experiences, and cultures throughout the world. 

Burton’s impressive number of guest stars like Run DMC, James Earl Jones, Kermit The Frog, Eddie Murphy, and many others helped expose millions of impressionable students to a wide variety of backgrounds, opinions, and experiences that they would channel through to real life. 

You can “be anything”

“Part of the secret sauce of Reading Rainbow was tying literature to a real-world experience. I cannot tell you how many people I have met who told me they became a writer or librarian or bee keeper or were inspired by the show to some degree or another and that it had a major impact on their life,” says Burton in an article for Mental Floss.

“If you’re a reader for life, you’re a learner for life. And if you are a learner for life then you are the definition of what I would consider to be a dangerous individual, which is somebody who doesn’t take someone else’s word for it.” - LeVar Burton

Burton was also the first Black man to host a show on the network, making him  stand out in a predominantly white industry as an actor, author, mentor, and literacy advocate, undoubtedly inspiring thousands of young readers that a career in any industry is possible, regardless of race. 

You can learn anything “in a book”

BookClub was built on the insight that people learn more from books than they do from any other source, and Burton too used books to illustrate this point, teaching kids important lessons on life, challenges, social expectations, and more through the episodes in his show.

Reading Rainbow made it easy for kids to apply knowledge they learned in real life scenarios. In “A Chair For My Mother” (Season 2, Episode 5), Burton taught about saving up for a long period of time in order to buy something special, and in “Game Day” (Season 21, Episode 4), the episode focuses on teenage twins training against all odds to compete in the Olympics, a perfect example of the “hard work pays off” mentality in real life.

“If you’re a reader for life, you’re a learner for life,” says Burton in EdTech Magazine . “And if you are a learner for life then you are the definition of what I would consider to be a dangerous individual, which is somebody who doesn’t take someone else’s word for it.”

Since Reading Rainbow has come off the air on PBS, Burton has started a podcast where he has carried on the show format as digital technology evolves. No matter your age or generation, Reading Rainbow has and will be a powerful education tool for years to come. Do you have a favorite Reading Rainbow episode? Share it with us on Twitter at @bookclubdotcom.

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Take a Look: An Oral History of Reading Rainbow

For students, the summer months represent freedom from the shackles of regimented learning. For educators, they were becoming a problem. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, there was growing concern that children were becoming so captivated by both television and warm weather during their summer vacation that they had abandoned reading altogether. When they returned to school in the fall, their literacy skills had noticeably plummeted.

For a group of broadcasters and teachers, the solution was unusual: Air a new program during the summer months, and use television as a means to get kids excited about opening up a book.

The result was Reading Rainbow , a magazine-style series that celebrated books by reading them out loud to viewers, then exploring their themes in on-location segments. Hosted by LeVar Burton, the show grew from modest trials at PBS affiliate WNED in Buffalo and Great Plains National out of Nebraska. It ran for 150 episodes and 26 years, making it one of the most enduring children’s shows to ever air on public television. If Sesame Street taught kids the alphabet, Reading Rainbow helped them develop a love of words, paragraphs, and narratives.

Despite Rainbow’s altruistic aim, the series was frequently in danger of halting production due to a lack of funds. Lacking merchandisable characters or licensing opportunities that boosted shows like Barney , its producers struggled to convince financiers of its importance. In 2006, succumbing to a changing media and public television landscape, Rainbow shot its final episode. But the show's fans—and Burton—never gave up hope.

With the Reading Rainbow brand once again visible via apps and electronic devices, Mental Floss reached out to several members of the production team to revisit its origins, the approach to the very static practice of reading for the dynamic medium of television, and how Burton didn’t let little things like elephant snot discourage him from helping generations of kids learn to love reading.

In a 1984 survey by the Book Industry Study Group, young adults under 21 years of age were experiencing a marked decline in their interest in reading. In 1978, 75 percent reported they read books. Six years later, the number was down to 63 percent. In Buffalo, New York, and Lincoln, Nebraska, two public television employees grew fixated on how television—long thought to be a thief of a child’s attention—could be repurposed to combat the phenomenon.

Twila Liggett (Co-Creator, Executive Producer): I had been hired by ETV in Nebraska, which distributed programming to classrooms. One day my boss came to me and said, “You know, we’d like to make some television rather than just distribute it.” So I started to think about something in the area of reading.

Cecily Truett (Producer): Putting books on television wasn’t unheard of. Captain Kangaroo had done it. It was Tony Buttino who conceived of the summer loss concept for television.

Tony Buttino (Co-Creator, Executive Producer, Former Director of Educational Services, WNED): I started looking into the summer reading loss phenomenon, which came out of research being done in California. The basic idea was: Kids don’t read during the summer. When they come back to school in the fall, teachers spend two to three weeks bringing them back to their past reading level.

Pam Johnson (Former Vice President, Education and Outreach, WNED): The station would talk to their educational advisors, and what Tony kept hearing from professors, librarians, and teachers was that there needed to be something that explored a love of reading during those summer months. Having that capability early on puts kids on a path to doing well in school.

Larry Lancit (Director, Producer): There was always interest in getting kids to read more, but this was more of a highly-targeted mission. We wanted to make reading fun for kids and encourage them to participate.

Buttino: I started looking at programs that were available to run during the summer. One was called Ride the Reading Rocket , which we aired for a couple of years starting in 1977. I didn’t like the show, but it was something. We’d give out workbooks for classrooms that wanted to use them.

Liggett: There was a lot of stuff made for the classroom then, but it was not that great.

Johnson: Tony went back to 1959, 1960, when WNED first went on the air with live television. You’d have a nun come and read books, or a guy from the zoo come talk about science. It was seeding that notion.

Buttino: After Rocket, I went to see Fred Rogers. He turned us over to David Newell, who played Mr. McFeely on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood , and we shot some short wraparounds with him over the next few summers.

Johnson: WNED would take some preexisting shows and basically use them as experiments. They were all a precursor to Reading Rainbow . It was all building a case for why TV could be good for that kind of thing. WNED was like an incubator.

Liggett: I wanted to do something to mirror what I did in the classroom, which was read to kids out loud, get kids involved in the experience of reading, and have kids talk to each other about reading. Those became the three basic elements of Reading Rainbow .

Buttino: Before Reading Rainbow , we had the Television Library Club . That worked well, but eventually we started thinking, “Well, what kind of show would we make if we had money?”

Lynne Ganek (Writer): The original mission was to create a summer series for inner-city kids who couldn’t go to camp to remain interested in reading. Larry, Cecily, and I sat down and said, “Well, this could be more interesting if we took a different route.”

Buttino: I basically copied some research that had been done for The Electric Company , which showed that if you can get kids in second grade to love to read, it’s a real turning point. Fifth grade might be a little too late.

Liggett: Nebraska's ETV and Great Plains wound up partnering with WNED in Buffalo. Ride the Reading Rocket was not fitting the bill anymore, so I suggested we take my idea and latch it onto the summer reading phenomenon.

Johnson: They compared notes and it really seemed like all roads were leading to the same thing. Different players were having different conceptions of how it might work out.

Ellen Schecter (Writer): The question was: How do you keep kids reading over the summer? There were all these studies showing that reading plummeted, but not solutions.

Ganek: The idea was not to teach kids how to read, but to encourage a love of reading.

Liggett: It was never about sounding out words, but a love of narrative. It was the perfect follow-up for kids who [had moved beyond] Sesame Street . You’d grab them with Sesame Street and then send them on to Reading Rainbow .

Truett: It was Tony who recognized the phenomenon, and Twila who said, “Why not make a TV show about it?”

Liggett: Tony has been known to claim it was his idea, and I take no umbrage at that. Success has many mothers and failure is an orphan.

Buttino: The word “creation” is interesting. I would say I created it, but then Cecily and Twila and Larry came along and recreated it. If I hadn’t done five summers pulling together what was important to the program, I’m not sure how it would have come together.

Ed Wiseman (Producer): What I remember is Ellen Schecter being the heart and soul of the show. Larry and Cecily organized it and put it together. Watching that dynamic with the three of them was wonderful.

With Liggett and Buttino convinced that a show about reading was viable, its execution was left to Cecily Truett and Larry Lancit, a married couple who owned New York City's Lancit Media. Having produced the kids' show Studio See and medical education programming, the couple knew how to navigate informational television with imagination on a budget.

Truett: Tony introduced us to Twila and explained what the goal was, which was to keep kids interested in reading. I thought, “Whoa, how do you do that on television?”

Schecter: We would sit around Cecily and Larry’s apartment at West End Avenue and talk about what kind of show we wanted.

Wiseman: I remember getting a call to come meet with this producing couple who worked out of their apartment. I went there in a three-piece suit, which is what I thought you did. They were so casual and relaxed.

Truett: I answered the door for Ed in a bathrobe.

Ganek: At the time, I was working for WNET in New York. Tony and Cecily hired me to be the associate producer when I was nine months pregnant.

Liggett: Cecily and Larry were responsible for the design of the show. They were and are brilliant producers.

Ganek: Cecily was good about allowing people to speak their mind and doing the same. I’d have an idea and she’d say, “Lynne, that sucks canal water.”

Schecter: An early idea was just to have people sitting around a library, but it was too static and boring. That got shot down.

Liggett: We briefly thought about putting the words on screen and having kids follow along as they were read to. We looked at Zoom . We looked at Sesame Street , of course, the giant of kids' TV. We looked at Mister Rogers .

Ganek: I grew up with Mr. Rogers and even got to know him a little bit later on. He always felt it was important for kids to be spoken to directly by the host. He was a huge supporter of the show.

Truett: We met with Fred, who was a great mentor to us. We wanted to have the kind of relationship Fred had with his audience.

Liggett: The name came from knowing that kids like alliteration and that we wanted to have “reading” in the title.

Buttino: An intern at WNED came up with the name Reading Rainbow .

Ganek: The formula we developed was used for the next 26 years of production, so I think we did something right.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting agreed to fund roughly half of the first season’s 15 episodes, leaving Liggett to petition corporations for the rest of the $1.6 million budget.

Liggett: It took about 18 months. I became sort of impossible to live with. People were telling me to let it go. My then-husband said, “You love this project more than you love anything else,” implying he was the anything else.

Ganek : Twila was very significant in getting Kellogg’s.

Truett : Twila was a relentless Nebraska girl with a will of steel. She was indomitable.

Liggett: I had written proposals for grants and funding before, but nothing on this scale. My big break came when I asked someone I knew at the University of Nebraska Foundation for assistance. He couldn’t get the money from the school. Then he said, “But I do sit on the Kellogg’s Foundation. I’ll contact the CEO and tell him he should see you.”

Schecter: We were always asking things of people in positions where normally you wouldn’t dare approach them.

Liggett: I went to Kellogg's by myself. How I had the guts, I don’t know. I had enough of the show laid out to convince them it would be a good idea.

Rev. Donald Marbury (Former Associate Director, Children’s and Cultural Programs, CPB): At CPB, we funded about half the budget. That’s the way it works in public broadcasting. There’s nothing PBS can fund in full. We become the initial money to parlay that into leverage to find other granters.

Liggett: Between Kellogg’s and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, we had enough money for 15 episodes. Without Kellogg’s, the show never would’ve gotten off the ground.

Money was only part of the production’s concerns. Without an engaging host, Reading Rainbow was in danger of being passed up by viewers in favor of more exciting programming.

Truett: [The original host was going to be] Jackie Torrance, a highly-regarded storyteller. But we also knew boys were at a greater risk of reading loss and were in need of a good role model. We looked at probably 25 people or so.

Buttino: I wanted the kind of host you’d buy a used car from.

Lancit: We had been thinking about—who was that guy who spoke at the Republican Convention? Scott Baio.

Buttino: I didn’t want a robot. I didn’t want anyone in a costume, someone dressed like a sheepdog or something. I wanted someone sincere. In the proposal, I think I mentioned Bill Cosby.

Ganek: We had gone to a kid’s TV conference and LeVar was there. He was just coming off Roots at the time.

Truett: Lynne said, “Have you seen LeVar lately? He’s so handsome, articulate, magnetic.” We thought, “Gosh, this guy is perfect.”

Schecter: Everyone knew him as Kunta Kinte from Roots . He was so 'live' and expressive.

LeVar Burton (Host): I had done two seasons of a PBS show out of Pittsburgh called Rebop . I had an affection for PBS. It made perfect sense to me, because of the reaction to Roots . You felt the sheer power of the television medium. Over eight nights of television, you experienced the transformation of what we meant when we talk about slavery in this country.

Lancit: I remember Lynne called us and said, “You really need to see this guy. He’ll be on the six o’clock news.” We turned it on and he just had this sharpness about him.

Liggett: Larry sent me a note saying I wouldn’t believe how camera-friendly he was. I saw a thing where he recited poetry on stage for Scholastic high school contest winners and he was so compelling. You could not take your eyes off of him.

Ganek: We decided to get in touch with LeVar, and he agreed to shoot the pilot.

Schecter: Once LeVar said yes, that was it.

Burton: I loved the counter-intuitive idea of it. It was no secret children were spending time in front of the TV set, so let’s go to where they are and take them back to the written word.

Ganek: At the time, LeVar was being managed by Delores Robinson, who was married to Matt Robinson, who played Gordon on Sesame Street .

Liggett: She was a former English teacher.

Truett: Lynne called her when LeVar was doing ABC’s Wide World of Sports on the Zimbabwe River. She said, “He’s not even in the country, but he’ll do it.”

Ganek: [Delores's] heart was in kids' TV and she was instrumental in getting LeVar to do it.

Burton: I was all in. It made perfect sense to me.

Truett: At the time, having an African-American kids' TV host was completely unprecedented.

Marbury: He was the first black host, surely. And more than being an African-American male, he was the first genuine celebrity we had landed for a public broadcasting series.

Burton: It wasn’t on my mind from day one, but it came into my awareness the longer we were on the air. I like to ask what Bill Cosby, Morgan Freeman, Laurence Fishburne, and LeVar Burton have in common: We all worked in children’s television.

Schecter: I’d go over scripts with him and ask how he felt. He really brought a lot of himself into the show, stuff that would relate to him—like how he learned to ride a bike and how scary it was until he realized his father wasn’t holding on to him anymore. That’s a perfect story for kids to hear, and it came off as very genuine because it was.

Wiseman: I would say LeVar on the show was 70 percent him and 30 percent refined for the viewer. He was playing himself, but a character, if that makes sense.

Liggett: The power of LeVar was remarkable.

Truett: No young black men were taking the lead in this kind of show. He was like Fred Rogers, talking directly to the audience.

There was little precedent for Rainbow’s format of focusing on a single book. Out of 600 possibilities for the first season, 67 were selected . While producers assumed publishers would appreciate the free advertising, not all of them fully understood the goal.

Ganek: I’d go to the library and just start pulling out books from the shelves, sit on the floor, and read them.

Schecter: The idea was to pick a book with enough juice to build a show around. If it was about dinosaurs, we’d go dig up dinosaurs at Dinosaur National Park. If it was a book about camping, we’d go camping. We went to film a volcano erupting—anything dynamic to hook kids. To pick out a book, it would have to be something that just jumped off the page and became alive within the context of the show.

Ganek: We wanted something whimsical or serious.

Schecter: When we picked out the books, we went to the National Library Association to make sure the titles we featured would be available when kids went looking for them. If you’re turning a kid on to a book, they have to be able to find it.

Ganek: The first season, we had to pay for the rights to use the books. No one was going to let us use them for free. It wasn’t much, but we had to pay.

Liggett: It was hard. That was why we used mostly unknown authors that first season.

Schecter: I think there was some apprehension over how the books would be presented.

Truett: We went to Macmillan and told someone there we were doing a series about summer reading loss and we’ve got no budget, so could we please have it for free? He was dumbfounded. He said, “I don’t see how this is going to sell any books for Macmillan.”

Liggett: They could not wrap their brain around how we could take the story and stretch it over half an hour.

Truett: I think we paid a few hundred dollars for the first book.

Schecter: Once publishers figured out they’d be on TV, they’d be pretty dumb not to say, “Fine.”

Liggett: We had to negotiate with both the author and the illustrator, since many of them were picture books.

Once a book was chosen, it was up to Lancit Media to figure out how to film its pages while remaining visually interesting.

Ganek: Maintaining the integrity of the artwork in the books was huge.

Liggett: I like to say we were Ken Burns before Ken Burns. We moved the camera across an illustration the same way a child’s eye would move across it, from left to right. That was Cecily’s idea.

Truett: I had been working for Weston Woods, a company that adapted books to slideshows way back when. The kids could see the illustrations rather than have the teacher hold up the book for everyone to look at. We knew we couldn’t be static.

Lancit: We realized early on it would be beyond our budget to do cel animation. We adapted books in what we called an iconographic manner, basically moving the camera on still images. We’d get copies of the books from publishers, cut the pages out, and send them to a company in Kansas that would adapt them by extending characters or adding art in case one of them was cut off by a page. Later, we would do limited animation if it made sense.

Reading Rainbow was divided into three segments: the book recitation, a field trip relating to the content, and a concluding segment where kids reviewed other, similar titles. It was one of the few times children on television had an opportunity to voice their opinions.

Schecter: That was a big thing, to have kids review the books. Kids talking about books didn’t happen often on TV.

Buttino: We found the kids in Buffalo for the first few years.

Johnson: Those were real kids from real neighborhoods in Buffalo. We’d test hundreds and hundreds of them and go, “OK, which one of these 6-year-olds has a presence?”

Ganek: I want to give credit to a librarian I spoke to in New Jersey. She came up with the idea for the kids to do book reviews. She had a little file on her desk where kids had left reviews and said, “Here, you don’t have to take my word for it.” That’s where LeVar’s line came from.

Schecter: I recall I wrote that line and that was my idea to have kids review the books. There would be the main book, and then it would be something like, “If you love this, you’ll love these.”

Truett: That was Ellen Schecter, pure and simple. It found its way into one of the scripts and we thought it would be a nice way to end each show.

Ganek: We found a little girl who was spectacular at doing the review and we were going to use her throughout the entire series. Eventually, we decided to use different kids every time.

Truett: Our research showed kids loved watching kids review the books.

Ganek: We were later accused of coaching the kids, and there was some of that, but it was really in their own words.

With funding and plans in place, shooting for the pilot episode began in early 1983.

Liggett: At first, Kellogg’s said they’d fund us but wanted to see a pilot episode first, which was only reasonable. But essentially, one of the assistants there took me aside and said, “Don’t worry. We love the show. Just go do it.”

Truett: LeVar showed up to shoot in New York City having just gotten off the red eye from Africa. It was 7 a.m. He asked me if he could have a toothbrush and a glass of orange juice.

Burton: I had no time to prepare. Talking directly into the camera and breaking the fourth wall is not something actors do often. I had to learn how to feel like I was very specifically talking to one kid.

Wiseman: He was just so incredibly sincere. I remember shooting that and he was developing his character through the smallest things. He had a backpack, and it was like, “Does he carry that? Does he not? Does he swing it over his shoulder?”

Burton: I just assumed that it was me they were looking for. Over time, I really dialed in the voice of LeVar on Reading Rainbow , and I recognized it as the part of me that either was a 10-year-old or appealed to 10-year-olds. They’re kind of one and the same.

Schecter: We did spring for some animation, where a woman opens a book and this big cloud of activity comes out of it.

Liggett: We contacted the people who had just done an animated Levi’s commercial. We wanted real kids to turn into animated kids. We almost ran out of money just doing that.

Truett: We did take one segment out of the pilot that was a bomb. It was called, “I Used to Think But Now I Know,” which was about first impressions not necessarily being the correct ones. It was a barker.

Lancit: When we took that out, we needed to fill time. We shot footage of a tortoise out in Arizona crawling around. I went to our music guy and said, “Can you get me a tortoise song?” I had no idea what he’d come back with. It was a clever little song. It was just two minutes of this little tortoise.

Ganek: I did have one incident after the pilot. I went to visit Dorothy and Jerome Singer, two professors at Yale who had done work in children’s television and had a column in TV Guide . I really looked up to them and so I brought the Reading Rainbow pilot along with me so they could take a look. They later wrote and told me it was awful and would never go anywhere. So much for academia.

Reading Rainbow premiered July 11, 1983 as the first summertime program funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. While it wasn’t the first episode to air, the pilot, featuring the book Gila Monsters Meet You at the Airport , proved to be a memorable introduction to the series for the crew.

Ganek: Someone at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting thought it would be too scary.

Wiseman: The title had “monster” in it, and that led to discussions.

Schecter: Often, self-important people will have ideas about what kids will or will not like. The book was not at all scary.

Truett: One of our advisers had a traumatic experience as a kid because someone brought a Gila monster to her house. It slept in a cage next to her.

Liggett: Our hearts were set on that and we went after it like gangbusters.

Truett: Gila Monsters was perfect because it showed how we would take a book and relate it to a kid’s life, like the fear of moving.

Ganek: I was in the pilot while I was still pregnant, and I remember PBS wasn’t comfortable having a pregnant woman on the show. They shot me from the neck up.

Truett: The response was extremely enthusiastic. We had real Gila monsters on the show. People loved it.

Schecter: The response was extremely positive from the public. It wasn’t like it was with Sesame Street . Older kids were watching it and enjoying it.

Wiseman: It was the most adult-watched kid’s show out there. They’d watch it without their kids.

Liggett: Sometimes we’d be criticized for not picking up the pace, to go faster. But we trusted a kid’s attention to let us take time to get to where we were going.

Not all of the debates surrounded the books. Over time, Burton’s choice of hairstyles and facial grooming would become popular topics of conversation off-camera.

Truett: One of the things we would always have to come to grips with what hairdo LeVar would have in a given year ... There were conversations about his mustache.

Burton: And when I got my ear pierced.

Marbury: We had some wonderful conversations about his haircuts.

Burton: I remember those conversations, and I remember saying, “Look, if you want me, you’ve got to take all of me.” Whether I had a mustache or not, or an earring or not, my authenticity and enthusiasm was coming through.

Wiseman: His hair and style would change from year to year depending on his acting projects. He was partial to a mustache, and the concern was that it aged him. Like, here’s a dad instead of a friend.

Truett: The producer called and said, “Hey, tell him to get rid of that thing.” They wanted more continuity since he didn’t have one in the first season. He shaved, but he was not happy about it.

As Reading Rainbow grew in popularity, publishers and authors began to understand what it could do for their business. Some titles experienced such a surge in sales that books would go back to presses or issue paperback editions to meet the demand.

Burton: The joke was that we would wear kneepads because we were begging publishers to allow us to put their books on television. In the 1980s, TV was still being discussed in academic circles as evil. It was seen as a direct competitor for readers.

Ganek: After the first season, we could barely fit all the books we were getting sent into the office. Publishers would send us practically anything they had.

Wiseman: Boxes came in every day.

Schecter: The whole children’s book business exploded. Some titles went up by 800 percent in sales.

Liggett: Kids would come into libraries asking for books they saw on the show.

Truett: The publishers started making little Reading Rainbow stickers to put on the featured books.

Ganek: The show changed the way children's books were published. They would do very small print runs until Reading Rainbow , and then the numbers got big.

Truett: They finally got it when they saw the show. Reading Rainbow was tied to the sale of thousands of books.

Schecter: Once they saw how carefully we were treating the work and how we were getting celebrities like Lily Tomlin and Meryl Streep to narrate the books, they understood.

Ganek: We had no budget, so anyone you heard reading the stories was doing it because they thought it would be good for kids.

Liggett: Some donated their fee to a charity, and some did it for nothing.

For the second season, Rainbow’s episode count would be cut down to just five installments. Plagued by budget constraints, it would join a number of other public television projects that had problems finding funding. “It’s a very scary time for children’s television,” PBS head of programing Suzanne Weil said at the time.

Liggett: We never did 15 episodes in a season again. It was too hard to raise the money.

Schecter: Money was always a worry. We would get it, but not always in time to keep a steady flow of episodes going. The problem was that we needed a schedule to get shows in production and on the air.

Lancit: Few series get continual funding with no risk. Sometimes we’d be within weeks of putting people on hiatus, then somehow we’d get it going again.

Ganek : Twila was the person responsible for continuing to get money to produce the show.

Truett: Every time we were on the brink of letting everyone go and moving on, Twila would snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. She’d turn people upside-down and shake the money out.

Liggett: It was never guaranteed. One year, I thought we had money for a season and then my contact at Kellogg's went on vacation. The budget got redirected. When she got back, she told me our money was gone.

Schecter: Places like Kellogg’s and CPB didn’t really understand that you needed to keep the production moving. There would be a month or two of waiting, then everyone would have to hurry up.

Marbury: We funded it each and every year. It became a centerpiece for us. It was a marquee value children’s series we just embraced.

Liggett: Barnes & Noble funded us at one time.

Schecter: The questions would always be: How much will they give us? How much can we afford to spend?

Liggett: The National Science Foundation was suggested by a friend of mine. We did science-related books, so it made sense. But after a few years, it’s, “OK, you’ve had your stint here. We can’t fund this show forever.”

Unlike Sesame Street’s large cast of easily-merchandised characters, few elements of Reading Rainbow translated into licensing opportunities, which is one way series can meet their financial needs.

Liggett: We left no stone unturned in an effort to get us licensing deals. A friend set up a meeting with Joan Ganz Cooney, who ran Children’s Television Workshop. She told me, “I can tell you this, you’re not going to make much money selling book bags.”

Truett: We didn’t have the cuddly guys you could take to bed.

Wiseman: The thing that made us special was not having gimmicks, but it also made us less marketable. We didn’t have those licensing dollars flowing back into the show.

Liggett: At one point I wasn’t far from Hallmark in Kansas City. I went over there and thought, “Surely, Hallmark can see their way clear to do something with this.” And their licensing guy basically said, “The problem is, you have these books, but you don’t own these books.”

Truett: Publishers were the largest beneficiaries of the show. We talked about maybe adding a character to the show we could license. We thought about maybe the butterfly from the intro, but that felt very cheesy.

Burton: I was very, very wary of that idea. Thank god we never put it into play. I felt introducing another major character all of a sudden would have a negative impact in how I related to the audience.

Wiseman: I remember in college, a professor was talking about kids' TV, and said that animation and puppets were losing that humanity. LeVar was so sincere. It was back to the Fred Rogers model.

Johnson: We never had LeVar dolls, or ways to leverage those ancillary rights.

Liggett: We never figured it out.

Despite the financial constraints, there was always an allotment set aside for location shooting. In some of the more memorable segments, the show visited a zoo, a Chinatown parade, a live birth, and a high-security prison.

Ganek: Once we settled on a book, we sat down in a circle and talked about what we could do with it. That led to going on field trips depending on what we could afford. We went to a lot of interesting places. We did whitewater rafting in Arizona. We didn’t have money to pay the experts on the show, but when you’re doing work for children, people are very willing to give their time.

Schecter: LeVar was such a good sport. When we did the camping episode, it rained all the time.

Liggett: When he got Star Trek [in 1986], he’d shoot for a week there and then do our show on weekends. Unbelievable stamina.

Burton: I actually thought I was done with Reading Rainbow when I got Star Trek: The Next Generation . I felt I had done it for long enough and it was time to hang them up. They actually started looking for another host. Then Rick Berman, the executive producer on Trek , told me he used to work in children’s programming and had a soft spot in his heart for it. He made sure I could go out and shoot Rainbow when I needed to.

Schecter: I remember LeVar shooting at a zoo and an elephant had a cold and kept blowing snot all over him. He never lost his cool. “OK, let’s try it again.”

Truett: That was hilarious. The elephant was going for the apples LeVar had, and this stream of snot was coming from its trunk.

Burton: My whole thing was to not interrupt the flow of conversation with the viewer. That’s sometimes difficult to do when you’ve got elephant snot on you. I had goats trying to eat my clothes.

Truett: We pulled him out of a goat pen before he got pummeled to death.

Wiseman: I remember shooting near a live volcano. We left our editor about a mile from the eruption.

Liggett: We did an episode on the Starship bridge. Patrick Stewart remains one of the most courteous people I have ever met.

Truett: The biggest mistake Trek made was covering up [LeVar's] eyes with that device. People knew him from Trek , but on our show, he was talking directly to the audience.

Ganek: The biggest, and really only, arguments we’d have would be where to go on location. Someone would ask, “Where do they have the best dinosaur collection?” Someone thought it was Pittsburgh, and someone else would say otherwise.

Schecter: Chinatown [in Manhattan] was a problem. We did Liang and the Magic Paintbrush there, but it was not easy. There are gangs there and you have to be on the right side of them. We managed to ingratiate ourselves.

Truett: As time went on, we delved into more mature topics. We talked about the Underground Railroad, about slavery. We did Badger’s Parting Gifts , about losing someone you love when they die.

Wiseman: We filmed in Sing-Sing, in parts where cameras had never been allowed before. We pushed the envelope in quiet ways. We live-filmed the birth of a baby! We choreographed it with an OB/GYN and a mom. It had never been done in children’s TV before.

Lancit: We coordinated it with a doctor and didn’t show anything graphic. It was all above the waist.

Wiseman: Every PBS station aired it but one: WNET in New York, of all places.

As Rainbow rolled on, it drew considerable attention from libraries, publishers, and the television industry itself, taking home 26 Emmys for excellence in children’s programming.

Wiseman: People at the Daytime Emmys would look at us sideways. “Here come the Reading Rainbow people.” I think we won in just about every category.

Buttino: That was always wonderful, to dress up and attend those shows.

Wiseman: During the 2003 Emmys, LeVar went on stage to accept and said, “This might be the last time we’re up here. There’s no funding.” And we wound up getting funded because he said that on TV.

Burton: I don't remember that, but it sounds like something I would do. Year in and year out, we continued to stay afloat despite a continuous need for funds. I think Reading Rainbow always had a guardian angel that was looking out for us.

Lancit: I always said we had Reading Rainbow karma. Whatever we needed, we would eventually wind up getting. People were always willing to help.

In 2006, Reading Rainbow had seemingly run out of goodwill. The culprit: the No Child Left Behind Act, which placed restrictions on how the Corporation for Public Broadcasting could allocate funds.

Wiseman: We just kind of always thought there would be more money, that Twila would find a way to get it. Like, this show is too good to just die.

Liggett: We ran out of money in 2006 and did our last show in 2006.

Truett: Part of it was the gradual move to other shows. Even though parents wanted their kids watching PBS, they’d leave the room and the kids would go back to Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers .

Liggett: To this day, I’m bemused by the funding issues we had. Everyone is obviously in support of reading and literacy—until you start asking for money.

Ganek: Encouraging a child to want to read was our downfall in some ways. No Child Left Behind wanted kids to be taught the mechanics.

Burton: No Child Left Behind was the death knell. The money was marked for the rudiments of reading. There was no mandate for encouraging a love of reading. All the sources we had come to depend on were no longer able to help us.

Liggett: The mechanics of it would make your toes curl, but basically, CPB got ready-to-learn funds and then shows would come in and plead their case. I argued. I can’t tell you how hard I argued.

Marbury: There were greater demands from Congress to venture out into other areas. We had to start questioning how much we put into the series year after year.

Truett: PBS had to justify its existence to political constituencies. The programming choice for a lot of public television became animation. Stuff like Blue’s Clues .

Burton: We shot our last episode in 2006 but weren’t pulled from the lineup until 2009. After three seasons with no new content, we were pretty much canceled.

Although the show aired in reruns through 2009, Burton was adamant that Rainbow not be forgotten. In 2012, he and partner Mark Wolfe launched an iPad app that capitalized on interactivity and the digital age of entertainment. In 2014, their Kickstarter campaign raised more than $6 million to become the most-funded project in that site’s history.

Burton: When it was taken off the air, it was like a light bulb moment for me. “Wait a minute. There’s something I can do.” We spent most of 2010 and 2011 gathering the rights that had been scattered to the winds and throwing a rope around them to make a deal with WNED.

Wiseman: It was, at the time, the biggest Kickstarter ever, with $6 million. That shows you the power this show had.

Burton: It held the record for the biggest number of backers. It was pretty overwhelming, seeing the depth of passion and enthusiasm for the brand.

Schecter: I thought it was kind of strange. LeVar owns Reading Rainbow ? How could this be?

Burton: There was an opportunity to raise seed capital and hire a team.

Liggett: My understanding is that WNED made a deal with the University of Nebraska, and that LeVar and his company made a broad licensing arrangement with WNED, but WNED still owns it.

Truett: I’m thrilled LeVar is keeping the legacy of Reading Rainbow alive.

Buttino: I’m not sure LeVar and WNED are getting along too well right now. I think WNED sold some stuff to him and they’re not happy about it. [ WNED and RRKidz are currently involved in litigation concerning the Reading Rainbow license, with WNED accusing RRKidz of “illegally and methodically” trying to “take over” the brand by pursuing projects that were not part of their original agreement. ]

Burton: There’s nothing I can say about it right now. I hope and believe we’ll get it resolved soon.

Today, Reading Rainbow remains a touchstone children’s television series, its impact on both viewers and its production team immeasurable. Burton's RRKidz continues to reach children via apps and other online iterations of the series.

Ganek: The cast and crew of Reading Rainbow loved each other.

Wiseman: If we had a crew member come in and say, “It’s just a kids' show, it doesn’t matter,” they’d be gone. It was because it was a children’s show that it had to be the best.

Truett: We started out as kids ourselves, really, and grew up over 26 years.

Wiseman: I married Orly [Berger, a fellow producer]. Our kids wound up appearing on the show.

Liggett: We made kids want to read, and that makes a huge impact. It’s like playing the piano. The more you do it, the better you get.

Truett: It was one of the first shows that shined a light on books and literacy, of enjoying books and enjoying books with your kids.

Johnson: PBS would commission surveys, and over an 18-year period, teachers reported Reading Rainbow was the most-used video in their classrooms. They saw it not only as a reading show, but as a way for disadvantaged kids to see things they might not otherwise get exposed to. They can see a bee farm, or a live volcano.

Wiseman: People will talk about the show with tears in their eyes.

Marbury: I’d put it up there with Sesame Street . I really would, in terms of undergirding the cruciality of reading to our young people.

Burton: Part of the secret sauce of Reading Rainbow was tying literature to a real-world experience. I cannot tell you how many people I have met who told me they became a writer or librarian or bee keeper or were inspired by the show to some degree or another and that it had a major impact on their life.

Ganek: So many people today do their own version of the Reading Rainbow theme song on YouTube. I saw Jimmy Fallon dressed as Jim Morrison from The Doors doing it on his show with The Roots.

Liggett: People will sing the theme song to me.

Marbury: I could sing it right now! Butterfly high in the sky, I can go twice as high …

Buttino: Friends will say I was involved with Reading Rainbow at restaurants. Waiters will come up to me and show me the theme song is their ring tone. It happens all the time.

Lancit: I think there was a purity in the way we presented the program that reached kids and touched them in a way where they didn’t feel patronized. We spoke to them at a level that made them feel confident. That I had something to do with giving a generation of kids that feeling is a wonderful thing.

Truett: I believe in my heart that the relationship LeVar created with young people was one of the factors in bringing them to embrace a relationship with an African-American man. It changed a generation’s perspective.

Wiseman: He made color both an issue and not an issue at the same time. LeVar transcended race, gender, and age.

Burton: That’s something emotional about that sweet spot of childhood, and Reading Rainbow triggers that for people. It was during a much simpler time in their lives. The world is a lot faster now.

Marbury: I don’t think enough children’s programming has followed Reading Rainbow’s lead. There is nothing more important in education than reading. We must continue to make it foundational to the educational process.

Schecter: Sometimes I’ll meet friends of my kids who go, “You wrote Reading Rainbow ? That was my favorite show. I’d get a book, close my bedroom door, and let my imagination go.” That’s what we wanted.

Burton: It was very pastoral. We allowed that conversation with the audience to breathe. I think that’s part of the appeal. I felt they believed they had a friend. Someone who was rooting for them, that knew and cared about them. And that was real.

All images courtesy of RRKidz unless otherwise credited.

The Untold Truth Of Reading Rainbow

Quickly following its debut in 1983, "Reading Rainbow" grew to become one of the most popular programs in the history of public broadcasting. Initially designed as a way to combat declines in child literacy during the summer months, this ragtag PBS series became a year-round hit that encouraged children to use reading as a way to explore the larger world around them. Hosted by LeVar Burton, the series featured original music, engaging documentary segments, and even children reviewing books themselves. All of this made for a smash hit not only in classrooms worldwide but within the television industry, garnering 100 Emmy Award nominations and several wins.

Despite the overwhelming popularity during its heyday, the series now sits in the shadow of other children's television giants like "Sesame Street" and "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood." It was unceremoniously canceled in 2009 and has yet to receive a widespread revival, however this quiet disappearance should not take away from the show's quietly subversive history. Though often produced by the skin of its teeth, the series consistently challenged the standards for children's programming and persevered to do so even in later seasons. Here are just some of the most fascinating tidbits buried within the now 40-year legacy of "Reading Rainbow."

Reading Rainbow was created by a woman with no prior television experience

There are many unlikely heroes behind the conception of "Reading Rainbow," most prominently Twila Liggett, a state reading coordinator from Nebraska. After completing her doctorate at the University of Nebraska, her talent for writing grants led her to apply for a job at her local television station, Nebraske Education Television (NETV). There was just one problem: "I had no TV experience," Liggett humorously told Variety . "I read books on how to interview and structure my resume for a job in television and got hired in project administration and development."

When NETV expressed an interest in producing original programming, Liggett planted the seed that would become "Reading Rainbow." Though there were already shows on the air that engaged children in reading, Liggett did not think any of them had reached their full potential. "I wanted to do something to mirror what I did in the classroom," Liggett explained to Mental Floss , "which was read to kids out loud, get kids involved in the experience of reading, and have kids talk to each other about reading." "Reading Rainbow" was so effective that it could have only been designed by someone in the world of education.

The show was inspired by the Summer Slide

Tony Buttino was the director of educational services at Buffalo Toronto Public Media (WNED), a PBS-affiliated television station in Buffalo, New York. He was doing research on a phenomenon commonly known as the "Summer Slide," during which children's reading comprehension decreases due to a lack of summer education. "When [students] come back to school in the fall, teachers spend two to three weeks bringing them back to their past reading level," Buttino told Mental Floss. In speaking to local educators, Buttino saw the need for a summer television series that inspired a love of reading.

Buttino began airing pre-existing shows that incorporated reading, but none of them were at the level of quality he desired. WNED began exploring the possibilities of original programming, which led them to partner with Nebraska's NETV. Buttino and NETV's Twila Liggett had similar goals for what they wanted out of their new series, which would become a part of WNED's summer block of programming. By 1989, the series became so popular that it would air outside of the summer months and even be used within classrooms during the school year.

Reading Rainbow was originally designed for inner-city children

In Mental Floss' oral history of "Reading Rainbow," show writer Lynne Ganek revealed that part of the show's inception was to target urban communities and families. "The original mission was to create a summer series for inner-city kids who couldn't go to camp to remain interested in reading." Though the series would be made broad enough to appeal to audiences of all backgrounds, this original approach colored the types of books and topics featured on the series. Because inner cities house more diverse populations, Twila Liggett sought to reflect that in the series. As Liggett writes in her "Reading Rainbow Guide to Children's Books," co-authored by Cynthia Mayer Benfield, "We have a special interest in good stories featuring protagonists who represent a cross-section of cultures –– African-American, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American."

The entire series, by extension, kept diversity at the forefront. The documentary segments often immersed viewers in specific ethnic cultures; the first season alone included episodes on Chinese mythology and the histories of Indigenous tribes. Children featured on the show's review segment were often children of color. Most importantly, LeVar Burton was chosen to be the show's host because the creators sought to have a person of color as the face of the series. "Reading Rainbow" was interested in representation far before it became a hot topic and it remains a part of the show's lasting legacy.

The title came from an unknown intern

Some viewers may wonder where the name "Reading Rainbow" comes from. It's a catchy title, but the series has nothing to do with rainbows, so what's the story? Well, the answer isn't very satisfying, ultimately. According to co-creator Tony Buttino, the name was simply suggested by an intern at WNED, the PBS-affiliated television station co-producing the series. The name of the intern remains unknown to this day. Whoever they are, they're due some serious credit.

That said, it isn't quite that simple. Part of the title originated from the creators' interest in including alliteration, as they believed that would attract children to the series, as well as the word "Reading." It's possible the creators took a tip from "Ride the Reading Rocket," a progenitor of "Reading Rainbow" that previously aired on WNED. However, it's also possible that the term "rainbow" came from the show's inclusive mindset. Though co-opted by the LGBT movement in the 1970s, the rainbow has always been a symbol of diversity and social change. By calling the show "Reading Rainbow," it showed that children of all colors and creeds could come together and unite through the power of reading.

LeVar Burton was not the producers' first choice to host the show

It may be heresy to suggest it, but beloved television icon LeVar Burton was not the creators' first choice to be the host of "Reading Rainbow." Before Burton, there was Jackie Torrence, a renowned storyteller who traveled the world year-round performing stories for children and their families. Once described as "the matriarch of storytelling in America" (via The LA Times ), Torrence had already amassed experience on television and would have made for a captivating host. However, because boys were statistically more likely to fall victim to the Summer Slide, the show's creators pivoted toward a male host.

After watching an interview with Burton on television, the show's creators met the television icon at a children's television conference and pitched him the idea for "Reading Rainbow." Burton, who had found overnight success starring in the ABC miniseries "Roots," experienced firsthand the power of television as a medium for change and was raised with a love of reading instilled in him by his mother. For him, to sign on was a no-brainer. "I'm acutely aware of how literature has shaped my life," Burton told the Television Academy Foundation . "The idea of using television to steer children back in the direction of literature and the written word just made so much sense to me."

Butterfly in the Sky was television's first all-electronic theme song

"Butterfly in the sky... I can go twice as high..." Everyone knows the iconic theme song to "Reading Rainbow," composed by electronic musician Steve Horelick. A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University's avant-garde music program, Horelick had just moved to New York City and found modest success working in commercials when he was offered a chance to submit a demo for the still-gestating children's series. He collaborated with lyricists Dennis Kleinman and Janet Weir, the latter of whom was inspired by her two nephews. During a recent Q&A , Horelick recalled Weir saying that "we have to create a sound that, as soon as they hear it, they'll just come sliding in front of the TV set."

To accomplish this, Horelick created the song's opening, twinkly riff using a unique synthesizer designed by West Coast instrument designer Don Buchla. "There was nothing like it anywhere in the world," Horelick told Music Dialogue . "As a matter of fact, he only made eight of them." Horelick used other Buchla synthesizers and a drum machine to fill in the rest. "There were a lot of kid's shows on the air in those days [that] were all jazz-based and rhythm section-based. We came along and did something a little different." It was the first theme song on television to be produced entirely using electronic instruments and remains one of television's most beloved themes.

Kellogg's helped make Reading Rainbow happen

Most of us know Kellogg's as the food manufacturing company behind such beloved cereals as Froot Loops and Frosted Flakes. However, they were also an early investor in "Reading Rainbow" to the point that, without them, the show would have never been made.

After writing a proposal to the Corporation of Public Broadcasting (CPB), Twila Liggett was only able to raise half of the series' desired budget for the first season, leaving $1.6 million left to be sponsored. Liggett struggled for months until a contact from Nebraska put her in touch with the CEO of the Kellogg's Foundation. Liggett presented the series to their board and they agreed to fund the remainder of the show's budget without even seeing a pilot. At long last, this capped the development process for the first season of "Reading Rainbow," which took 18 months altogether. Liggett's perseverance was what kept the project alive. "Twila was a relentless Nebraska girl with a will of steel," said producer Cecily Truett to Mental Floss. "She was indomitable."

Books featured on Reading Rainbow saw their sales skyrocket

In its infancy, the producers of "Reading Rainbow" struggled to obtain rights from publishing companies so they could feature books on the series. "In the 1980s, TV was still being discussed in academic circles as evil," LeVar Burton explained to Mental Floss. "It was seen as a direct competitor for readers."

However, as the show rose in popularity, so too did their featured books. Often labeled with the show's logo for visibility, sales of some titles skyrocketed as high as 900%. Mimi Kayden, a marketing director at E. P. Dutton, told The New York Times that "Reading Rainbow" was "the best thing that ever happened to children's books. Books that would sell 5,000 copies on their own sell 25,000 copies if they're on 'Reading Rainbow.'" 

In response, publishers did an about face. "After the first season, we could barely fit all the books we were getting sent into the office," writer Lynne Ganek told Mental Floss. Demand was so high that "Reading Rainbow" would require publishers to put their book back into print if it was selected for the series, often in paperback. Suddenly, the show's creators went from beggars to choosers.

Producers once forced LeVar Burton to shave his facial hair

By all accounts, LeVar Burton was the first Black host of a nationally syndicated children's television show. He would often express his Blackness through style choices, from a subtle but fashionably pierced ear to his changing hairstyle season after season. However, early on in the show's production, his style would clash with the show's producers at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. "From [their] point of view, a more consistent look lent itself to the sort of stability that's important for kids in their lives," Burton told Yahoo Entertainment . "But I was also very, very clear that they had hired me, and in doing so they needed to respect who I am and that I'm in control of what I look like... I wasn't willing to change that."

Things came to a head one day when the producers requested Burton shave his mustache. Burton was adamantly resistant, but the producers wouldn't back down and Burton caved. Though this incident would upset him, later seasons featured Burton in a variety of different looks, proving he ultimately got his way. "These victories are hard-won," Burton went on, "and they're hard-fought because they matter. Representation matters."

Two crew members once got stuck on an active volcano

The documentary segments on "Reading Rainbow" took viewers around the globe, often to exotic locations in the natural world. Because of this, the show's production crew were often put through the ringer in ways that felt closer to "National Geographic" than to "Sesame Street." One such episode was "Hill of Fire," which brought audiences to Mount Kilauea, Hawaii's most active volcano. The crew filmed during a live eruption, which made for sensational footage. However, it also came with safety concerns.

Much of the crew were being transported to the surface of Kilauea via helicopter. However, toward the end of the shoot, impending changes in wind speed became a flight risk. The pilot attempted to evacuate the entire crew before things got too out of control, but one video technician and one sound technician were unable to be transported back. The two wound up staying the night on Kilauea with a group of scientists studying the volcano and returned safely the next day. At "Reading Rainbow," there was truly no such thing as a "normal day on set."

James Earl Jones took Reading Rainbow seriously

Many beloved celebrities took part in "Reading Rainbow" as guest narrators for the week's featured book, from actors like Meryl Streep and Martin Short to other television personalities like Julia Child and Al Roker. The list goes on and on, but one of the most memorable narrators was the one and only James Earl Jones . Already beloved for his staggering voice work as Darth Vader in "Star Wars," Jones agreed to narrate the book "Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain" for the show's first season.

In the "Reading Rainbow Guide to Children's Books," co-creator Twila Liggett recounts originally recording with Jones and the incredible events that followed. "[He] originally took a lighthearted approach to his narration," Liggett explains. "However, once he thought about it and realized what an important message both the show and the book had, he called the producer and asked to do the reading again." Not only does Jones' darker, more patient vocal work give author Verna Aardema's words much more gravitas, but he had the consideration and thoughtfulness to give the "Reading Rainbow" audience a reading worthy of the material. Memories like this are a testament to just how much everyone valued the series and its message.

The show's children book reviews were done by non-professional child actors

Every episode of "Reading Rainbow" was bookended (pun intended) by a trio of additional book reviews performed by child actors. Well, calling them child actors is only half-true. They may have been children, but the kids featured on the show were not professional actors. They were merely elementary school students plucked out of obscurity via local auditions held by the show's producers. After selecting a group of students who they felt would do well on camera, the producers paired each one with a book and helped them write their own book review. Though they surely had assistance from the show's crew, every review came from their own words. 

In the "Reading Rainbow" documentary "Butterfly in the Sky," now-accomplished actor Kenn Michael recalls his experience reviewing a book for the series (pictured above). "Writing that book review and then performing it... gave me a sense of ownership." Later in the film, author Jason Reynolds, who watched the show as a child, further adds to the importance of the segment. "It was saying 'You matter. Your stories matter. Your voice matters. Your opinion matters,' which means I get to watch the show and say, 'Huh, maybe I have a voice. Maybe I have an opinion. Maybe I have a story.'"

LeVar Burton filmed episodes of Reading Rainbow and The Next Generation in the same week

In 1986, LeVar Burton's role as host of "Reading Rainbow" was suddenly in jeopardy. He had landed the role of Lieutenant Geordi La Forge on "Star Trek: The Next Generation," which was set to become another major television hit. However, the show's involved production schedule meant that he would have to quit "Reading Rainbow," right? Wrong. It turns out that "Next Generation" executive producer Rick Berman had previously worked in children's programming. He cared about it so much that he made sure Burton had availability to shoot "Reading Rainbow" on the weekends while shooting "Next Generation" during the week. The icon remained with both shows right up until the end, though "Reading Rainbow" would outlive "Next Generation" by more than a decade.

Burton's relationship with "Star Trek" producers was so strong that it fostered an episode of "Reading Rainbow" on the Starship Enterprise. The episode took viewers through a normal day on the set of "Next Generation" and spotlighted the many off-camera crew members who make the show happen, like the director, the makeup artists, and the lighting technicians. The episode was not only an incredible behind-the-scenes look at one of television's most popular shows at the time but also an effective primer for children on how professional television is produced.

Reading Rainbow was the first children's show to feature a live birth

"Reading Rainbow" often exposed its young viewers to difficult topics: the frightening impact of 9/11, the legacy of slavery, and even coping with the death of a loved one. The show was often revolutionary in how it tackled these subjects, such as when it brought cameras into then-undocumented sections of Sing Sing Correctional Facility for their episode on incarcerated parents. It even won a Peabody Award for its episode on the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial in Washington, D.C., which featured an interview with architect Maya Lin and addressed the Vietnam War.

However, the most prominent example can be found in the premiere of Season 16, "On the Day You Were Born." The episode spotlights a family whose mother is expecting her fourth child and guides viewers through how they prepare for their new baby, from doctor's appointments to prepping hand-me-down clothing. Eventually, the show follows the mother all the way into the delivery room and, though it never shows anything explicit, viewers watch her give birth in real-time. This made "Reading Rainbow" the first children's show to broadcast an unsimulated live birth, which they choreographed with a doctor's supervision. It beats the high school pregnancy video, that's for sure.

Everybody loved working on Reading Rainbow

When you listen to testimonies from people who worked on "Reading Rainbow" — from the creators to the crew members to even the celebrity guests — it's clear that everyone loved being involved. It was a combination of both the show's remarkable impact on child literacy as well as the bonds they all made behind the scenes. "Eighty percent of the production team started with the show and have stayed," co-creator Twila Liggett told Variety. "People do this because they want to and it's become like a family." The show's creative team became very close, to the point that two producers, Ed Wiseman and Orly Berger, eventually married and had their kids featured on the show.

In addition, many of the featured celebrity narrators refused payment, or would donate their fee to charity. For them, participating in "Reading Rainbow" was a privilege. Reminiscing on​ "The View,"  host Whoopi Goldberg spoke about why she agreed to take part when she was guest narrator in 1993. "As a kid who couldn't really read for the longest time, I understood [the show's value] because people read to me... listening to someone read [books] is magical, so I wanted to be part of anything that furthered this conversation in education." Goldberg went on to executive produce "Butterfly in the Sky," a documentary recounting the history and impact of "Reading Rainbow," proving she (and surely many other celebrities) is still a fan all these years later.

It was always on the verge of being canceled

Despite the show's immense popularity, "Reading Rainbow" consistently struggled with fundraising. Key backers like Kellogg's and the National Science Foundation proved to be inconsistent, while public broadcasting across the board continued to lose government support every few years. This led to temporary hiatuses in production mid-season and often between seasons. When one season concluded, the show's creators never knew if they would earn money for the next, though series co-creator Twila Liggett always found a last-minute solution. At one point, LeVar Burton was so desperate that upon accepting the show's 2003 Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Series, he informed the audience that he likely wouldn't appear at the ceremony next year because the show hadn't been financed for an additional season. Naturally, the show received funding shortly after.

One issue was that the show never found a way to license merchandise. Unlike shows like "Sesame Street," "Reading Rainbow" had no distinctly identifiable characters they could plaster on lunchboxes or fashion into dolls. This put them at a severe monetary disadvantage throughout the show's entire lifecycle.

Reading Rainbow was eventually canceled due to the No Child Left Behind Act

Eventually, Twila Liggett's luck would run out. In 2002, then-President George W. Bush signed the "No Child Left Behind" act, a piece of legislation designed to enhance school curriculums and better educate disadvantaged students. Part of its monetary support was put toward reading, which would seemingly include funding for "Reading Rainbow." However, the act actually stripped them of funding instead. "The mandate [was] to teach kids how to read," LeVar Burton explained in an interview with MediaBistro . "There was no money in the budget to encourage, to foster a love of reading." 

According to NPR , the act signaled "a shift in the philosophy of educational television programming" toward shows that were mostly concerned with the mechanics of learning to read. This meant that "Reading Rainbow," a show that used books as a jumping-off point to larger topics rather than focus on reading comprehension, was not financially supported by the bill and, thus, lost many of its sponsors. Eventually, the show filmed its final episode in 2006 and, after airing reruns for three additional years, was officially canceled in 2009, marking the end of an over two-decade run.

The show's revival held one of the most successful Kickstarter campaigns of all time

In response to the uproar from older fans upset at the series' cancellation, host LeVar Burton and business partner Mark Wolfe began developing a "Reading Rainbow" mobile app entitled "Skybrary" in 2012. They believed that the brand could continue encouraging children to read using modern technology. The app featured a large library of digital books as well as video field trips, akin to the field segments from the original series.

In 2014, the two announced a Kickstarter campaign with a goal of $1,000,000. The campaign reached its goal within 11 hours and went on to far exceed it, finishing with a final total of $5,408,916 from more than 100,000 backers. It became Kickstarter's most successful campaign at the time and it remains one of the platform's most highly funded and highly backed campaigns to this day. As a result of its overwhelming success, the app was able to be developed for multiple platforms (Android, XBOX, Roku, etc.) and made available for free to classrooms around the world.

LeVar Burton was sued for using the Reading Rainbow catchphrase

In 2011, LeVar Burton went into negotiations with the original producers of "Reading Rainbow," WNED, to obtain a brand license for their planned mobile app, "Skybrary." For years, it appeared they had struck a deal. However, in 2017, WNED filed a strongly-worded lawsuit against Burton, claiming that the app's successful Kickstarter was a breach of their initial agreement and that the license had been revoked since 2015.

WNED also claimed that Burton's later efforts to maintain the "Reading Rainbow" brand using his name actively took bargaining power away from the company for future projects. One example was Burton's new podcast, "LeVar Burton Reads," launched in 2017. The podcast was marketed as the adult answer to "Reading Rainbow" and even features his trademark catchphrase, "But you don't have to take my word for it." WNED claimed Burton had no right to use the slogan as the parties' brand license agreement had dissolved.

Thankfully, in later in 2017, WNED withdrew the lawsuit following a public outcry from fans who asserted that you ultimately couldn't separate Burton from the "Reading Rainbow" brand. Burton confirmed this at that year's New York Comic Con, telling Vulture that "there was an amazing outpouring of love and support of fans... I was advised not to comment, and as difficult as that was for me, it was nice to have people come to my defense."

The legacy of Reading Rainbow lives on

Though the official series has yet to see a proper revival, "Reading Rainbow" remains a favorite amongst the millennial audiences who grew up with it. But you don't have to take our word for it — just take a look at some of the ways the series has lived on since the debut of the "Reading Rainbow"-inspired app "Skybrary."

As previously mentioned, LeVar Burton began his own podcast, "LeVar Burton Reads," and it currently sits at a 4.9 star rating on Apple Podcasts. In 2022, the show's theme song went viral on TikTok after being paired with a popular filter that saw users' disembodied heads floating in space. Finally, a documentary about the show's history and legacy, "Butterfly in the Sky," premiered at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival and is set for a wide release in  2024. Fans of "Reading Rainbow" will never let the show fade into complete obscurity, though hopefully we will see the series reemerge for a new generation of children in due time. 

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Current (https://current.org/2024/05/with-a-new-documentary-reading-rainbow-looks-back/)

With a new documentary, ‘Reading Rainbow’ looks back

By marah eakin , freelance contributor | may 7, 2024.

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"Reading Rainbow" host LeVar Burton in the documentary "Butterfly in the Sky."

Running for 155 episodes spread over 23 years, Reading Rainbow helped guide generations of kids toward a love of reading. Now, a new documentary about the show is looking back at its creation, development and influence. 

Butterfly in the Sky — which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2022 but just hit digital outlets April 30 — was crafted by Brett Whitcomb and Bradford Thomason , the nostalgia-loving directorial team behind GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling , A Life In Waves , and Jasper Mall . Born of the duo’s love for Reading Rainbow as kids, Butterfly features interviews with the show’s creators — Cecily Truett Lancit, Larry Lancit, Twila Liggett and Tony Buttino — as well as host LeVar Burton. Former kids who appeared on the show also pop up, as does composer Steve Horelick, who created the program’s eternally catchy theme song .

Whitcomb says he was shocked no one had ever made a documentary about Reading Rainbow , not just because of what the show meant to so many kids but also due to how little information was available about the show’s decades-long run. In fact, the show’s documentary-style approach to children’s television was part of what made Whitcomb want to become a filmmaker in the ’80s. The director says that getting to see different parts of the world — like the volcano in Hawaii featured both in Rainbow ’s “Hill of Fire” episode and in clips in the documentary — helped him develop a passion for global storytelling. 

“Werner Herzog made some really great early films that felt almost like nature documentaries, and Reading Rainbow was exploring things in the same way,” Whitcomb says. “They would just get in a van and go make this thing and then come back and start editing, incorporating kids and the books that they were exploring.” That style of work set up camp in Whitcomb’s brain, as did a love for reading, both instilled by watching Reading Rainbow .

The birth of a ‘Rainbow’

A co-production of Nebraska ETV (now Nebraska Public Media) and WNED-TV in Buffalo, N.Y., Reading Rainbow hit the air in July 1983. It would go on to earn 200 broadcast awards, including a Peabody and 26 Emmys — 10 for outstanding children’s series — and becoming the third–longest-running children’s series in PBS history. At the show’s genesis in the early ‘80s, though, it was simply a question: “How do you get kids excited about reading?” 

Butterfly in the Sky tells the story of Rainbow ’s entire arc, starting with the teaming up of WNED’s Director of Educational Services Tony Buttino and Nebraska ETV’s Twila Liggett, who’d previously been a book-loving elementary school teacher. In the documentary, we learn that Rainbow was born as a response to kids turning away from books and toward television, consuming an average of five hours a day in 1980. Educators had begun to resent the medium, but Buttino and Liggett believed they could use television to motivate children to read, the same way that Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood imparted social emotional growth or Sesame Street taught preschool skills.

Producers Larry Lancit and Cecily Truett Lancit were recruited to join the team, thanks in part to the latter’s work on the PBS series Studio See , which was shot entirely on location. According to Truett Lancit, that show helped give Reading Rainbow its real-world perspective.

Liggett was tasked with fundraising, which didn’t come quickly. Eventually, with funding from CPB, Kellogg’s, WNED and Great Plains National, the team scraped together $137,240 to make a pilot. That was about half of what it cost to make a half-hour animated program at the time, Lancit told Current, noting that about a third of that funding was quickly earmarked for the program’s testing and analysis.

At Liggett’s insistence, the Lancits went in search of a male host for the series because more boys than girls typically struggle with reading. Burton was recruited to host because of his appearance in Alex Haley’s landmark Roots series, as well as his run hosting a couple of seasons of the kids series Rebop on WGBH . Burton had a personal connection to the material, too: In the documentary, he says that his mother taught English in the early part of her life before becoming a social worker, and that before training as an actor, he’d studied to become a priest, which gave him the belief that a life well lived should include service to others. 

“With the Roots experience, I was able to observe this nation become changed, especially in terms of how we talked about chattel slavery,” Burton told Current. “ Roots made it impossible to consider that slavery was simply an economic engine. You had to consider the human cost afterwards, and just eight nights of storytelling did that. So I was pretty excited about how we might be able to impact the lives of children who were at the point of making the decision about whether they would be a reader for life.”

And kids that watched Rainbow did become readers. In 1984, The Buffalo News reported that 6.5 million viewers saw at least one episode of the show a week, a number equivalent to what Mister Rogers and Electric Company were doing at the time. Buttino says that a study at the time showed that 55% of children’s librarians reported an increase in summer reading because of the show, with 73% responding that children asked for books featured on the show by name. Though the show had initially struggled to convince publishers to let them feature their books on the show, with most unable to picture how the material would actually be used, Rainbow had a massive impact on children’s book sales. 

In Creating Reading Rainbow: The Untold Story of a Beloved Children’s Series , a book written in part by Buttino, the director of children’s book marketing for publishing house E.P. Hutton is quoted as saying that the series was the best thing that had ever happened to children’s books, because “books that would sell 5,000 copies on their own sell 25,000 copies” after appearing on the show. Publishers would instantly order paperback prints of books set to appear on the show, both to meet demand and to provide cheaper options to consumers. Truett Lancit says that parents felt that a book’s appearance on Rainbow meant it was worthwhile, and that libraries — where Rainbow books could often be found with a seal featuring the show’s logo on the cover — would often order multiple copies of each title just so they never had to turn away an excited reader.

The show’s success is evident in the documentary, not just through the archival clips and anecdotes throughout, but through the inclusion of former kids who appeared as guest book reviewers on the program, all of whom rave about their experience. Kenn Michael, a kid from the show who went on to become a successful actor-director-composer in Hollywood, calls Rainbow ’s creators “bold and fearless” in Butterfly in the Sky . “Their love for what they were doing changed people’s lives,” Michael tells the camera. “You never know how far a simple effort of love can go.” 

Butterfly also focuses on the show’s success in the education space, noting that for many years, Reading Rainbow was also the number-one television program used in schools across the country. “As the philosophy of American education moved toward integrated curriculum, teachers were able to use [the show] for their various classes in English, science, math and the arts,” Truett Lancit tells Current. “I don’t want to make it sound like the show was academically based, because it was not, but it filled a spot in American schools, so kids were getting it both at home and at school. We penetrated the audience over a long period of time in a very significant way.” 

Behind the ‘Rainbow ‘

Some of Butterfly in the Sky ’s best bits come in its tales of the show’s creation, whether it’s producer Jill Gluckson ’s story about how seriously James Earl Jones took his gig reading Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain on the show, or the time the camera spends with Horelick as he explains the origins and construction of Rainbow ’s iconic theme song . 

Viewers also get a look at how each episode of Rainbow was created, which always started with the discovery of a book producers liked. In  “ Animal Cafe ,” for instance, producers enlisted Martin Short to read the titular book, which is about what animals get up to at night, while hanging at a 24-hour diner. In the episode’s field piece, the show’s crew filmed inside Bracken Cave in San Antonio, Texas, where something like 60 million bats cover every inch of cave’s walls and ceiling.

In the film, director Dean Perisot relays the difficulties of staffing the shoot — it is, notably, the only field piece Burton didn’t let himself get talked into — telling the story of a previously untested sound person who fell off a rock inside the cave during production, fell into the deep layer of bat guano and carnivorous worms that covers the floor of the cave, and ran out, ultimately refusing to return to the set. Coupled with descriptions of the harrowing Kilauea Volcano shoot for “Hill of Fire” delivered later in the doc, it makes the show’s production look brave and scrappy, committed to taking the kids watching at home right to where the action was happening.

That wasn’t the only commitment the show made to kids: Liggett says that early on, she laid down a rule that the show would try to represent all kinds of kids from all kinds of backgrounds, cultures and locations. It wasn’t something that producers necessarily thought to do in 1980, when the development process for the show began, but both she and Burton felt it was important. 

And while viewers at home undoubtedly appreciated seeing Burton experience the sounds of African drumming and the taste of beautifully made Japanese food on the show, they also really enjoyed seeing Burton himself. In the film, Ellen Doherty — an associate producer on Reading Rainbow back then, now CCO for Fred Rogers Productions — says that Burton just has that special something that helps him connect with kids at home, relaying messages of sympathy, wonder and joy. 

For viewers of color watching at home, Burton also felt like a revelation. Jason Reynolds , an author and poet who was the Library of Congress’ National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature from 2020–22, relates in the film over and over again how much seeing someone like Burton meant to him as a young Black kid. Burton, Reynolds remembers, wore a gold hoop earring, like two other important figures in his life, Michael Jordan and 60 Minutes correspondent Ed Bradley. Seeing that let him know that Burton was being his authentic self on camera, something that Burton says later in the documentary was always of the utmost importance to him.

It was important to Burton, too. He was always fiercely protective of his changing outward appearance on the show, defending his right to grow a mustache or experiment with a new hairstyle, despite what producers might want for continuity’s sake. As he explains in the documentary, “I’d been told my whole life by society that there was something intrinsically wrong or undeserving about me because of the color of my skin, and I think that made me especially recalcitrant to give in.”

It drove creator Cecily Truett Lancit especially crazy, leading to what Burton calls some “very tense and not inconsequential” conversations during Rainbow ’s production. But as Lancit admits in the documentary, she knows now that she was in the wrong. “Levar knew better than I did that it would be OK,” she says. Burton told Current that he found that statement especially enlightening when watching the film.

There are other revelations in Butterfly in the Sky , such as teases that Burton almost left the show after the “ My Little Island ” episode in 1987 since he’d booked Star Trek: The Next Generation and was presumably off to greener and more lucrative pastures. The show even auditioned new hosts, though producers don’t give any hints as to who in the documentary. Ultimately, Burton reveals, he came back because he felt like there was work for him to do, kids to reach, and books to read.

“Every single day,” Burton says, “somebody comes up to me and says that, because of the show, they became a writer or a voracious reader or a beekeeper or even a visual effects artist because they watched the crossover episode where we went to the set of Star Trek: The Next Generation . I really think that the show delivered on its promise to expand a child’s knowledge of the world so that they might find their place in it.”

Correction: An earlier version of this story misidentified Bradford Thomason.

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Creating Reading Rainbow: The Untold Story of a Beloved Children's Series Hardcover – June 18, 2024

Reading Rainbow is one of the most successful PBS children’s series in television history, earning numerous national and international awards including 26 Emmys and a Peabody Award. But perhaps more important than anything else, Reading Rainbow helped generations of children cultivate a love for books.

Reading Rainbow is very much a story of humble beginnings and enormous perseverance. Over five summers, Tony Buttino Sr. and his colleagues at WNED-TV, the public television station in Buffalo, New York, worked in collaboration with educators and librarians to experiment with summer reading programs. But after trialing these programs, the WNED team realized there was a big need for a new children's literacy series and believed they could create a new show with local and national collaborators and friends. After fits and starts, and enough twists and turns to fill a children’s book, Reading Rainbow premiered in the summer of 1983 and captured the attention of 6.5 million young viewers.

Creating Reading Rainbow explores the many intriguing and homespun stories that, when woven together, reveal how this groundbreaking and iconic television series came to be. What led to the series being called “Reading Rainbow”? How did the road to Reading Rainbow wind its way through Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood ? How did a public television station in Buffalo spearhead a movement in education and spark the passion for reading in millions of children? And, what does lasagna have to do with it?

• Print length 296 pages
• Language English
• Publisher North Country Books
• Publication date June 18, 2024
• Dimensions 6.25 x 1.1 x 9.35 inches
• ISBN-10 1493077325
• ISBN-13 978-1493077328
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From the Publisher

There’s something very special about Reading Rainbow.

To the millions of children who couldn’t wait for the next storybook to come to life on their television screen, accompanied by LeVar Burton’s next adventure. To the parents, teachers, and librarians who encouraged them to watch. And to the creative team who dared to dream into reality a television series that would ignite in beginning readers a lifelong love of books and quality literature.

Stories and storytelling are central to the human experience.

Reading is the key that unlocks those stories. Think of it as the proverbial pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. The series’ title was purposeful. Reading opens up windows to new worlds. It allows us to experience things that we would otherwise never have the opportunity to experience. We can travel to distant lands, back in time, or into the future. We meet people and learn about their life experiences, which are sometimes very different from our own.

Reading helps us relate to others and engenders empathy.

What could be more important than to do everything possible to ensure that children have all of the opportunities and benefits that reading can provide? Reading Rainbow was developed with these things in mind, and this book provides insight into the evolution of the beloved series from the time the earliest seeds were being sown.

Editorial Reviews

If you grew up on Reading Rainbow or are simply curious about how this beloved staple of your childhood came into being, this book is for you – but you don't have to take my word for it!

WNED and Reading Rainbow are a significant and beloved part of our legacy in public media. As one of the most successful PBS children’s television series, Reading Rainbow inspired a love of reading for millions of children, and broke new ground in how we could use media to serve them. This book is an essential read for anyone who wants to learn more about the creation of this iconic show.

Creating Reading Rainbow affirms public media’s commitment to treat each child as a future citizen and lifelong learner. It is also a story of dedication by a local public television station WNED-TV and its education leader Tony Buttino. By listening and partnering with educators, parents, and producers – the team inspired millions of children to love reading through books brought to life on television.Today, CPB, PBS, and local public media stations throughout the country are connecting to young people whose learning has been interrupted by the pandemic years, with the educational and fact-based information they need to be full citizens in a strong democracy. But it all started with Reading Rainbow.

My kids have all grown up watching Reading Rainbow. I know you’re going to enjoy this behind-the-scenes look at the trials, tribulations, and triumph of the creators of this incredibly innovative series. And let’s face it, how could I not love a show called Reading Rainbow. I mean, this thing was built to be enjoyed by a weather person.

A fascinating book about how the seedlings of Reading Rainbow grew thanks to the experimentation by our friends at WNED-TV in Buffalo. Our 'neighborhood' in Pittsburgh was happy to give the project a helping hand. And before long, a young LeVar Burton would be tapped to host the dynamic new literacy series on PBS! The rest, as they say, is Reading Rainbow history, so if you’re a fan of children’s media, check out this book!

Wonderful read documenting the humble origins of another one of Buffalo's great gifts to the world. If you can still recite the Reading Rainbow theme song from memory, this is the book for you!

At last, the untold story about the creation of Reading Rainbow! I don’t usually stay up until 3 am to finish a book, but I couldn’t put it down. Astonishing! If you’re a fan, you now have a chance to discover the early history of this beloved series. The names behind Reading Rainbow may not be familiar, but I’m thankful they are being recognized for their dedication and passion for children’s literacy.

We have all heard of Reading Rainbow, one of the most successful PBS children’s series in television history that all got started right here in Buffalo, New York. In a city with an extraordinary literary history, I highly recommend this new book that gives an inside look into a blockbuster show that fostered a love for reading among children for over two decades. As a mayor and dad who is dedicated to helping young people thrive, improving children’s literacy has been a longtime priority for me. Creating Reading Rainbow is a great read and shows what can happen when a community works together and encourages its youngest citizens to read.

About the Author

Barbara Irwin, Ph.D. , is Professor Emerita of Communication at Canisius University in Buffalo, New York. Specializing in media studies, she taught courses in media and children, public broadcasting, and media literacy. Irwin worked as a Reading Rainbow Project Assistant in the Educational Services department at WNED-TV during the early years of the series. In 2011, she was named a Faculty Fellow of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation. Frequently sought after by local and national media, her interviews have appeared on National Public Radio, E! Entertainment Network, and in USA Today and The Los Angeles Times, among others. Dr. Irwin is an authority on daytime television and media history, and co-authored the New York Times bestseller The Young and the Restless Most Memorable Moments and The Young and the Restless Special Silver Anniversary Collector’s Edition .

Tony Buttino Sr. is best known for his leadership in the creation of the Emmy award-winning Public TV series Reading Rainbow . Most of his forty years of working at WNED-TV were spent utilizing and marketing instructional television (ITV) as a teaching and learning tool. And for his efforts, his colleagues affectionately refer to him as the "Father of ITV." A multi-year effort to use television to bridge the summer reading gap led to the creation of Reading Rainbow , which began as a summer series on PBS, reaching over 6 million beginning readers in its first season. The series went on to become a year-round sensation and was broadcast for 26 years – among the longest running children’s series on PBS. Although as co-executive producer Buttino garnered five Emmy Awards for Outstanding Children’s Series, he says his biggest accomplishment is being able to reach youngsters through television and motivating them to read.

Pam Johnson, Ph.D. , is Executive Director of Ready To Learn at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a school readiness program developed in partnership with PBS KIDS, leading children’s content producers, researchers, and America’s public media stations with funding from the U.S. Department of Education. Prior to joining CPB, Dr. Johnson served as Vice President for Education and Engagement at WNED-TV where she spearheaded learning services and advanced innovative initiatives including ThinkBright TV, the Buffalo Professional Development and Technology Center, and Reading Rainbow ’s national outreach and web priorities. With a passion for exciting children and their grown-ups about learning through media, Johnson shares that it all began as a station intern working closely with her longtime colleague and friend, Tony Buttino, during Reading Rainbow’s early years.

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ North Country Books (June 18, 2024)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 296 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1493077325
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1493077328
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.2 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 1.1 x 9.35 inches
• #157 in TV History & Criticism
• #4,464 in U.S. State & Local History
• #4,787 in Instruction Methods

About the author

Barbara irwin.

Who doesn't love Reading Rainbow? I was fortunate to work on the series during the early years at WNED-TV in Buffalo, NY where I grew up. It was there that I met Tony Buttino and Pam Johnson, my co-authors on Creating Reading Rainbow: The Untold Story of a Beloved Children's Series. Tony co-created the show; Pam began as an intern (as I did) and continued working hand-in-hand with Tony on Reading Rainbow and other education initiatives. My work at WNED inspired me to continue my graduate education, and I became a professor of Media Studies at Canisius University, where I worked for 32 years. I love television and have always been interested in the behind-the-scenes stories of how television shows are created. I'm especially drawn to the positive things television can accomplish -- including motivating generations of children to read and develop a love of books! I knew there was a story to tell about how Reading Rainbow came to be and spent years researching, studying archival materials, and interviewing those involved in developing the beloved series, including host LeVar Burton, members of the production team, educators, and librarians.

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Interview highlights

‘the west wing’ was my inspiration. 25 years on i got to meet president bartlet.

Scott Detrow

Inside 'The West Wing,' 25 years later

Martin Sheen, who played President Jed Bartlet in The West Wing , in conversation with All Things Considered host Scott Detrow in the NPR studios. Mhari Shaw/for NPR hide caption

Air Force One takeoffs are often a frantic moment for the reporters who travel with the president. You are loading onto the plane, stowing your bags, buckling in and then frantically dashing off a pool report documenting what the president did — or didn’t — say to the press before boarding.

You’re trying to do all of that before the massive blue and white Boeing 747 steeply climbs into the sky and out of the range of cell service. And for radio reporters like me, you’re often also trying to upload and share audio files of the president’s statements during that brief window of cell service.

But whenever I traveled with President Biden during my time covering the White House, I always made sure to take a quiet moment of reflection right after that manic flurry. I would slip on headphones, make sure none of the other reporters could see my cell phone screen and pull up … the theme of The West Wing .

"The West Wing" theme song.

Why? Because like so many other Millennials who now populate Washington, D.C., the late ‘90s/early aughts NBC drama was my entry point to the world of politics and government. It was a key factor in pushing me in the direction of spending my life reporting on politics. And it was always worth it to pause for that moment of appreciation of how my life had ended up in a place where I was inhabiting a corner of the show's real-life world.

Melissa Fitzgerald starred as Carol Fitzpatrick in The West Wing . Mhari Shaw/for NPR hide caption

I can still remember the first episode I ever watched (Season 2! Somebody’s Going To Emergency, Somebody’s Going To Jail ). I remember channel surfing on our clunky big 2001 television, stumbling on it mid-episode, and immediately being sucked into the snappy, on-the-move dialogue — the idealism, the big ideas about what the country and what politics ought to be about.

I was hooked and stayed hooked. And when I went to college, the show was an easy early conversation point that helped me identify who my kind of people were in a new environment. The same cycle repeated itself when I graduated from college and started my first job in a new town. “You like The West Wing ? Me too! Let’s watch it!” (I ended up married to one of the people I had one of those early West Wing -powered conversations with.)

The cast of The West Wing on set. Getty Images/Hulton Archive hide caption

Now, 25 years after the first season, the show can at times feel corny and dated. Real-life politics are far more cynical and disorganized. The tribal, existential nature of the Trump era makes the show feel like it’s of a different epoch.

But I still return to the comfort of The West Wing over and over again. And even though my DVD player is in a dark corner of my basement gathering dust, my wife and I know that neither of us will ever part with our duplicate collections of the show’s entire run. (She had all the individual seasons. I splurged for the blue faux briefcase series collection the week it came out. There was an immediate unspoken agreement when we moved in together that both collections would remain.)

So when NPR was offered the opportunity to interview President Jed Bartlet — er, I mean actor Martin Sheen — and co-star Melissa Fitzgerald about the show’s legacy, I dashed through the hallways of the newsroom with the excitement and energy the show’s characters displayed in their iconic Aaron Sorkin-powered “walk and talks.”

The occasion? A new book Fitzgerald co-wrote with fellow cast member Mary McCormack, called, What’s Next: A Backstage Pass to The West Wing, Its Cast and Crew, and Its Enduring Legacy of Service .

This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Martin Sheen says every time he hears the theme song to The West Wing he's transported straight back to that time. Mhari Shaw/for NPR hide caption

Scott Detrow: There's this whole generation of people who first caught the bug of politics or got the bug of public service watching this show when they were teenagers or early on in their careers. And they said, “I want to move to Washington.” Then they move to Washington. And a lot of it goes back to the show. And I'm wondering, Melissa, when did you first notice that and how have you seen that change over the years?

Groundbreaking police drama 'Homicide: Life on the Street' is finally streaming

Melissa Fitzgerald: It is so heartening to hear so many young people — and even last night we were in a sandwich shop and a 20-year-old came up and said, “I was inspired to be here because of The West Wing .” I just find it was such a hopeful, aspirational show. And to see that this generation, several generations, have been inspired to come and live lives in public service, it’s a wonderful feeling. And walking around D.C. when Martin [Sheen] comes to town, it's like being with Elvis.

Detrow: And that's still the case now, 25 years after the first?

Fitzgerald: Perhaps even more so. Maybe not more so than when it was on the air, but now I mean, you've noticed it, too — there's so many young people.

Martin Sheen: A lot of young people now are being introduced to the show, and many of them tell us that it happened during the pandemic. That they were kind of locked indoors and that they began to look for things to inspire them or to entertain them. They found The West Wing , and in a lot of ways they found themselves, their true selves.

The longest "walk and talk" from "The West Wing."

Detrow: One of the interesting things that’s in the book, and that’s — and Martin, this might embarrass you for a moment so just, you know, brace yourself accordingly — that Melissa and Mary write and quote so many people on the cast about how you purposely set a tone on set.

Fitzgerald: One of my first days at work, I remember coming on to set and seeing Martin and he was shaking hands with every single background artist and introducing himself and welcoming. It just felt like he was welcoming everyone to this family. And that's not usual on a set. It's who Martin is. He is the most inclusive, kind man who treats everybody with dignity and respect. And we have all benefited from that.

Sheen: And well, thank you very much. However, the only criticism that I had with Melissa and Mary was they have got to find people who simply do not like me and they didn't do enough research.

The new book, What’s Next , reflects on the legacy of The West Wing . Mhari Shaw/for NPR hide caption

'Hacks' peeks behind the curtain of a changing comedy world

Detrow: One of the things you did was — and in all of the different podcasts and DVD extras I've consumed over the years I hadn't heard about this before — you organized an annual trip to Vegas?

Sheen: Yes, our bingo bus party. [It was] our Christmas gift to all of the people that you normally do not see on camera. They call them extras. I hate that term And so we wanted to celebrate them every Christmas. I started with one bus and by the second season we were at two buses, and we play bingo in the bus as we get to Vegas. It was great fun.

Detrow: In the spirit of the book, I want to ask both of you a few favorites. And, Melissa, I'll start with you. What's your favorite episode?

Fitzgerald: There are so many it is really hard for me to say, but I love In Excelsis Deo . I think that is a beautiful episode. And the themes of that, you know what we owe those who have given so much to our country. And, you know, it's the one about the veteran and Toby and everyone knows that episode because it's so beautifully done.

Sheen: My overall favorite hands down is In Excelsis Deo , and my brother Mike was a combat Marine and in Korea and I just could not stop thinking of him when we did it. It's still hard to talk about.

The opening to "The West Wing" episode "In Excelsis Deo."

Detrow: My favorite episode is probably in 17 People , when Toby (Ziegler, played by Richard Schiff) figures out that the president is hiding a big secret. I recently rewatched the episode where that all comes to a head: Two Cathedrals . President Bartlet is debating whether or not to run for another term. And I watched this the other day and I just could not get over how line for line so many scenes in that episode could have applied to what we saw just play out with President Biden and Vice President Harris and this decision of whether or not to run for another term.

Sheen: That’s the most courageous decision I've ever seen a politician make in my lifetime.

Detrow: Why is that?

All Things Considered host Scott Detrow (center) with Martin Sheen and Melissa Fitzgerald. Mhari Shaw/for NPR hide caption

Sheen: Because he took the most powerful office in the world and he made it human. And he put it before his own ambition, before his own legacy.

Detrow: When you close your eyes and you think of The West Wing experience a quarter century later, what to you is The West Wing ?

Sheen: The theme. I cannot hear that theme and not go right into it. And all those extraordinary young faces appear. And then it all floods back with gratitude and praise. I just can't believe that I was part of that.

Fitzgerald: I see the people and the family that was created from that show. That's been one of the greatest gifts of my whole life. If The West Wing was a love letter to public service, then What's Next is a love letter to The West Wing , the army of people it took to make it, the fans who loved it and the people who were inspired by it. And we hope that we honored our time together and we hope that the wingnuts love it.

The interview with Martin Sheen and Melissa Fitzgerald was produced by Karen Zamora and edited by William Troop.

• The West Wing
• martin sheen