Reading Rainbow

Reading Rainbow is an award-winning, critically-acclaimed educational program on PBS that strives to promote child literacy through fun, entertaining and engaging programming. Hosted by LeVar Burton (Roots, Star Trek: The Next Generation), each episode focused on a central theme from either a book or some type of children's literature. The theme was explored throughout different segments and stories during the course of an episode. At the end of the show, Burton would provide book recommendation show children could expand their reading horizons long after each episode, encouraging the use of libraries as a place to explore. Third only to Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and Sesame Street for years on air, Reading Rainbow won a Peabody Award and twenty-six Emmy Awards, including an award in the "Outstanding Children's Series" category. The show began in the summer of 1983 as a way to promote reading during non-school months. It ran in its original format until 2006. Burton has hinted in the media that there are plans for a new version of Reading Rainbow in the works. MORE