This is a list of Reading Rainbow episodes, hosted by longtime executive producer LeVar Burton. The show premiered on PBS on July 11, 1983.[1][2] The final episode aired on November 10, 2006, reruns ceased on August 28, 2009. On June 20, 2012, an app for the show was released. On October 4, 2025, the show was revived, now hosted by Mychal Threets.

Episodes

Season 1 (1983)

All episodes this season were directed by Larry Lancit.

Season 2 (1984)

All episodes this season were directed by Larry Lancit.

Season 3 (1985)

All episodes this season were directed by Larry Lancit.

Season 4A (1985-86)

All episodes were directed by Hugh Martin.

Season 5A (1986-87)

All episodes were directed by Mitchell Geller.

Season 5B (1987)

All episodes were directed by Vern Oakley.

Season 19 (2002)

All episodes this season were directed by Ed Wiseman.

Season 20 (2004–05)

All episodes this season were directed by Ed Wiseman.

VHS releases distributed by PBS and Pacific Arts

TitleRelease dateNotes
Volume 1August 13, 1992"Rumpelstiltskin", and "Snowy Day: Stories and Poems"
Volume 2August 13, 1992"Dive to the Coral Reef", and "The Magic School Bus: Inside the Earth"
Volume 3August 13, 1992"Mummies Made in Egypt", and "Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain"
Volume 4August 13, 1992"The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush", and "The Life Cycle of the Honeybee"
Volume 5August 13, 1992"The Bicycle Man", and "The Adventures Of Taxi Dog"
Volume 6August 13, 1992"Opt: An Illusionary Tale", and "A Three Hat Day"

DVD releases

DVD name
  1. of episodes
Release dateNo. of discs
Reading Rainbow Favorites8July 18, 20064
Reading Rainbow: Family Matters2July 18, 20061
Reading Rainbow: Man's Best Friend2July 18, 20061
Reading Rainbow: Ocean Life2July 18, 20061
Reading Rainbow: Music, Music Everywhere2July 18, 20061
Reading Rainbow: Let's Go!2September 12, 20061
Reading Rainbow: How's That Made?2September 12, 20061
Reading Rainbow: Birds of a Feather2September 12, 20061
Reading Rainbow: Desert Life2September 12, 20061
Reading Rainbow: Sea To Shining Sea – Stories of America2November 7, 20061
Reading Rainbow: Farm Life2November 7, 20061
Reading Rainbow: Math Is Everywhere2November 7, 20061
Reading Rainbow: Buried Treasures2November 7, 20061
Reading Rainbow: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie4May 12, 20151
Reading Rainbow: Animal Cafe4June 30, 20151
Reading Rainbow: Miss Nelson Is Back4January 12, 20161
Reading Rainbow: LeVar's Favorites5May 10, 20161

References

  1. ^ Wagstaff, Keith (2014-06-03). "Even LeVar Burton can’t get the ‘Reading Rainbow’ song out of his head". Today. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  2. ^ Stone, Madeline (2014-06-17). "Here's Why 'Reading Rainbow' Was The Best Kids' TV Show Ever". Business Insider. Retrieved 2023-06-19.