Episode 1
Nosey Mrs. Rat
30m
Observing people is the theme of the day, as LeVar finds himself with time to kill before a business meeting and chooses to watch children at a playground while he waits.
Episode credits
Guest stars Faith Prince
TV series
Reading Rainbow
1983TV-Y21 seasons8.4 / 10
Take a look, it’s in a book, a Reading Rainbow!
Journey to exciting places and build a lasting connection with your favorite books. Each episode centers on a theme from a book, or other children's literature, which is explored through a number of segments or stories.
Streaming, rental and purchase options
Where to watch in United States
Checked Sep 3, 2026
You can also rent or buy it from Google Play, Amazon, and Apple TV. Use the direct links below to open the provider.
Synopsis
Journey to exciting places and build a lasting connection with your favorite books. Each episode centers on a theme from a book, or other children's literature, which is explored through a number of segments or stories.
Season 12 episodes
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Where to watch Reading Rainbow
Episode 2
Borreguita and the Coyote
30m
LeVar spends the day in a barrio in East Los Angeles studying Mexican culture as he visits friends who make their own guitars, eats some traditional food, and discusses the cultural differences that are practiced in both Mexico and the US. Olga Merediz reads Borreguita and the Coyote, the tale of a clever lamb who continually outsmarts a coyote determined to eat her.
Episode credits
Guest stars Olga Merediz
Episode 3
Summer
30m
In this episode of Reading Rainbow, LeVar shows the kids the different sights and sounds of Summer. The different wildlife of Summer, and how they live. Also, there are segments on the different seasons and how they effect different parts of the country. The featured book is "Summers" written by Ron Hirschi, and read by Ossie Davis.
Episode credits
Guest stars Ossie Davis
Episode 4
Once There Was a Tree
30m
There is still use to a tree stump, as the feature book entails. Eli Wallach reads the story about the lifetime of a tree, and how different animals and people made use of the tree during its many stages, from sapling to tall tree to a cut down stump.
Episode credits
Guest stars Eli Wallach
Episode 5
Appelemando's Dreams
30m
Creativity is the theme as LeVar spends the day painting a mural and other artwork. Michael Learned tells the story of Appelemondo, a boy whose daydreams were so vivid that they could be seen developing above his head, and how his friends learned how to capture the dreams to make beautiful paintings to decorate their town.
Episode credits
Guest stars Michael Learned
Episode 6
The Lotus Seed
30m
Young people who emigrated to the United States from Asian countries are interviewed and discuss having to learn a new language and fitting in with other children their age while dealing with language and cultural barriers. Rona Figueroa reads the story of The Lotus Seed, about a woman who flees her native country during wartime and manages to save only one memento, a lotus seed given to her by her mother from the garden she tended for the emperor.
Episode credits
Guest stars Rona Figueroa
Episode 7
Hail to Mail
30m
LeVar explains the postal service and shows how important mail as a form of communication.
Episode credits
Guest stars Al Roker
Episode 8
Stellaluna
30m
LeVar discusses bats and the importance of sleep. The featured story is of a bat who is separated from her family and adopted by a bird.
Episode credits
Guest stars Anne Jackson
Episode 9
My Shadow
30m
In this episode of Reading Rainbow: LeVar shows the kids how shadows and lights make up our everyday lives. Andrea Davis is featured as a photographer who shoots different parts of the city and develops the pictures in her own studio. Also, the children review the books SHADOWS AND REFLECTIONS I HAVE A FRIEND and SHADOW GRAPHS.
Episode credits
Guest stars Robert Guillaume
Episode 10
Ruth Law Thrills a Nation
30mfinale
Once again the show looks into firsts in air travel, recounting great pilots such as Bessie Coleman, Amelia Earhart and the featured book's heroine, Ruth Law. Linda Lavin narrates the story of Ruth Law, who traveled from Chicago to New York City in a single engine airplane, without benefit of headlights to keep the weight down, in the early 20th century, in two days.
Episode credits
Guest stars Linda Lavin
Episode information updated Sep 3, 2026
More about Reading Rainbow
Cast
LeVar BurtonSelf - Host
Julia ChildSelf - Narrator (voice)
Ruth BuzziSelf - Narrator (voice)
Madeline KahnSelf - Narrator (voice)
James Earl JonesSelf - Narrator (voice)
Vincent GardeniaSelf - Narrator (voice)
Lauren TomSelf - Narrator (voice)Patrick McCaffreySelf - Narrator (voice)
Production details
- Status
- Ended
- Series type
- Scripted
- Episodes
- 155
- Original language
- English
Networks & production
PBSUnited States
Lancit Media ProductionsUnited States- RCN Entertainment
- On-Screen Entertainment
BTPM PBSUnited States
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