TV series
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
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.
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.
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Episode 1
LeVar visits Watts, a neighborhood in Los Angeles. The featured story is about Simon Rhodia and The Watts Towers. Also featured are young Watts residents trying to make the neighborhood a better place.
Guest stars Angela Bassett
Episode 2
A telephone call has distracted LeVar just as he was about to show the viewers a book about cats. While LeVar's away, his dog, Luke, has the ability to talk and take over her hosting duties. Jo Hayden narrates the story of a dog who has the ability to talk after eating all that alphabet soup. Featuring Charles Fleischer as the voice of Luke.
Guest stars Jo Hayden, Charles Fleischer
Episode 3
Alejandro gives the gift of water to various desert animals. Also includes Desert Scenes, At the Oasis, Niagara Falls and book reviews for It Rained on the Desert Today, The Desert Alphabet Book and Water, Water Everywhere.
Guest stars Francisco Rivela
Episode 4
LeVar is back in New York (as he always seems to be), this time on Broadway. It's a sign mecca, and part of this program shows the making of a huge advertisement. Jamie Farr tells the story about a cranky sign painter who has a revelation about his job when he's asked to commission a sign for free as a good gesture.
Guest stars Jamie Farr
Episode 5
LeVar gets in his share of scientific method while at an amusement park. He answers questions by observing and using trial and error. Along the way, we learn how different kinds of scientists find answers to their own questions. Arnold Stang reads the featured tale about a young boy, obsessed with science and mathematics, whose mother sends him to summer camp to help him improve his social skills, but his scientific knowledge helps him learn even more, and makes him into a camp hero when he figures out how to win the softball game by calculating trajectories.
Guest stars Arnold Stang
Episode information updated Sep 3, 2026
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)
PBSUnited States
Lancit Media ProductionsUnited States
BTPM PBSUnited StatesMore shows like Reading Rainbow.
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