Seasons & Episodes
Tight Times
A young girl's father loses his job.
Miss Nelson Is Back
As part of his birthday celebration, LeVar gets made-up like a movie monster, and then gets involved in Harry Blackstone
Bea and Mr. Jones
LeVar is already worn out after working on several scenes all day long on the production of the series. He feels he need
Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain
Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain
Louis the Fish
Louis the Fish
Digging Up Dinosaurs
Technically not the first science-related show in its history, LeVar seeks a place where archaeologists retrieve dinosau
Liang and the Magic Paintbrush
Liang and the Magic Paintbrush
Gila Monsters Meet You at the Airport
In the featured book, a young boy and his family move from New York City to the Southwest and he has many misconceptions
Three Days on a River in a Red Canoe
Three Days on a River in a Red Canoe
The Gift of the Sacred Dog
The first of many programs favoring Native Americans. In this instance, a Midwestern legend suggests how horses arrived
Gregory, the Terrible Eater
Today's subject is goats and what they eat.
Three by the Sea
Three by the Sea
Arthur's Eyes
LaVar explores seeing and our other senses, as Bill Cosby tells the story of how the young aardvark, Arthur Read acquire
The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash
The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash
Ty's One Man Band
LeVar is ready to find music everywhere, and he does. This show includes the animation Onomatopoeia. Lou Rawls reads the
Hot-Air Henry
LeVar goes to South Carolina to ride a hot-air balloon. In another study of how air travel has advanced, schoolchildren
Simon's Book
Simon's Book
Ox-Cart Man
Ox-Cart Man
Mystery on the Docks
Mystery on the Docks
A Chair for My Mother
A Chair for My Mother
Paul Bunyan
Lavar visits a lumberjack camp in the forest. Today's featured book is based on the legend of Paul Bunyan, the giant woo
The Patchwork Quilt
The Patchwork Quilt
Hill of Fire
Hill of Fire
The Tortoise and the Hare
LeVar has entered a bicycle race. He's in competition not just with the other bikers, but with himself as well. This pro
Perfect the Pig
LeVar visits a pig farm in Hawaii to find out why pigs are so popular. He also interviews Kermit the Frog to ask him abo
Animal Cafe
LeVar goes to a 24-hour diner to look into night jobs, and profiles people who have occupations in the evening and early
Alistair in Outer Space
Alistair is on his way to return library books when he is captured in a spaceship by two creatures called Goots. Also in
Feelings
Pictures, dialogues, poems, and stories portray a variety of emotions we all feel - jealousy, sadness, fear, anger, joy,
Watch the Stars Come Out
LeVar visits a pig farm in Hawaii to find out why pigs are so popular. He also interviews Kermit the Frog to ask him abo
Mama Don't Allow
When Miles gets a saxophone for his birthday, neither his parents nor his neighborhood can stand the racket! No one gues
Space Case
Is there life on other planets and stars? LaVar sends a message to aliens who might be watching and a radio telescope in
The Milk Makers
LeVar spends a day at the dairy seeing how cows are milked and understanding what care cows need. Alaina Reed Hall reads
Imogene's Antlers
LaVar visits the Philadelphia Zoo in Pennsylvania to learn about animals with horns and antlers. In today's featured sto
Germs Make Me Sick!
LeVar goes on a search for microorganisms, distinguishing the good ones from the bad. An animated satire of Hill Street
Abiyoyo
In one of the rare times Reading Rainbow uses a studio set, LeVar tells about storytelling through music. The then-new a
The Life Cycle of the Honey Bee
LeVar visits a beehive to look into beekeeping and how honey is made. Barbara Feldon narrates The Life Cycle of the Hone
Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie
Sada Thompson reads the story of Abbie, the eldest daughter of a family that tends a lighthouse, and how she had to keep
Chickens Aren't the Only Ones
LeVar wants to find the answer to the old question, "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?" Posing as field reporter
The Paper Crane
LeVar provides insight on Japanese culture. Keye Luke reads the story of a kind restaurant owner who is thanked by a cus
The Runaway Duck
In a small boat on the Chesapeake Bay, LeVar is on the lookout for ducks who are spending the winter. During the trip, h
A Three Hat Day
A totally unreal hat store called "Hats... to Where?" sells hats that transport customers to all parts of the world. LeV
Rumplestiltskin
This looks like an extension of the previous episode, but it is a separate venture. LeVar appears in proper attire for a
Best Friends
The best of friends are those whose friendships endure everything. And it extends to all walks of life, particularly to
Meanwhile Back at the Ranch
LeVar travels to an old west town made to look like life in the 1880's to see how times have changed in the last 100 yea
My Little Island
LeVar spends a day on the Caribbean island of Montserrat. With the featured book as his guide, LeVar drives around the c
The Bionic Bunny Show
In both the featured story and on the set of the show "Star Trek: the Next Generation" (which LeVar also stars on) we le
Bugs
With microorganisms under his belt, LeVar now goes on the lookout for insects.
The Robbery at the Diamond Dog Diner
LeVar tries to have lunch at a diner, but soon finds himself thrust into work. For some reason, he just doesn't understa
Brush
Can inanimate things come to life, as the feature book suggests? LeVar finds out for himself in a factory where all the
The Purple Coat
In New York again, LeVar goes to get a tailor-made jacket. In between comes a visit to the Fashion Institute of Technolo
Barn Dance!
LeVar is in Tennessee where he is going to a barn dance. Along the way, he meets the band who will be playing their Blue
Duncan and Dolores
There's more to the cat than meets the eye. It culminates with one of the stars of what was then believed to be Broadway
Knots on a Counting Rope
What's a handicap to a determined individual? With LeVar camping out by himself, the show banks itself on a news anchor
Mummies Made in Egypt
A camel is out of place in Boston, but LeVar rides one in preparation for a show that takes a close look at mummies. Cor
Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters
LeVar celebrates the culture of Africa in New York City's Central Park where he learns how African drums are made. Phyli
Humphrey the Lost Whale: A True Story
LeVar is sailing on the Atlantic coast whale watching. He and a team of scientists learn about how whales eat and how th
Stay Away from the Junkyard!
LeVar decides it's time to clean out the things cluttering up his house. What he finds is only memories of his entire li
Little Nino's Pizzeria
LeVar makes a pizza, while "The Wonder Years" star Josh Saviano reads a story about about a boy who's father runs a pizz
Ludlow Laughs
Ludlow is a big grump who never laughs or even smiles. One night he has the funniest dream ever. When he starts laughing
Dinosaur Bob and his Adventures with the Family Lazardo
It's spring 1989, and LeVar gets in the training camp of the Oakland Athletics (back when it was Tony LaRussa, Dave Stew
Dive to the Coral Reefs
Within the sea, lies a combination of scuba diving and (just slightly) snorkeling as LeVar and a friend of his dive bene
Desert Giant: The World of the Saguaro Cactus
LeVar explores the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, photographing its natural environment and learning about how animals in th
Tooth-Gnasher Superflash
LeVar, the jack of all trades, becomes a garage mechanic for this episode. Much of it fantasizes about dream cars. Then
Bored-Nothing to Do!
Focusing on planes in this episode, LeVar takes a flying lesson and flies a plane himself. Also included: the activities
Sports Pages
Levar Burton works out in a gym and talks about the determination it takes to succeed in sports. Burton narrates two poe
The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth
Burton introduces the episode by talking about cavern and cave exploring. The featured book, "The Magic School Bus Insid
Jack, the Seal and the Sea
LeVar takes a journey aboard a fishing boat to explore small ocean wildlife, such as plankton, sea horses, and small sha
The Bicycle Man
Wheels are set in motion for this program. In-line skating, then a brand-new commodity, get featured side-by-side with b
Florence and Eric Take the Cake
LeVar visits a famed wax sculpture museum, where an expert wax artist makes a statue of him. Julia Child reads the story
Sunken Treasure
A hurricane of the coast of Florida in 1662 caused the Atocha, a Spanish galleon to sink. This book describes the many-y
Alistair's Time Machine
LeVar goes to a totally-fictitious spot to find inventors from all eras. True to form, these inventors come from the dis
The Adventures of Taxi Dog
LeVar is a taxi driver in New York for a day, but the focus of this show soon lands on the subject of a service dog as w
The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush
LeVar's featured story is about a young Native American tribesman who finds his spiritual calling in life as a natural p
Galimoto
Viewers learn the many uses for wire: from creating objects of wire art and transporting people on the longest tramway i
Fox on the Job
There's a wide job market out there, but just what kind of job does a person want? In this program are both conventional
Opt: An Illusionary Tale
In this episode, all is not what it seems as LeVar demonstrates optical illusions from the book by Arline and Joseph Bau
Raccoons and Ripe Corn
LeVar spends the day following around wildlife artist and children's book author Jim Arnofsky, who shows LeVar how he is
The Lady with the Ship on her Head
Turning even crazier, the show plays with our heads in more ways than one. LeVar is the "Head reporter" of a mock-news p
Kate Shelley and the Midnight Express
LeVar takes a train ride from California to Washington state. Along the way, we learn about trains and how the transcont
Snowy Day: Stories and Poems
LeVar travels to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It is a perfect spot for a few poetry readings and winter observations. Some of
Tar Beach
LeVar's presence looms over New York once again, this time literally. He's taken to the roof of one of the nondescript s
The Wall
LeVar visits the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC, and discusses its historical significance to helping people
Sam The Sea Cow
LeVar goes to Florida to help take care of manatee with a crew of marine biology experts. He gets to feed a baby manatee
Rechenka's Eggs
LeVar takes up decorating eggs and shows us that they're one of nature's extraordinary wonders. The author of the featur
Sophie and Lou
LeVar takes a spirited leap into the world of dance. He gets a mambo lesson from Latin dancer, Jackie Rios, and has a ho
Come a Tide
LeVar discusses the weather: how it is traced, tracked, and covered in the media. Kids our shown how they can make a "so
The Piggy in the Puddle
This episode of READING RAINBOW, "Piggy in the Puddle," features a look at the art of claymation and the joys of mud. Cl
Seahorse Surprises
LeVar journeys to the shores of Sanibel Island, off the Gulf Coast of Florida, to witness the tides, feel the sand, and
Through Moon and Stars and Night Skies
What is it like to be adopted? In what may be the high point of the 10th season, this show has a lengthy sequence about
Berlioz the Bear
LeVar cruises the musical realms of New York in a program featuring the Boys Choir of Harlem. James Avery narrates the t
Amazing Grace
LeVar visits a theater to discuss acting and how pretending to be someone else sometimes helps people express themselves
The Furry News
As LeVar discusses his favorite parts of a newspaper and interviews other people for different viewpoints, other functio
Mrs. Katz and Tush
LeVar pays a visit to a family friend, who is Jewish, to learn how to prepare special foods served during a Seder dinner
The Salamander Room
LeVar explores the rain forest and animals in their habitats by visiting a park that recreates the rain forest environme
Silent Lotus
This episode takes a look-in at deaf culture. LeVar discusses forms of communication that doesn't involve words, like ha
Follow the Drinking Gourd
LeVar reflects on a time when Africans were brought to America as slaves. He talks about how African-Americans risked th
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
One thing leads to another in this episode, with LeVar in a bowling alley, showing how certain actions lead to consequen
Is This a House for Hermit Crab?
LeVar sets out to build a bird house, prompting an examination of animal habitats. Eartha Kitt reads the story of a grow
And Still the Turtle Watched
LeVar discusses how people can help to preserve animals and plants in nature that are in danger of extinction. Stories p
June 29, 1999
What's fact and what's fiction? What's the truth and what's absurd? LeVar looks into unusual stories and tries to distin
Nosey Mrs. Rat
Observing people is the theme of the day, as LeVar finds himself with time to kill before a business meeting and chooses
Borreguita and the Coyote
LeVar spends the day in a barrio in East Los Angeles studying Mexican culture as he visits friends who make their own gu
Summer
In this episode of Reading Rainbow, LeVar shows the kids the different sights and sounds of Summer. The different wildli
Once There Was a Tree
There is still use to a tree stump, as the feature book entails. Eli Wallach reads the story about the lifetime of a tre
Appelemando's Dreams
Creativity is the theme as LeVar spends the day painting a mural and other artwork. Michael Learned tells the story of A
The Lotus Seed
Young people who emigrated to the United States from Asian countries are interviewed and discuss having to learn a new l
Hail to Mail
LeVar explains the postal service and shows how important mail as a form of communication.
Stellaluna
LeVar discusses bats and the importance of sleep. The featured story is of a bat who is separated from her family and ad
My Shadow
In this episode of Reading Rainbow: LeVar shows the kids how shadows and lights make up our everyday lives. Andrea Davis
Ruth Law Thrills a Nation
Once again the show looks into firsts in air travel, recounting great pilots such as Bessie Coleman, Amelia Earhart and
The Wonderful Towers of Watts
LeVar visits Watts, a neighborhood in Los Angeles. The featured story is about Simon Rhodia and The Watts Towers. Also f
Martha Speaks
A telephone call has distracted LeVar just as he was about to show the viewers a book about cats. While LeVar's away, hi
Alejandro's Gift
Alejandro gives the gift of water to various desert animals. Also includes Desert Scenes, At the Oasis, Niagara Falls an
The Sign Painter's Dream
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
Archibald Frisby
LeVar gets in his share of scientific method while at an amusement park. He answers questions by observing and using tri
Fly Away Home
Homelessness is discussed as families have lost jobs and homes through tragic circumstances. One family, who lost their
Uncle Jed's Barber Shop
LeVar visits his favorite barbershop for a trim, and reads the featured book while waiting his turn. Regina Taylor tells
How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World
LeVar and a friend say following recipes and cooking foods are very much like science experiments. They work on recipes
Owen
It's easy to get flashbacks while watching Reading Rainbow. Now it's LeVar's turn, as he gets in touch with visions of "
How Much is a Million?
In this episode of Reading Rainbow Levar ponders what it takes to count to one million. Levar visits a Crayola factory a
Always My Dad
A girl, whose parents are divorced, doesn't see her father very often but frequently thinks about him and treasures the
Bread is for Eating
LeVar Burton focuses on the art of baking bread and its cultural value throughout the world. Bread is considered to be t
Hotel Animal
LeVar dreams he is miniature size and everything around him is "so very big." When he Awakes, everything is back to norm
Someplace Else
LeVar shows us his travel room, a place very dear to him. His travel room has many maps and globes of places that he's v
Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin
Music and orchestras are profiled in this tuneful show. The episode soon gets rhythmic when LeVar introduces the viewers
On the Day You Were Born
How babies are born is explored, in great detail, in this episode, as a family welcoming their fourth child is profiled
Hip Cat
In this episode of the "Reading Rainbow," Levar Burton visits with The Bill Saxton Quartet and Saxophonist Joshua Redman
Regina's Big Mistake
As LeVar works to make a clay model of his childhood home as a birthday gift for his mother, artists and their different
Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message
LeVar discusses how people show gratitude for kind acts and how we can repay each other in acts of kindness to spread go
The Carousel
This episode of "Reading Rainbow," teaches a lesson about legacies. The book "Carousel", narrated by Sarah Hubbard, show
Math Curse
A story of a girl bombarded with problems that all seem related to math. Also contains Math is Important in Organizing,
My Life with the Wave
Scott Irby Ranier tells a tale of a boy who is followed home by a wave of water after a vacation at the beach, and how h
Saturday Sancocho
LeVar attends a rummage sale to observe how people sometimes barter for items when they don't have money to buy them. Jo
When Aunt Lena Did the Rhumba
LeVar explores Broadway as he looks at live entertainment options. Lucie Arnaz reads the feature story, about a young gi
Work Song
This week's episode is about performance. In "When Aunt Lena Did The Rumba" a little girl puts on her own musical to che
The Shaman's Apprentice: A Tale of the Amazon Rainforest
LeVar visits the Amazon rain forest to meet the real people profiled in today's featured book, a story about how a young
Pet Stories You Don't Have to Walk
"Pet Stories You Don't Have to Walk", read by Jason Alexander, features stories about pets. LeVar Burton throws a birthd
Lemonade For Sale
LeVar explores way that young people can earn money before they're old enough for official jobs in this show. Andrea McA
The Secret Shortcut
In the first of two map shows, LeVar Burton wants to show how to use maps. But he is not Rick Steves. Tim Conway reads a
My America: A Poetry Atlas of the United States
Levar takes us on a literary tour of the United States. From Hawaii to Maine and Montana to New York, each state is diff
Badger's Parting Gifts
LeVar discusses cathartic ways to adjust to losing a loved one in this episode. He and fellow viewers talk about family
The Tin Forest
LeVar visits a school in New York City to ask the class how they have coped since the past year when the World Trade Cen
Max
LeVar profiles people who are considered "Everyday Heroes" for doing important jobs to provide services, like firefighte
Enemy Pie
LeVar observes activity in a playground to see how people do and don't get along with each other. Ed Harris reads Enemy
Our Big Home: An Earth Poem
LeVar visits the United Nations building to learn more about how different countries of the world try to work together.
Visiting Day
The series tackles a delicate subject of how some children must deal with a parent in prison. Alfre Woodard reads Visiti
Unique Monique
Eliza Dushku reads a story about a girl attending private school who attempts to create her own unique style without bre
Mr. George Baker
Eliza Dushku reads a story about a girl attending private school who attempts to create her own unique style without bre
Beegu
As LeVar investigates types of communication, Freddie Prinze Jr. reads Beegu, the story of an alien who visits Earth whi
Two Old Potatoes and Me
Jordan Puryear reads "Two Old Potatoes and Me," about a girl who works with her father to recycle two rotted potatoes by
The Biggest Test in the Universe
In addition to discussing accomplishing difficult tasks, LeVar profiles the New York children's theater group Tada, as t
I Lost My Tooth in Africa
LeVar discusses different rites of passage in growing up. The book "I Lost My Tooth in Africa" is read about a young gir
Boxes for Katje
LeVar profiles Children For Children, a New York based youth organization that creates care packages for relief to child
Game Day
James Avery reads a story written by identical twin brothers Tiki and Ronde Barber, who became professional football pla
Show Way
As LeVar helps his wife and daughter construct his family tree, Diahann Carroll narrates Show Way, in which the author c
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