List of Reading Rainbow episodes
This is a list of Reading Rainbow episodes, hosted by longtime executive producer LeVar Burton. The show premiered on PBS on June 6, 1983. 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.
VHS releases distributed by PBS and Pacific Arts
| Title | Release Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Volume 1 | August 13, 1992 | "Rumpelstiltskin", and "Snowy Day: Stories and Poems" |
| Volume 2 | August 13, 1992 | "Dive to the Coral Reef", and "The Magic School Bus: Inside the Earth" |
| Volume 3 | August 13, 1992 | "Mummies Made in Egypt", and "Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain" |
| Volume 4 | August 13, 1992 | "The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush", and "The Life Cycle of the Honeybee" |
| Volume 5 | August 13, 1992 | "The Bicycle Man", and "The Adventures Of Taxi Dog" |
| Volume 6 | August 13, 1992 | "Opt: An Illusionary Tale", and "A Three Hat Day" |
DVD releases
| DVD Name | # of Episodes | Release Date | No. of Discs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Rainbow Favorites | 8 | July 18, 2006 | 4 |
| Reading Rainbow: Family Matters | 2 | July 18, 2006 | 1 |
| Reading Rainbow: Man's Best Friend | 2 | July 18, 2006 | 1 |
| Reading Rainbow: Ocean Life | 2 | July 18, 2006 | 1 |
| Reading Rainbow: Music, Music Everywhere | 2 | July 18, 2006 | 1 |
| Reading Rainbow Favorites | 8 | September 12, 2006 | 4 |
| Reading Rainbow: Let's Go! | 2 | September 12, 2006 | 1 |
| Reading Rainbow: How's That Made? | 2 | September 12, 2006 | 1 |
| Reading Rainbow: Birds of a Feather | 2 | September 12, 2006 | 1 |
| Reading Rainbow: Desert Life | 2 | September 12, 2006 | 1 |
| Reading Rainbow: Sea To Shining Sea – Stories of America | 2 | November 7, 2006 | 1 |
| Reading Rainbow: Farm Life | 2 | November 7, 2006 | 1 |
| Reading Rainbow: Math Is Everywhere | 2 | November 7, 2006 | 1 |
| Reading Rainbow: Buried Treasures | 2 | November 7, 2006 | 1 |
| Reading Rainbow: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie | 4 | May 12, 2015 | 1 |
| Reading Rainbow: Animal Cafe | 4 | June 30, 2015 | 1 |
| Reading Rainbow: Miss Nelson Is Back | 4 | January 12, 2016 | 1 |
| Reading Rainbow: LeVar's Favorites | 4 | May 10, 2016 | 1 |
Episodes
155 half-hour episodes produced.
Season 1: 1983 (15 episodes)
All episodes this season were directed by Larry Lancit and produced by Cecily Truett.
| No. in series | No. in season | Production code | Title | Written by | Original air date(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 101 | "Tight Times" (narrated by Patrick McCaffrey)
Review Books: The Terrible Thing That Happened at Our House; When I Was Young in the Mountains; Pet Show! |
Ellen Schecter | June 6, 1983 |
| 2 | 2 | 102 | "Miss Nelson is Back" (narrated by Ruth Buzzi)
Review Books: Daddy is a Monster Sometimes; Harlequin and the Gift of Many Colors; Grandmama's Joy/Highlighted Book: The Upside Down Riddle Book |
Ellen Schecter | June 7, 1983 |
| 3 | 3 | 103 | "Bea and Mr. Jones" (narrated by Madeline Kahn)
Review Books: There's a Nightmare in My Closet; The Ugly Duckling; Max/Highlighted Book: Daydreamers |
Ellen Schecter | June 8, 1983 |
| 4 | 4 | 104 | "Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain" (narrated by James Earl Jones)
Review Books: The Cloud Book; A Story A Story; Rain |
Lou Berger | June 9, 1983 |
| 5 | 5 | 105 | "Louis the Fish" (narrated by Vincent Gardenia)
Review Books: Where the Wild Things Are; One Monday Morning; A Fish Hatches |
Lou Berger | June 10, 1983 |
| 6 | 6 | 106 | "Digging Up Dinosaurs" (narrated by Linda Gelman)
Review Books: Dinosaurs! A Drawing Book; If You Are a Hunter of Fossils; Dinosaur Time/Highlighted Book: Tyrannosaurus Wrecks: A Book of Dinosaur Riddles |
Lou Berger | June 13, 1983 |
| 7 | 7 | 107 | "Liang and the Magic Paintbrush" (narrated by Lauren Tom)
Review Books: Emma; If You Take a Pencil; Ben's Trumpet |
Ellen Schecter | June 14, 1983 |
| 8 | 8 | 108 | "Gila Monsters Meet You at the Airport" (Pilot) (narrated by Douglas Parvin)
Review Books: Mitchell is Moving; Peter's Chair; The Big Hello |
Ellen Schecter | June 15, 1983 |
| 9 | 9 | 109 | "Three Days on a River in a Red Canoe" (narrated by Carolyn McHanon) | Ellen Schecter | June 16, 1983 |
| 10 | 10 | 110 | "The Gift of the Sacred Dog" (narrated by Michael Ansara)
Review Books: Moonsong Lullaby; Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears; Suho and the White Horse |
Ellen Schecter | June 17, 1983 |
| 11 | 11 | 111 | "Gregory the Terrible Eater" (narrated by Marilyn Michaels)
Review Books: Mrs. Pig's Bulk Buy; New Junior Cook Book; Poem Stew |
Mark Saltzman | June 20, 1983 |
| 12 | 12 | 112 | "Three by the Sea" (narrated by Chicago City Limits)
Review Books: Regards to the Man in the Moon; Frog and Toad Together; Come Away from the Water, Shirley |
Ellen Schecter | June 21, 1983 |
| 13 | 13 | 113 | "Arthur's Eyes" (narrated by Bill Cosby)
Review Books: A Show of Hands; Through Grandpa's Eyes; Is This a Baby Dinosaur?/Highlighted Books: The Turn About, Think About, Look About Book; All the Colors of the Race; Roly Goes Exploring |
Ellen Schecter | June 22, 1983 |
| 14 | 14 | 114 | "The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash" (narrated by Kaleena Kiff and Laura Hicks)
Review Books: "Could Be Worse!"; Crictor; Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day |
Mark Saltzman | June 23, 1983 |
| 15 | 15 | 115 | "Ty's One-Man Band" (narrated by Lou Rawls)
Review Books: Making Musical Things; The Amazing Bone; The Banza |
Ellen Schecter | June 24, 1983 |
Season 2: 1984 (5 episodes)
All episodes this season were directed by Larry Lancit and produced by Cecily Truett.
| No. in series | No. in season | Production code | Title | Written by | Original air date(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 1 | 201 | "Hot-Air Henry" (narrated by William Windom)
Review Books: Easy-to-Make Spaceships That Really Fly; Just Us Women; The Big Balloon Race |
Ellen Schecter | September 3, 1984 |
| 17 | 2 | 202 | "Simon's Book" (narrated by Ruby Dee) | Ellen Schecter | September 4, 1984 |
| 18 | 3 | 203 | "Ox-Cart Man" (narrated by Lorne Greene)
Review Books: Wagon Wheels; A Winter Place; Round Trip |
Ronnie Krauss & Ellen Schecter | September 5, 1984 |
| 19 | 4 | 204 | "Mystery on the Docks" (narrated by Raul Julia)
Review Books: Big City Port; The Wreck of the Zephyr; Nate the Great Mystery Series |
Ellen Schecter | September 6, 1984 |
| 20 | 5 | 205 | "A Chair for My Mother" (narrated by Amy Linker) | Ellen Schecter | September 7, 1984 |
Season 3: 1985 (5 episodes)
All episodes this season were directed by Larry Lancit and produced by Cecily Truett.
| No. in series | No. in season | Production code | Title | Written by | Original air date(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | 1 | 301 | "Paul Bunyan" (narrated by Buddy Ebsen)
Review Books: The Legend of the Bluebonnet; Whale in the Sky; The Star-Spangled Banner |
Lydia Wilen | June 24, 1985 |
| 22 | 2 | 302 | "The Patchwork Quilt" (narrated by Isabel Sanford) | Ellen Schecter | June 25, 1985 |
| 23 | 3 | 303 | "Hill of Fire" (narrated by Fernando Escandon)
Review Books: Emma's Dragon Hunt; The Science Flip Book Series; The Tamarindo Puppy and Other Poems |
Ronnie Krauss | June 26, 1985 |
| 24 | 4 | 304 | "The Tortoise and the Hare" (narrated by Gilda Radner)
Review Books: Albert the Running Bear's Exercise Book; Hooray for Snail!; Sam Johnson and the Blue Ribbon Quilt |
Ellen Schecter | June 27, 1985 |
| 25 | 5 | 305 | "Perfect the Pig" (narrated by James Coco)
Review Books: The Bionic Bunny Show; Hector, the Accordion-Nosed Dog; Poinsettia and Her Family/Highlighted Book: The Book of Pigericks |
Lydia Wilen | June 28, 1985 |
Season 4: 1986 (10 episodes)
| No. in series | No. in season | Production code | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | 1 | 306 | "Animal Cafe" (narrated by Martin Short) (Season 3 leftover)
Review Books: The Dream Eater; The Moon; Night Markets: Bringing Food to a City[1] |
Hugh Martin | Mark Saltzman | June 23, 1986 |
| 27 | 2 | 307 | "Alistair in Outer Space" (narrated by Arnold Stang) | Hugh Martin | Ronnie Krauss | June 24, 1986 |
| 28 | 3 | 308 | "Feelings" (narrated by Raima Evans, Jessica Mercado, Laura Haymann, Paul Sidoriak, Jonathan Rose, Timothy Oakes, Jerry David, and Pamela Stogner)
Review Books: Fireflies!; Loudmouth George and the Sixth-Grade Bully; Honey, I Love and Other Love Poems/Highlighted Book: Koko's Kitten |
Hugh Martin | Ellen Schecter | June 25, 1986 |
| 29 | 4 | 309 | "Watch the Stars Come Out" (narrated by Laura Haymann) (Season 3 leftover)
Review Books: The Long Way to a New Land; The Island of the Skog; Molly's Pilgrim[2] |
Hugh Martin | Peter Barton | June 26, 1986 |
| 30 | 5 | 310 | "Mama Don't Allow" (narrated by Fred Newman)
Review Books: Miranda; Alligator Shoes; Apt. 3/Highlighted Book: Mouthsounds |
Hugh Martin | Peter Barton | June 27, 1986 |
| 31 | 6 | 401 | "Space Case" (narrated by Michael Winslow) | Hugh Martin | Ellen Schecter | August 4, 1986 |
| 32 | 7 | 402 | "The Milk Makers" (narrated by Alaina Reed)
Review Books: Whales and Other Sea Mammals; Baby Animals on the Farm; From Blossom to Honey: A Start-to-Finish Book |
Hugh Martin | Patti Sullivan | August 5, 1986 |
| 33 | 8 | 403 | "Imogene's Antlers" (narrated by Imogene Coca)
Review Books: When Panda Came to Our House; The Trek; George Shrinks |
Mitchell Geller | Joan Wilen, Lydia Wilen & Patti Sullivan | August 6, 1986 |
| 34 | 9 | 404 | "Germs Make Me Sick!" (narrated by Molly Mandlin)
Review Books: Teddy Bears Cure a Cold; Guess What?; The Microscope |
Hugh Martin | Ronnie Krauss | August 7, 1986 |
| 35 | 10 | 405 | "Abiyoyo" (narrated and sung by Pete Seeger)
Review Books: Blackberry Ink; Ayu and the Perfect Moon; Peter and the Wolf |
Larry Lancit & Mitchell Geller | Mark Saltzman | August 8, 1986 |
Season 5: 1987 (10 episodes)
| No. in series | No. in season | Production code | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | 1 | 406 | "The Life Cycle of the Honeybee" (narrated by Barbara Feldon)
Review Books: The Reason for a Flower; The Lady and the Spider; Going Buggy: Jokes About Insects |
Mitchell Geller | Ronnie Krauss | June 22, 1987 |
| 37 | 2 | 407 | "Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie" (narrated by Sada Thompson) | Mitchell Geller | Ellen Schecter | June 23, 1987 |
| 38 | 3 | 408 | "Chickens Aren't the Only Ones" (narrated by Georgia Engel)
Review Books: Egg to Chick; Mrs. Huggins and Her Hen Hannah; Turtle and Tortoise |
Mitchell Geller | Mark Eisman | June 24, 1987 |
| 39 | 4 | 409 | "The Paper Crane" (narrated by Keye Luke)
Review Books: "Paper" Through the Ages; Perfect Crane; How My Parents Learned to Eat/Highlighted Book: Easy Origami |
Mitchell Geller | Ellen Schecter | June 25, 1987 |
| 40 | 5 | 410 | "The Runaway Duck" (narrated by Orson Bean)
Review Books: Dabble Duck; Jamaica's Find; The Story About Ping |
Mitchell Geller | Jeanne Marie Laskas | June 26, 1987 |
| 41 | 6 | 411 | "A Three Hat Day" (narrated by Zelda Rubinstein)
Review Books: Shoes; Caps for Sale; Maebelle's Suitcase |
Vern Oakley | Mark Saltzman | June 29, 1987 |
| 42 | 7 | 412 | "Rumpelstiltskin" (narrated by Ralph Waite)
Review Books: A Medieval Feast; The Story of a Castle; The Sleeping Beauty |
Vern Oakley | Jill Gluckson | June 30, 1987 |
| 43 | 8 | 413 | "Best Friends" (narrated by Liza Siegler)
Review Books: The Story of Mrs. Lovewright and Purrless Her Cat; A Gift for Tia Rosa; The Puppy Who Wanted a Boy |
Vern Oakley | Ronnie Krauss | July 1, 1987 |
| 44 | 9 | 414 | "Meanwhile Back at the Ranch" (narrated by Hoyt Axton)
Review Books: Bossyboots; Dakota Dugout; Rodeo |
Vern Oakley | Ronnie Krauss | July 2, 1987 |
| 45 | 10 | 415 | "My Little Island" (narrated by Ron Foster)
Review Books: Nicholas Bentley Stoningpot III; The Viking Children's World Atlas; Yagua Days |
Vern Oakley | Ronnie Krauss | July 3, 1987 |
Season 6: 1988–89 (10 episodes)
| No. in series | No. in season | Production code | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46 | 1 | 501 | "The Bionic Bunny Show" (narrated by Gene Klavan) | Dean Parisot | Ellis Weiner | August 15, 1988 |
| 47 | 2 | 502 | "Bugs" (narrated by Lori Delgado and Edwin Maldonado Jr.) | Mark Mannucci | Ronnie Krauss | August 16, 1988 |
| 48 | 3 | 503 | "The Robbery at the Diamond Dog Diner" (narrated by Peter Falk) | Dean Parisot & Larry Lancit | Ellis Weiner | August 17, 1988 |
| 49 | 4 | 504 | "Brush" (narrated by Hector Elizondo)
Review Books: What the Mailman Brought; Jumanji; Egg-Carton Zoo |
Larry Lancit | Mark Saltzman | August 18, 1988 |
| 50 | 5 | 505 | "The Purple Coat" (narrated by Jack Gilford)
Review Books: Pablo Picasso; How a Book is Made; The Goat in the Rug |
Hugh Martin | Ellis Weiner | August 19, 1988 |
| 51 | 6 | 506 | "Barn Dance!" (narrated by Roy Clark)
Review Books: The Old Banjo; I Like the Music; Half a Moon and One Whole Star |
Hugh Martin | Andrew Gutelle | March 27, 1989 |
| 52 | 7 | 507 | "Duncan and Dolores" (narrated by Jane Curtin)
Review Books: Puss in Boots; Cat & Canary; Moon Tiger |
Ed Wiseman | Loriann Champagne Smith | March 28, 1989 |
| 53 | 8 | 508 | "Knots on a Counting Rope" (narrated by J. Ruben Silverbird and Kenneth Blank)
Review Books: Harriet's Recital; Let's Go Swimming with Mr. Sillypants; Owl Moon |
Hugh Martin | Ellen Schecter | March 29, 1989 |
| 54 | 9 | 509 | "Mummies Made in Egypt" (narrated by Corinne Orr)
Review Books: I Can Be an Archaeologist; Bill and Pete Go Down the Nile; Visiting the Art Museum |
Larry Lancit | Cecily Truett | March 30, 1989 |
| 55 | 10 | 510 | "Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters" (narrated by Phylicia Rashad)
Review Books: Jambo Means Hello: A Swahili Alphabet Book; Jafta Series; Who's in Rabbit's House? |
Mark Mannucci | David Yazbek | March 31, 1989 |
Season 7: 1989–90 (10 episodes)
| No. in series | No. in season | Production code | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 56 | 1 | 601 | "Humphrey the Lost Whale: A True Story" (narrated by Jane Pauley)
Review Books: Whalewatch!; The Life Cycle of the Whale; All About Whales |
Dean Parisot | Jill Gluckson | July 3, 1989 |
| 57 | 2 | 602 | "Stay Away from the Junkyard!" (narrated by Michele Mariana)
Review Books: Make Way for Ducklings; The Snowy Day; The Story of Ferdinand/Highlighted Book: The Velveteen Rabbit |
Mark Mannucci | Ronnie Krauss | July 4, 1989 |
| 58 | 3 | 603 | "Little Nino's Pizzeria" (narrated by Josh Saviano)
Review Books: Eats Poems; What Happens to a Hamburger; The Popcorn Book |
Mark Mannucci | Andrew Gutelle | July 5, 1989 |
| 59 | 4 | 604 | "Ludlow Laughs" (narrated by Phyllis Diller)
Review Books: The Make Me Laugh! Joke Book Series; Pig William; Shake My Sillies Out: A Raffi Song to Read |
Dean Parisot | Mitchell Kriegman | July 6, 1989 |
| 60 | 5 | 605 | "Dinosaur Bob and His Adventures with the Family Lazardo" (narrated by Edward Asner)
Review Books: Ronald Morgan Goes to Bat; Old Turtle's Baseball Stories; Casey at the Bat |
Ed Wiseman | Jill Gluckson | July 7, 1989 |
| 61 | 6 | 606 | "Dive to the Coral Reefs" (narrated by Fran Brill) | Mark Mannucci | Ronnie Krauss | March 26, 1990 |
| 62 | 7 | 607 | "Desert Giant: The World of the Saguaro Cactus" (narrated by Philip Bosco) | Dean Parisot | Ronnie Krauss | March 27, 1990 |
| 63 | 8 | 608 | "Tooth-Gnasher Superflash" (narrated by Victoria Jackson)
Review Books: Fill It Up: All About Service Stations; Tin Lizzie and Little Nell; Truck Song |
Hugh Martin | Andrew Gutelle | March 28, 1990 |
| 64 | 9 | 609 | "Bored - Nothing to Do!" (narrated by Alex Borg and David Hyman) | Larry Lancit | Ronnie Krauss | March 29, 1990 |
| 65 | 10 | 610 | "Sports Pages" (narrated by LeVar Burton)
Review Books: Miss Nelson Has a Field Day; Making the Team; Soccer Sam/Highlighted Book: Sports |
Ed Wiseman | Jill Gluckson | March 30, 1990 |
Season 8: 1990 (5 episodes)
| No. in series | No. in season | Production code | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 66 | 1 | 701 | "The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth" (narrated by Keisha Knight-Pulliam) | Mark Mannucci | Andrew Gutelle | September 10, 1990 |
| 67 | 2 | 702 | "Jack, the Seal and the Sea" (narrated by Leslie Uggams) | Hugh Martin | Ronnie Krauss | September 11, 1990 |
| 68 | 3 | 703 | "The Bicycle Man" (narrated by Tom Matsusaka) Review Books: Delphine; The White Bicycle; Our Teacher's in a Wheelchair | Ed Wiseman | Ronnie Krauss | September 12, 1990 |
| 69 | 4 | 704 | "Florence and Eric Take the Cake" (narrated by Julia Child) Review Books: Uncle Nacho's Hat; My First Cook Book; The Garden of Abdul Gasazi | Mark Mannucci | Andrew Gutelle | September 13, 1990 |
| 70 | 5 | 705 | "Sunken Treasure" (narrated by Robert Morse) | Larry Lancit | Andrew Gutelle | September 14, 1990 |
Season 9: 1991 (10 episodes)
| No. in series | No. in season | Production code | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 71 | 1 | 706 | "Alistair's Time Machine" (narrated by Arnold Stang) | Ed Wiseman | Patty Marx | September 16, 1991 |
| 72 | 2 | 707 | "The Adventures of Taxi Dog" (narrated by Vincent Gardenia) Review Books: I Want a Dog; The First Dog; Taxi: A Book of City Words | Mark Mannucci | Jill Gluckson | September 17, 1991 |
| 73 | 3 | 708 | "The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush" (narrated by Harold Littlebird) Review Books: Rainbow Crow; Indians of the Americas; The Mud Pony | Larry Lancit | Kristin Laskas Martin | September 18, 1991 |
| 74 | 4 | 709 | "Galimoto" (narrated by Hattie Winston) | Mark Mannucci | Ronnie Krauss | September 19, 1991 |
| 75 | 5 | 710 | "Fox on the Job" (narrated by Fred Newman) Review Books: Pig Pig Gets a Job; Helping Out; Music, Music for Everyone | Ed Wiseman | Robert Stork | September 20, 1991 |
| 76 | 6 | 801 | "Opt: An Illusionary Tale" (narrated by LeVar Burton) | Mark Mannucci | Ronnie Krauss | September 23, 1991 |
| 77 | 7 | 802 | "Raccoons and Ripe Corn" (narrated by Julia Barr) Review Books: Tree Trunk Traffic; My First Nature Book; Bird Watch/Highlighted Books: Deer at the Brook; Come Out, Muskrats | Larry Lancit | Andrew Gutelle | September 24, 1991 |
| 78 | 8 | 803 | "The Lady with the Ship on Her Head" (narrated by Marilyn Pasekoff) | Ed Wiseman | Ellis Weiner | September 25, 1991 |
| 79 | 9 | 804 | "Kate Shelley and the Midnight Express" (narrated by Brian Dennehy) Review Books: The Train to Lulu's; The Little Engine That Could; The Polar Express | Richard Hendrick | Jill Gluckson | September 26, 1991 |
| 80 | 10 | 805 | "Snowy Day: Stories and Poems" (narrated by Lena Horne, Lacey Chabert, and Richard Courtney) | Ed Wiseman | Ronnie Krauss | September 27, 1991 |
Season 10: 1992 (10 episodes)
| No. in series | No. in season | Production code | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 81 | 1 | 806 | "Tar Beach" (narrated by Ruby Dee) | Mark Mannucci | Jill Gluckson | October 5, 1992 |
| 82 | 2 | 807 | "The Wall" (narrated by Jason Ruggiero) Review Books: Tillie and the Wall; My Grandson Lew; All Those Secrets of the World | Mark Mannucci | Andrew Gutelle | October 6, 1992 |
| 83 | 3 | 808 | "Sam the Sea Cow" (narrated by Jason Robards) | Ed Wiseman | Andrew Gutelle | October 7, 1992 |
| 84 | 4 | 809 | "Rechenka's Eggs" (narrated by Viveca Lindfors) Review Books: The Talking Eggs; I Made It Myself; Stefan & Olga | Mark Mannucci | Ronnie Krauss | October 8, 1992 |
| 85 | 5 | 810 | "Sophie and Lou" (narrated by Lola Falana) Review Books: Cordelia, Dance!; Lion Dancer: Ernie Wan's Chinese New Year; Dancing with the Indians | Fred Surr | Fred Surr | October 9, 1992 |
| 86 | 6 | 901 | "Come a Tide" (narrated by Dixie Carter) | Ed Wiseman | Susan Leeds | October 12, 1992 |
| 87 | 7 | 902 | "The Piggy in the Puddle" (narrated by Tovah Feldshuh) Review Books: This House is Made of Mud; The Hippopotamus Song: A Muddy Love Story; Oink | Ed Wiseman | Orly Berger & Ed Wiseman | October 13, 1992 |
| 88 | 8 | 903 | "Seashore Surprises" (narrated by LeVar Burton) | Mark Mannucci | Ronnie Krauss | October 14, 1992 |
| 89 | 9 | 904 | "Through Moon and Stars and Night Skies" (narrated by Andrew Lei) | Mark Mannucci | Ronnie Krauss | October 15, 1992 |
| 90 | 10 | 905 | "Berlioz the Bear" (narrated by James Avery) | Mark Mannucci | Jill Gluckson | October 16, 1992 |
Season 11: 1993 (10 episodes)
| No. in series | No. in season | Production code | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 91 | 1 | 906 | "Amazing Grace" (narrated by Tyne Daly) | Ed Wiseman | Andrew Gutelle | October 11, 1993 |
| 92 | 2 | 907 | "The Furry News: How to Make a Newspaper" (narrated by the cast of Forbidden Broadway and Lee Murphy) | Ed Wiseman | Andrew Gutelle | October 12, 1993 |
| 93 | 3 | 908 | "Mrs. Katz and Tush" (narrated by Reizl Bozyk and Rick English) Review Books: Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge; Abuela; Kwanzaa | Mark Mannucci | Ronnie Krauss | October 13, 1993 |
| 94 | 4 | 909 | "The Salamander Room" (narrated by Lynne Thigpen) | Mark Mannucci | Ronnie Krauss | October 14, 1993 |
| 95 | 5 | 910 | "Silent Lotus" (narrated by Lea Salonga) Review Books: The Handmade Alphabet; Hand Rhymes; Amy: The Story of a Deaf Child | Mark Mannucci | Ronnie Krauss | October 15, 1993 |
| 96 | 6 | 1001 | "Follow the Drinking Gourd" (narrated by Keith David) | Mark Mannucci | Steve Conner & Charlie Rice | October 18, 1993 |
| 97 | 7 | 1002 | "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" (narrated by Beth Howland) Review Books: The House That Jack Built; This is the Key to the Kingdom; Smart Dog | Ed Wiseman | Andrew Gutelle | October 19, 1993 |
| 98 | 8 | 1003 | "Is This a House for Hermit Crab?" (narrated by Eartha Kitt) | Mark Mannucci | Ronnie Krauss | October 20, 1993 |
| 99 | 9 | 1004 | "And Still the Turtle Watched" (narrated by Michael Ansara) | Mark Mannucci | Jill Gluckson | October 21, 1993 |
| 100 | 10 | 1005 | "June 29, 1999" (narrated by Charles Kimbrough) Review Books: Growing Vegetable Soup; Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs; Time Train | Ed Wiseman | Andrew Gutelle | October 22, 1993 |
Season 12: 1994 (10 episodes)
| No. in series | No. in season | Production code | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | 1 | 1006 | "Nosey Mrs. Rat" (narrated by Faith Prince) Review Books: The 13th Clue; Tiger; Mouse Views | Ed Wiseman | Andrew Gutelle & Ronnie Krauss | October 3, 1994 |
| 102 | 2 | 1007 | "Borreguita and the Coyote" (narrated by Olga Merediz) Review Books: Diego; The Three Little Javelinas; Coyote Dreams | Mark Mannucci | Bernardo Solano | October 4, 1994 |
| 103 | 3 | 1008 | "Summer" (narrated by Ossie Davis) Review Books: Nature All Year Long; Turtle in July; Changes | Mark Mannucci & Ed Wiseman | Andrew Gutelle | October 5, 1994 |
| 104 | 4 | 1009 | "Once There Was a Tree" (narrated by Eli Wallach) Review Books: The Tremendous Tree Book; Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf; The Tree in the Wood | James C. Wright | Ronnie Krauss | October 6, 1994 |
| 105 | 5 | 1010 | "Appelemando's Dreams" (narrated by Michael Learned) Review Books: The Little Painter of Sabana Grande; The Incredible Painting of Felix Clousseau; I Am an Artist | Ed Wiseman | Ronnie Krauss | October 7, 1994 |
| 106 | 6 | 1101 | "The Lotus Seed" (narrated by Rona Figueroa) Review Books: I'm New Here; Grandfather's Journey; Halmoni and the Picnic | Mark Mannucci | Susan Kim | October 10, 1994 |
| 107 | 7 | 1102 | "Hail to Mail" (narrated by Al Roker) Review Books: Messages in the Mailbox: How to Write a Letter; Stringbean's Trip to the Shining Sea; The Jolly Postman or Other People's Letters | Mark Mannucci | Andrew Gutelle | October 11, 1994 |
| 108 | 8 | 1103 | "Stellaluna" (narrated by Anne Jackson) Review Books: Amazing Bats; Step into the Night; Sleep is for Everyone | Mark Mannucci | Ronnie Krauss | October 12, 1994 |
| 109 | 9 | 1104 | "My Shadow" (narrated by Robert Guillaume) Review Books: Shadows and Reflections; I Have A Friend; Shadowgraphs | Mark Mannucci | Susan Kim | October 13, 1994 |
| 110 | 10 | 1105 | "Ruth Law Thrills a Nation" (narrated by Linda Lavin) Review Books: Plane Song; Flight; Amelia's Fantastic Flight | Mark Mannucci | Susan Kim | October 14, 1994 |
Season 13: 1995 (5 episodes)
| No. in series | No. in season | Production code | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 111 | 1 | 1106 | "The Wonderful Towers of Watts" (narrated by Angela Bassett) | Mark Mannucci | Susan Kim & Ronnie Krauss | October 2, 1995 |
| 112 | 2 | 1107 | "Martha Speaks" (narrated by Jo Hayden) | Mark Mannucci | Mark Eisman & Ronnie Krauss | October 3, 1995 |
| 113 | 3 | 1108 | "Alejandro's Gift" (narrated by Francisco Rivela) | Larry Lancit | Andrew Gutelle | October 4, 1995 |
| 114 | 4 | 1109 | "The Sign Painter's Dream" (narrated by Jamie Farr) | Ed Wiseman | Lee Hunkins & Jill Gluckson | October 5, 1995 |
| 115 | 5 | 1110 | "Archibald Frisby" (narrated by Arnold Stang) Review Books: What Makes Popcorn pop?; I Wonder Why Soap makes bubbles?; Science Magic Series | Mark Mannucci | Jill Gluckson | October 6, 1995 |
Season 14: 1996 (5 episodes)
| No. in series | No. in season | Production code | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 116 | 1 | 1111 | "Fly Away Home" (narrated by Daniel Saltzman) | Mark Mannucci | Ronnie Krauss | April 8, 1996 |
| 117 | 2 | 1112 | "Uncle Jed's Barbershop" (narrated by Regina Taylor) | Mark Mannucci | Lee Hunkins | April 9, 1996 |
| 118 | 3 | 1113 | "How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World" (narrated by Helen Mirren) Review Books: The Edible Pyramid: Good eating every day; The Kids around the world cookbook; what food is this? | Larry Lancit & Kevin Lombard | Andrew Gutelle | April 10, 1996 |
| 119 | 4 | 1114 | "Owen" (narrated by Matthew Broderick) Review Books: Ira Sleeps Over; Darcy and Gran Don't Like Babies; Born in the Gravy | Ed Wiseman | McPaul Smith | April 11, 1996 |
| 120 | 5 | 1115 | "How Much is a Million?" (narrated by Nick Sullivan) Review Books: Only One; One Hundred Hungry Ants; How Many Stars in the Sky? | Ed Wiseman, Tony Jacobs & Barry Shapiro | Jill Gluckson | April 12, 1996 |
Season 15: 1996 (5 episodes)
| No. in series | No. in season | Production code | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 121 | 1 | 1201 | "Always My Dad" (narrated by BJ Crosby) | Ed Wiseman | Lee Hunkins | October 7, 1996 |
| 122 | 2 | 1202 | "Bread is for Eating" (narrated by Cecilia Arana and Michael Uribe) Review Books: Bread, Bread, Bread; The Tortilla Factory; Walter the Baker | Kevin Lombard, Ed Wiseman, & Tony Jacobs | Ronnie Krauss & Sharon Dennis Wyeth | October 8, 1996 |
| 123 | 3 | 1203 | "Hotel Animal" (narrated by John Cunningham) Review Books: The Three Bears; Mr. Tall and Mr. Small; Zoom | Ed Wiseman | Ronnie Krauss | October 9, 1996 |
| 124 | 4 | 1204 | "Someplace Else" (narrated by Carol Kane) | Kevin Lombard | Robert Stork | October 10, 1996 |
| 125 | 5 | 1205 | "Zin! Zin! Zin! a Violin" (narrated by Gregory Hines) Review Books: The Maestro Plays; Max Found Two Sticks; Meet the Orchestra | Mark Mannucci | Ronnie Krauss | October 11, 1996 |
Season 16: 1997 (5 episodes)
| No. in series | No. in season | Production code | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 126 | 1 | 1206 | "On the Day You Were Born" (narrated by Patrick Stewart) | Ed Wiseman | Billy Aronson | April 7, 1997 |
| 127 | 2 | 1207 | "Hip Cat" (narrated by Ann Duquesnay) Review Books: Conga Crocodile; Charlie Parker Played Be Bop; Willie Jerome | Mark Mannucci | McPaul Smith | April 8, 1997 |
| 128 | 3 | 1208 | "Regina's Big Mistake" (narrated by Anna Holbrooks) Review Books: The Little Painter of Sabana Grande; The Art Lesson; I Am an Artist | Ed Wiseman | Ronnie Krauss & Renee Creange | April 9, 1997 |
| 129 | 4 | 1209 | "Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message" (narrated by Nicholson Earl Billey) | Kevin Lombard | Ronnie Krauss & Ellen Doherty | April 10, 1997 |
| 130 | 5 | 1210 | "The Carousel" (narrated by Sarah Hubbard) | Ed Wiseman | Jill Gluckson | April 11, 1997 |
Season 17: 1998 (5 episodes)
| No. in series | No. in season | Production code | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 131 | 1 | 1301 | "Math Curse" (narrated by Michelle Trachtenberg) | Ed Wiseman | Ronnie Krauss | October 5, 1998 |
| 132 | 2 | 1302 | "My Life with the Wave" (narrated by Scott Irby-Ranniar) | Larry Lancit | Cecily Truett | October 6, 1998 |
| 133 | 3 | 1303 | "Saturday Sancocho" (narrated by Jose de Guzman) | Ed Wiseman | Ronnie Krauss | October 7, 1998 |
| 134 | 4 | 1304 | "When Aunt Lena Did the Rhumba" (narrated by Lucie Arnaz) | Mark Mannucci | Jill Gluckson | October 8, 1998 |
| 135 | 5 | 1305 | "Worksong" (narrated by David Canary) | Ed Wiseman | Ronnie Krauss | October 9, 1998 |
Season 18: 2000–01 (6 episodes)
| No. in series | No. in season | Production code | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 136 | 1 | 1401 | "The Shaman's Apprentice: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest" (narrated by Susan Sarandon) | Kevin Lombard | Ronnie Krauss | May 8, 2000 |
| 137 | 2 | 1402 | "Pet Stories You Don't Have to Walk" (narrated by Jason Alexander) | Larry Lancit | Cecily Truett | November 20, 2000 |
| 138 | 3 | 1403 | "Lemonade for Sale" (narrated by Andrea McArdle) | Ed Wiseman | Robert Stork | January 19, 2001 |
| 139 | 4 | 1404 | "The Secret Shortcut" (narrated by Tim Conway) | Ed Wiseman | Susan Kim | February 16, 2001 |
| 140 | 5 | 1405 | "My America: A Poetry Atlas of the United States" (narrated by Lea Salonga, Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Nikki Giovanni) | Ed Wiseman | Susan Kim | March 16, 2001 |
| 141 | 6 | 1406 | "Badger's Parting Gifts" (narrated by Ruby Dee) Review Books: The Grandad Tree; The Tenth Good Thing About Barney; A Gift for Abuelita: Celebrating the Day of the Dead | Ed Wiseman | Jill Gluckson | April 20, 2001 |
Season 19: 2002 (4 episodes)
All episodes this season were directed by Ed Wiseman.
| No. in series | No. in season | Production code | Title | Written by | Original air date(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 142 | 1 | 1407 | "The Tin Forest" (narrated by Jeff Bridges) | Ronnie Krauss | September 3, 2002 |
| 143 | 2 | 1408 | "Max" (narrated by Regina King and Ian Desdone) | Susan Kim | September 4, 2002 |
| 144 | 3 | 1409 | "Enemy Pie" (narrated by Ed Harris) | Ronnie Krauss | September 5, 2002 |
| 145 | 4 | 1410 | "Our Big Home: An Earth Poem" (narrated by Naomi Judd) | Susan Kim | September 6, 2002 |
Season 20: 2004–05 (5 episodes)
All episodes this season were directed by Ed Wiseman.
| No. in series | No. in season | Production code | Title | Written by | Original air date(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 146 | 1 | 1501 | "Visiting Day" (narrated by Alfre Woodard)
Review: Finding the Right Spot; Let's Talk About When your Parent is in Jail; Mama Loves me from Away |
Ronnie Krauss | December 15, 2004 |
| 147 | 2 | 1502 | "Unique Monique" (narrated by Eliza Dushku)
Review: Daffodil; I'm Gonna Like Me; The Name Jar |
Jill Gluckson | December 16, 2004 |
| 148 | 3 | 1503 | "Mr. George Baker" (narrated by Wayne Brady)
Review: The Music in Derrick's Heart; Grandfather Counts; A Bird About to Sing |
Ronnie Krauss | December 17, 2004 |
| 149 | 4 | 1504 | "Beegu" (narrated by Freddie Prinze Jr.)
Review: Space Exploration; Planets: A Solar System Stickerbook; Rise the Moon |
Twila Liggett | January 20, 2005 |
| 150 | 5 | 1505 | "Two Old Potatoes and Me" (narrated by Jordan Puryear)
Review: Weslandia; Diary of a Worm; Pie in the Sky |
Ronnie Krauss | January 21, 2005 |
Season 21: 2006 (5 episodes)
| No. in series | No. in season | Production code | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 151 | 1 | 1601 | "The Biggest Test in the Universe" (narrated by Richard Gere)
Review: Angelina on Stage; Beverly Billingsly Takes a Bow; Wemberly Worried |
Ed Wiseman | Ronnie Krauss | November 6, 2006 |
| 152 | 2 | 1602 | "I Lost My Tooth in Africa"
Review: Madlenka, Coming of Age; My Wobbly Tooth Must Not Ever Never Fall Out |
Mark Mannucci | Ronnie Krauss | November 7, 2006 |
| 153 | 3 | 1603 | "Boxes for Katje" (narrated by Elizabeth Jute)
Review: Luba the Angel of Bergen-Belsen; The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq; The Lady in the Box |
Ed Wiseman | Ronnie Krauss | November 8, 2006 |
| 154 | 4 | 1604 | "Game Day" (narrated by James Avery)
Review: The Blue Ribbon Day; Pecorino Plays Ball; Mia Hamm: Winner's Never Quit |
Ed Wiseman | Ed Wiseman | November 9, 2006 |
| 155 | 5 | 1605 | "Show Way" (narrated by Diahann Carroll)
Review: The Kids' Family Tree Book; What a Family!; Seven Brave Women |
Ed Wiseman | Ronnie Krauss | November 10, 2006 |
References
- "Reading Rainbow - Animal Cafe (1985).png - Click to see more photos". ImageShack. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
- "Reading Rainbow - Watch the Stars Come Out (1985).png - Click to see more photos". ImageShack. Retrieved 12 February 2019.