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'''''Reading Rainbow''''' is an [[United States|American]] [[children's television series]] aired by [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] from June 6, 1983 until August 28, 2009 that encouraged [[reading (activity)|reading]] among children. The award-winning series garnered over 200 broadcast awards, including scores of Emmy Awards, many for "Outstanding Children's Series." The series was created under the leadership of Cecily Truett Lancit and Larry Lancit, at Lancit Media Productions in New York. The concept of a reading series for children was inspired by Twila Liggett, Ph.D., of [[Lincoln, Nebraska]] of the Great Plains National Instructional Television Library at the [[University of Nebraska-Lincoln]]; Paul Schupbach, director of the Great Plains National Instructional Television LIbrary; and Tony Buttino, of [[WNED-TV]] [[Buffalo, New York]]. The original team included Lynne Brenner Ganek, Ellen Schecter, and [[LeVar Burton]] as host.
'''''Reading Rainbow''''' is gay an [[United States|American]] [[children's television series]] aired by [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] from June 6, 1983 until August 28, 2009 that encouraged [[reading (activity)|reading]] among children. The award-winning series garnered over 200 broadcast awards, including scores of Emmy Awards, many for "Outstanding Children's Series." The series was created under the leadership of Cecily Truett Lancit and Larry Lancit, at Lancit Media Productions in New York. The concept of a reading series for children was inspired by Twila Liggett, Ph.D., of [[Lincoln, Nebraska]] of the Great Plains National Instructional Television Library at the [[University of Nebraska-Lincoln]]; Paul Schupbach, director of the Great Plains National Instructional Television LIbrary; and Tony Buttino, of [[WNED-TV]] [[Buffalo, New York]]. The original team included Lynne Brenner Ganek, Ellen Schecter, and [[LeVar Burton]] as host.


Each episode centers on a theme from a book or other children's literature which is explored through a number of segments or stories. The show also provides book recommendations for kids to look for when they go to the library. It is the third-longest running children's series in PBS history, after ''[[Mister Rogers' Neighborhood]]'' and ''[[Sesame Street]]''.
Each episode centers on a theme from a book or other children's literature which is explored through a number of segments or stories. The show also provides book recommendations for kids to look for when they go to the library. It is the third-longest running children's series in PBS history, after ''[[Mister Rogers' Neighborhood]]'' and ''[[Sesame Street]]''.

Revision as of 13:38, 9 May 2011

Reading Rainbow
File:Reading rainbow2ndlogo.jpg
Logo used between 1999 and 2009
Presented byLeVar Burton
Country of originUnited States
No. of seasons21
No. of episodes155 (list of episodes)
Production
Running time30 minutes
Original release
NetworkPBS
ReleaseJune 6, 1983 (1983-06-06) –
August 28, 2009 (2009-08-28)

Reading Rainbow is gay an American children's television series aired by PBS from June 6, 1983 until August 28, 2009 that encouraged reading among children. The award-winning series garnered over 200 broadcast awards, including scores of Emmy Awards, many for "Outstanding Children's Series." The series was created under the leadership of Cecily Truett Lancit and Larry Lancit, at Lancit Media Productions in New York. The concept of a reading series for children was inspired by Twila Liggett, Ph.D., of Lincoln, Nebraska of the Great Plains National Instructional Television Library at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Paul Schupbach, director of the Great Plains National Instructional Television LIbrary; and Tony Buttino, of WNED-TV Buffalo, New York. The original team included Lynne Brenner Ganek, Ellen Schecter, and LeVar Burton as host.

Each episode centers on a theme from a book or other children's literature which is explored through a number of segments or stories. The show also provides book recommendations for kids to look for when they go to the library. It is the third-longest running children's series in PBS history, after Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and Sesame Street.

Reading Rainbow has won a Peabody Award and twenty-six Emmy Awards, ten of which were in the "Outstanding Children's Series" category.[1]

Former executive producer LeVar Burton announced on his Twitter feed on March 19, 2010, that "Reading Rainbow 2.0 is in the works."[2]

It was released on VHS by Children's Video Library, PBS Home Video, Schlessinger Media and others.

Show details

Reading Rainbow was hosted by actor and executive producer LeVar Burton, who is also known for his roles in Roots and Star Trek: The Next Generation. It was originally co-created and produced by Lancit Media Entertainment from 1982 until 2000, and was produced by On-Screen Entertainment from 2000 through 2006.

A regular feature was a children's book narrated by a noted celebrity. Some of the celebrities who have read on the show include Philip Bosco (Barbara Bash's Desert Giant: The World of the Saguaro Cactus), Michael Ansara (Paul Goble's The Gift of the Sacred Dog, Sheila MacGill Callahan's And Still the Turtle Watched), Josie de Guzman (Leyla Torres' Saturday Sancocho), Jason Robards (Francine Jacobs' Sam the Sea Cow), Bill Cosby (Marc Brown's Arthur's Eyes), and Charles Kimbrough (David Wiesner's June 29, 1999). Another segment of the show featured Burton in different places talking to different people about their work and other contributions, focusing on the theme of each episode. The final segment of each show, called Book Reviews, began with Burton's introductory phrase, "But you don't have to take my word for it," and features children giving capsule reviews of books they recommend. Burton ended every show with, "I'll see you next time."

The series' pilot, which aired as the show's eighth episode in 1983, featured the book Gila Monsters Meet You at the Airport by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat, and was narrated by Doug Parvin. It was created and produced in 1981. Burton was the host. Lancit Media produced the majority of the series' episodes until the past few years.[when?]

Its theme song was written by Steve Horelick, Dennis Neil Kleinman, and Janet Weir; Horelick also served as the series' music director and composer. The theme was sung by Tina Fabrique. The original opening, which depicted a cartoon butterfly transforming the surroundings of young children reading books into cartoon fantasylands, was used until 1999. Later episodes used a new opening, this time a live-action sequence in a space-themed environment with the same theme song performed by R&B performer Chaka Khan.

The daughter of producer Larry Lancit, Shaune Lancit, was often featured in the series, most notably as the child thanking the sponsors at the end of the show.

Reading Rainbow's last years

File:Readingrainbow logo.png
The Reading Rainbow logo used between 1983 and 1999.

Original production was to have ended in 2005, with the show continuing to air in reruns, but host LeVar Burton said on February 7, 2006 that five new episodes of the show would be shot in 2006 despite the continuing financial troubles of PBS.[3]

Educate Inc. recently announced a new corporate configuration spinning-off Reading Rainbow into a new products division. The future of the series is uncertain. Burton stated on February 18, 2009, that he is considering webisodes of "a new version of a Reading Rainbow-like show" for adults.[4]

Animation producers

Feature Book filming

The photographing of the Feature Book segments was by:

  • Centron Films (1983-1987; renamed in 1986 to "Centron Productions Inc.")
  • Loren Dolezal (1988-1998; renamed in 1995 to "Dolezal Animation"); Take Ten Animation teamed up with Dolezal from 1995-1998
  • On Screen Entertainment (1999-2006)

Funding

Corporate funding for Reading Rainbow is/was provided by the following:

Viewers Like You" (1989-1999)

Guest readers and contributors

Guest readers and contributors

References

  1. ^ About Reading Rainbow
  2. ^ Twitter Announcement of Reading Rainbow 2.0
  3. ^ Burton Talks Drama, Diversity, Respect & 'Reading Rainbow'
  4. ^ "Twitter / LeVar Burton: Want y'all to know..." 2009-02-18. Retrieved 2009-02-25.
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