Reading Rainbow

by Tristi Pinkston | More from this Blogger

12 Sep 2006 07:16 AM

Almost as much a paragon of children's programming as Sesame Street, Reading Rainbow has been on the air since I was a child. Not that I'm terribly old; I'm just making the point that it's a show with a proven track record. Hosted by LeVar Burton (you may remember him from Star Trek: The Next Generation - he's the one who wore the visor that looked like a banana clip) this show not only talks about books, but it takes children places mentioned in books.

LeVar goes to museums, factories, stores, different areas all over the country, talking to tradesmen and craftsmen of all kinds, asking them questions and learning about their own areas of expertise. He often ties the theme of the show in with his own experiences, telling stories of things he learned or was curious about when he was a boy. Then he brings out books that also have to do with the day's theme, and either reads them, or turns the time over to a narrator who reads them, complete with the illustrations.

Children also do book reviews on the show. Toward the end of the segment, several children are given a minute or two each to tell about their favorite book, who wrote it, and what it's about. This is a unique way of using a child's peers to set the example and get them interested in reading.

LeVar is a very gentle host, presenting the information in a way that's useful without talking down to the children or making them feel stupid. His voice is always soft and kind, and he demonstrates good manners wherever he goes, phrasing his questions politely and thanking people for their time.

While not all of my children find this show to be their cup of tea, I do turn this show on regularly throughout the week. It's a valuable learning tool and a definite icon of public television.

Tristi's Score: 10 for Education, 7 for Entertainment, and the Parent Annoyance Factor is 0.

You can see Reading Rainbow on PBS.

Learn more about Tristi Pinkston

I've been a blogger for Families.com since August of 2006.

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