This is a list of Reading Rainbow episodes, hosted by longtime executive producer LeVar Burton. The show premiered on PBS on July 11, 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. On October 4, 2025, the show was revived, now hosted by Mychal Threets.
Episodes Season 1 (1983) All episodes this season were directed by Larry Lancit.
Season 2 (1984) All episodes this season were directed by Larry Lancit.
Season 3 (1985) All episodes this season were directed by Larry Lancit.
Season 4A (1985-86) All episodes were directed by Hugh Martin.
Season 4B (1986)
Season 5A (1986-87) All episodes were directed by Mitchell Geller.
Season 5B (1987) All episodes were directed by Vern Oakley.
Season 6A (1988)
Season 6B (1988-89)
Season 7A (1989)
Season 7B (1989-90)
Season 8 (1990)
Season 9 (1991)
Season 10 (1992)
Season 11 (1993)
Season 12 (1994)
Season 13 (1995)
Season 14 (1996)
Season 15 (1996)
Season 16 (1997)
Season 17 (1998)
Season 18 (2000–01)
Season 19 (2002) All episodes this season were directed by Ed Wiseman.
Season 20 (2004–05) All episodes this season were directed by Ed Wiseman.
Season 21 (2006)
Season 22 (2025)
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 episodesRelease dateNo. of discsReading Rainbow Favorites8July 18, 20064Reading Rainbow: Family Matters2July 18, 20061Reading Rainbow: Man's Best Friend2July 18, 20061Reading Rainbow: Ocean Life2July 18, 20061Reading Rainbow: Music, Music Everywhere2July 18, 20061Reading Rainbow: Let's Go!2September 12, 20061Reading Rainbow: How's That Made?2September 12, 20061Reading Rainbow: Birds of a Feather2September 12, 20061Reading Rainbow: Desert Life2September 12, 20061Reading Rainbow: Sea To Shining Sea – Stories of America2November 7, 20061Reading Rainbow: Farm Life2November 7, 20061Reading Rainbow: Math Is Everywhere2November 7, 20061Reading Rainbow: Buried Treasures2November 7, 20061Reading Rainbow: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie4May 12, 20151Reading Rainbow: Animal Cafe4June 30, 20151Reading Rainbow: Miss Nelson Is Back4January 12, 20161Reading Rainbow: LeVar's Favorites5May 10, 20161
References