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Home , Carol Kane, Lea Salonga, Levar Burton, Madeline Kahn, Phyllis Diller, Reading Rainbow

COMPLETE READING LIST

The PBS show was a favorite of my older children when they were small, and as I watched with them, it quickly became a favorite of mine too. Reading Rainbow introduced us to so many great children’s books that we otherwise would never have known about. It was not uncommon, on our weekly trips to the library, for me to seek out books that I had discovered on Reading Rainbow to read to them at home, and later, for them to read for themselves.

Since Reading Rainbow went off the air in 2006, my younger children never had a chance to experience this great program. That is why I decided to compile this list. Every time we go to the library, or every time I am shopping for gifts, I will consult this list. I am sharing it with you so you can do the same if you’d like! To the right of every entry, there is a check box so you can keep track of the books you have read. Almost all of the books are still in print, and the few that are out of print are most likely available at your public library or your child’s school library.

I could have put the books in alphabetical order by the author’s last name, or arranged them alphabetically by title, or I could have tried to group them by subject matter. In the end, however, I decided to list the books in the order they originally aired on Reading Rainbow. I have included each show’s original air date and the name of the narrator of each book because it may help jog your memory about an old favorite. (There is one episode for which I could not find the name of the narrator. If you know it, please email me at the address below.) Many of the books, to this day, are still published with the Reading Rainbow logo on the front cover, which helps in locating them

I hope this list will help you rediscover some great books you had forgotten about, and also help you discover some new favorites! I am excited about using this list to introduce my younger children to the books my older ones came to know and love through Reading Rainbow. I hope you will find it helpful too.

(By the way, many of the Reading Rainbow programs are available online through Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, and other streaming services.)

John Allen T. Bankson Montevallo, Alabama [email protected] Season 1: 1983 (15 episodes)

1 Tight Times by Barbara Shook Hazen (narrated by Patrick McCaffrey) June 6, 1983

2 Miss Nelson Is Back by Harry G. Allard, Jr. (narrated by ) June 13, 1983

3 Bea and Mr. Jones by Amy Schwartz (narrated by ) June 20, 1983

Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain by Verna Aardema (narrated by James Earl 4 June 27, 1983 Jones)

5 Louis the Fish by Arthur Yorinks (narrated by ) July 4, 1983

6 Digging Up Dinosaurs by Aliki (narrated by Linda Gelman) July 18, 1983

7 Liang and the Magic Paintbrush by Demi (narrated by ) July 19, 1983

Gila Monsters Meet You at the Airport by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat (narrated 8 July 20, 1983 by Douglas Parvin)

Three Days on a River in a Red Canoe by Vera B. Williams (narrated by Carolyn 9 July 21, 1983 McHanon)

10 The Gift of the Sacred Dog by Paul Goble (narrated by Michael Ansara) July 22, 1983

11 Gregory the Terrible Eater by Mitchell Sharmat (narrated by Marilyn Michaels) July 25, 1983

12 Three by the Sea by Edward Marshall (narrated by Chicago City Limits) July 26, 1983

13 Arthur's Eyes by Marc Brown (narrated by ) July 27, 1983 The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash by Trinka Hakes Noble (narrated by Kaleena 14 July 28, 1983 Kiff and Laura Hicks)

15 Ty's One-Man Band by Mildred Pitts Walter (narrated by Lou Rawls) July 29, 1983

Season 2: 1984 (5 episodes)

16 Hot-Air Henry by Mary Calhoun (narrated by ) July 16, 1984

17 Simon's Book by Henrik Drescher (narrated by ) July 17, 1984

18 Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall (narrated by Lorne Greene) July 18, 1984

19 Mystery on the Docks by Thacher Hurd (narrated by ) July 19, 1984

20 A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams (narrated by Amy Linker) July 20, 1984

Season 3: 1985 (5 episodes)

21 Paul Bunyan by Steven Kellogg (narrated by Buddy Ebsen) June 24, 1985

22 The Patchwork Quilt by Valerie Flournoy (narrated by ) June 25, 1985

23 Hill of Fire by Thomas P. Lewis (narrated by Fernando Escandon) June 26, 1985

24 The Tortoise and the Hare by Janet Stevens (narrated by ) June 27, 1985

25 Perfect the Pig by Susan Jeschke (narrated by James Coco) June 28, 1985

Season 4: 1986 (10 episodes)

26 Animal Café by John Stadler (narrated by ) June 23, 1986

27 Alistair in Outer Space by Marilyn Sadler (narrated by Arnold Stang) June 24, 1986

Feelings by Aliki (narrated by Raima Evans, Jessica Mercado, Laura 28 Haymann, Paul Sidoriak, Jonathan Rose, Timothy Oakes, Jerry David, June 25, 1986 and Pamela Stogner)

29 Watch the Stars Come Out by Riki Levinson (narrated by Laura Haymann) June 26, 1986

30 Mama Don't Allow by Thacher Hurd (narrated by Fred Newman) June 27, 1986

31 Space Case by Edward Marshall (narrated by Michael Winslow) August 4, 1986

32 The Milk Makers by Gail Gibbons (narrated by Alaina Reed) August 5, 1986

33 Imogene's Antlers by David Small (narrated by ) August 6, 1986

34 Germs Make Me Sick! by Melvin Berger (narrated by Molly Mandlin) August 7, 1986

35 Abiyoyo by (narrated and sung by Pete Seeger) August 8, 1986

Season 5: 1987 (10 episodes)

The Life Cycle of the Honeybee by Paula Z. Hogan (narrated by Barbara 36 June 1, 1987 Feldon)

37 Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie by Connie Roop (narrated by ) June 2, 1987

38 Chickens Aren't the Only Ones by Ruth Heller (narrated by Georgia Engel) June 3, 1987 39 The Paper Crane by Molly Bang (narrated by Keye Luke) June 4, 1987

40 The Runaway Duck by David Lyon (narrated by Orson Bean) June 5, 1987

41 A Three Hat Day by Laura Geringer (narrated by Zelda Rubinstein) July 27, 1987

42 Rumpelstiltskin by Paul O. Zelinsky (narrated by Ralph Waite) July 28, 1987

43 Best Friends by Steven Kellogg (narrated by Liza Siegler) July 29, 1987

44 Meanwhile Back at the Ranch by Trinka Hakes Noble (narrated by Hoyt Axton) July 30, 1987

45 My Little Island by Frane Lessac (narrated by Ron Foster) July 31, 1987

Season 6: 1988–89 (10 episodes)

46 The Bionic Bunny Show by Marc Brown (narrated by Gene Klavan) August 15, 1988

Bugs by Joan Richards Wright (narrated by Lori Delgado and Edwin 47 August 16, 1988 Maldonado, Jr.)

The Robbery at the Diamond Dog Diner by Eileen Christelow (narrated by Peter 48 August 17, 1988 Falk)

49 Brush by Pere Calders (narrated by Hector Elizondo) August 18, 1988

50 The Purple Coat by Amy Hest (narrated by ) August 19, 1988

51 Barn Dance! by Bill Martin, Jr. (narrated by Roy Clark) March 27, 1989

52 Duncan and Dolores by Barbara Samuels (narrated by ) March 28, 1989 Knots on a Counting Rope by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault (narrated 53 March 29, 1989 by J. Ruben Silverbird and Kenneth Blank)

54 Mummies Made in Egypt by Aliki (narrated by Corinne Orr) March 30, 1989

55 Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters by John L. Steptoe (narrated by Phylicia Rashad) March 31, 1989

Season 7: 1989–90 (10 episodes)

Humphrey the Lost Whale: A True Story by Wendy Tokuda and Richard Hall 56 July 3, 1989 (narrated by Jane Pauley)

57 Stay Away from the Junkyard! by Tricia Tusa (narrated by Michele Mariana) July 4, 1989

58 Little Nino's Pizzeria by Karen Barbour (narrated by Josh Saviano) July 5, 1989

59 Ludlow Laughs by John Agee (narrated by ) July 6, 1989

Dinosaur Bob and His Adventures with the Family Lazardo by William Joyce 60 July 7, 1989 (narrated by Edward Asner)

Dive to the Coral Reefs: A New England Aquarium Book by Elizabeth Tayntor 61 March 26, 1990 (narrated by )

Desert Giant: The World of the Saguaro Cactus by Barbara Bash (narrated 62 March 27, 1990 by )

63 Tooth-Gnasher Superflash by Daniel Pinkwater (narrated by Victoria Jackson) March 28, 1990

Bored—Nothing to Do! by Peter Spier (narrated by Alex Borg and David 64 March 29, 1990 Hyman)

65 Sports Pages by Arnold Adoff (narrated by ) March 30, 1990

Season 8: 1990 (5 episodes)

The Magic School Bus Inside the by Joanna Cole (narrated by Keisha 66 September 10, 1990 Knight-Pulliam)

Jack, the Seal and the Sea by Gerald Aschenbrenner (narrated by Leslie 67 September 11, 1990 Uggams)

68 The Bicycle Man by Allen Say (narrated by Tom Matsusaka) September 12, 1990

69 Florence and Eric Take the Cake by Jocelyn Wild (narrated by ) September 13, 1990

70 Sunken Treasure by Gail Gibbons (narrated by ) September 14, 1990

Season 9: 1991 (10 episodes)

71 Alistair's Time Machine by Matthew Sadler (narrated by Arnold Stang) September 16, 1991

The Adventures of Taxi Dog by Debra Barracca and Saul Barracca (narrated 72 September 17, 1991 by Vincent Gardenia)

The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush by Tomie de Paola (narrated by Harold 73 September 18, 1991 Littlebird)

74 Galimoto by Karen Lynn Williams (narrated by Hattie Winston) September 19, 1991

75 Fox on the Job by James Marshall (narrated by Fred Newman) September 20, 1991

Opt: An Illusionary Tale by Arline Baum and Joseph Baum (narrated by LeVar 76 September 23, 1991 Burton)

77 Raccoons and Ripe Corn by Jim Arnosky (narrated by Julia Barr) September 24, 1991 The Lady with the Ship on Her Head by Deborah Nourse Lattimore (narrated 78 September 25, 1991 by Marilyn Pasekoff)

Kate Shelley and the Midnight Express by Margaret K. Wetterer (narrated 79 September 26, 1991 by )

Snowy Day: Stories and Poems by Caroline Feller Bauer (narrated by Lena 80 September 27, 1991 Horne, , and Richard Courtney)

Season 10: 1992 (10 episodes)

81 Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold (narrated by Ruby Dee) October 5, 1992

82 The Wall by Eve Bunting (narrated by Jason Ruggiero) October 6, 1992

83 Sam the Sea Cow by Francine Jacobs (narrated by ) October 7, 1992

84 Rechenka's Eggs by Patricia Polacco (narrated by ) October 8, 1992

85 Sophie and Lou by Petra Mathers (narrated by Lola Falana) October 9, 1992

86 Come a Tide by George Ella Lyon (narrated by Dixie Carter) October 12, 1992

87 The Piggy in the Puddle by Charlotte Pomerantz (narrated by ) October 13, 1992

88 Seashore Surprises by Rose Wyler (narrated by LeVar Burton) October 14, 1992

Through Moon and Stars and Night Skies by Ann Turner (narrated by Andrew 89 October 15, 1992 Lei)

90 Berlioz the Bear by Jan Brett (narrated by James Avery) October 16, 1992

Season 11: 1993 (10 episodes)

91 Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman (narrated by ) October 11, 1993

The Furry News by Loreen Leedy (narrated by the cast of Forbidden 92 October 12, 1993 Broadway and Lee Murphy)

Mrs. Katz and Tush by Patricia Polacco (narrated by Reizl Bozyk and Rick 93 October 13, 1993 English)

94 The Salamander Room by Anne Mazer (narrated by ) October 14, 1993

95 Silent Lotus by Jeanne M. Lee (narrated by ) October 15, 1993

96 Follow the Drinking Gourd by Jeanette Winter (narrated by ) October 18, 1993

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff (narrated by Beth 97 October 19, 1993 Howland)

98 Is This a House for Hermit Crab? by Megan McDonald (narrated by Eartha Kitt) October 20, 1993

And Still the Turtle Watched by Sheila MacGill Callahan (narrated by Michael 99 October 21, 1993 Ansara)

100 June 29, 1999 by David Wiesner (narrated by Charles Kimbrough) October 22, 1993

Season 12: 1994 (10 episodes)

101 Nosey Mrs. Rat by Jeffrey Allen (narrated by Faith ) October 3, 1994

102 Borreguita and the Coyote by Verna Aardema (narrated by Olga Merediz) October 4, 1994

103 Summer by Ron Hirschi (narrated by ) October 5, 1994 104 Once There Was a Tree by Natalia Romanova (narrated by ) October 6, 1994

105 Appelemando's Dreams by Patricia Polacco (narrated by ) October 7, 1994

106 The Lotus Seed by Sherry Garland (narrated by Rona Figueroa) October 10, 1994

107 Hail to Mail by Samuel Marshak (narrated by Al Roker) October 11, 1994

108 by Janell Cannon (narrated by Anne Jackson) October 12, 1994

My Shadow by Robert Louis Stevenson, illustrated by Ted Rand (narrated 109 October 13, 1994 by )

110 Ruth Law Thrills a Nation by Don Brown (narrated by ) October 14, 1994

Season 13: 1995 (5 episodes)

111 The Wonderful Tower of Watts by Patricia Zelver (narrated by ) October 2, 1995

112 Martha Speaks by Susan Meddaugh (narrated by Jo Hayden) October 3, 1995

113 Alejandro's Gift by Richard E. Albert (narrated by Francisco Rivela) October 4, 1995

114 The Sign Painter's Dream by Roger Roth (narrated by Jamie Farr) October 5, 1995

115 Archibald Frisby by Michael Chesworth (narrated by Arnold Stang) October 6, 1995

Season 14: 1996 (5 episodes)

116 Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting (narrated by Daniel Saltzman) April 8, 1996

117 Uncle Jed's Barbershop by Margaree King Mitchell (narrated by Regina Taylor) April 9, 1996

How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by Marjorie Priceman (narrated 118 April 10, 1996 by )

119 Owen by Kevin Henkes (narrated by ) April 11, 1996

120 How Much Is a Million? by David M. Schwartz (narrated by Nick Sullivan) April 12, 1996

Season 15: 1996 (5 episodes)

121 Always My Dad by Sharon Dennis Wyeth (narrated by BJ Crosby) October 7, 1996

122 Bread Is for Eating by David and Phillis Gershator (narrated by Cecilia Arana) October 8, 1996

123 Hotel Animal by Keith DuQuette (narrated by John Cunningham) October 9, 1996

124 Someplace Else by Carol P. Saul (narrated by ) October 10, 1996

125 Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin by Lloyd Moss (narrated by ) October 11, 1996

Season 16: 1997 (5 episodes)

126 On the Day You Were Born by Debra Frasier (narrated by ) April 7, 1997

127 Hip Cat by Jonathan London (narrated by Ann Duquesnay) April 8, 1997

128 Regina's Big Mistake by Marissa Moss (narrated by Anna Holbrooks) April 9, 1997

Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message by Chief Jake 129 April 10, 1997 Swamp (narrated by Nicholson Earl Billey)

130 The Carousel by Liz Rosenberg (narrated by Sarah Hubbard) April 11, 1997

Season 17: 1998 (5 episodes)

131 Math Curse by Jon Scieszka (narrated by Michelle Trachtenberg) October 5, 1998

132 My Life with the Wave by Catherine Cowan (narrated by Scott Irby Ranier) October 6, 1998

133 Saturday Sancocho by Layla Torres (narrated by Jose de Guzman) October 7, 1998

When Aunt Lena Did the Rhumba by Eileen Kurtis-Kleinman (narrated by Lucie 134 October 8, 1998 Arnaz)

135 Worksong by Gary Paulsen and Ruth Wright Paulsen (narrated by David Canary) October 9, 1998

Season 18: 2000–01 (6 episodes)

The Shaman's Apprentice: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest by Lynne Cherry 136 May 8, 2000 and Mark J. Plotkin (narrated by )

Pet Stories You Don't Have to Walk by Marc Brown, et al (narrated by Jason 137 November 20, 2000 Alexander)

138 Lemonade for Sale by Stuart J. Murhpy (narrated by Andrea McArdle) January 19, 2001

139 The Secret Shortcut by Mark Teague (narrated by ) February 16, 2001

My America: A Poetry Atlas of the United States by Lee Bennett Hopkins 140 March 16, 2001 (narrated by Lea Salonga, , and )

141 Badger's Parting Gifts by Susan Varley (narrated by Ruby Dee) April 20, 2001

Season 19: 2002 (4 episodes)

142 The Tin Forest by Helen Ward (narrated by ) September 3, 2002

143 Max by Rachel Isadora (narrated by and Ian Desdone) September 4, 2002

144 Enemy Pie by Derek Munson (narrated by ) September 5, 2002

145 Our Big Home: An Earth Poem by Linda Glaser (narrated by Naomi Judd) September 6, 2002

Season 20: 2004–05 (5 episodes)

146 Visiting Day by Jacqueline Woodson (narrated by ) December 15, 2004

147 Unique Monique by Maria Rousaki (narrated by Eliza Dushku) December 16, 2004

148 Mr. George Baker by Amy Hest (narrated by ) December 17, 2004

149 Beegu by Alexis Deacon (narrated by Freddie Prinze, Jr.) January 20, 2005

150 Two Old Potatoes and Me by John Coy (narrated by Jordan Puryear) January 21, 2005

Season 21: 2006 (5 episodes)

151 The Biggest Test in the Universe by Nancy Poydar (narrated by ) November 6, 2006

152 I Lost My Tooth in Africa by Penda Diakité and Baba Wagué Diakité November 7, 2006

153 Boxes for Katje by Candace Fleming (narrated by Elizabeth Jute) November 8, 2006

154 Game Day by Tiki and Ronde Barber (narrated by James Avery) November 9, 2006

155 Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson (narrated by ) November 10, 2006