Reading Rainbow

If you want a drama that takes its characters as seriously as its plot, Reading Rainbow is available in the US on PBS Kids Amazon Channel right now. Every one of its 21 seasons holds up. 48 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. LeVar Burton anchors it with a performance that rewards close attention. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on PBS Kids Amazon Channel.

Reading Rainbow is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that focus is exactly what makes it work. The writing in Reading Rainbow treats its characters as people first, plot devices second. Journey to exciting places and build a lasting connection with your favorite books. Each episode centers on a theme from a book, or other children's literature, which is explored through a number of segments or stories. LeVar Burton leads a cast that treats the material with real seriousness. Across 21 seasons (1983–2006), it never lost the thread that made it worth starting. The performances in Reading Rainbow do a lot of work in the silences between the dialogue. The hit rate here is high enough that skipping ahead never feels like an option.

Viewers drawn to character-driven storytelling will find plenty to sit with in Reading Rainbow. The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack is the obvious comparison, but Reading Rainbow earns its own place alongside it. The 21-season run rewards the patience it asks of you. LeVar Burton is the centre of it, and it is one of their strongest performances on record. The patience it asks of you early on is paid back with interest.

Reading Rainbow wrapped up in 2006 — and 21 seasons are available to watch from start to finish. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.