Information Density: Reading Rainbow – Signal Evidence & AI Readability

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[H2] Launched in 1983, Reading Rainbow became the most watched PBS program in the classroom. The series was formulated because of the “summer loss phenomena," whereby a child loses some of his or her reading abilities because they tend not to read during the summer. While the concept of Reading Rainbow began as a summer program, it quickly grew into a broadcast blockbuster, classroom staple and cultural icon.
[H2] During its 26-year run, Reading Rainbow garnered more than 250 awards, including the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award, Telly Awards, Parent’s and Teacher’s Choice Awards, and a total of 26 Emmy Awards, including ten for outstanding series.
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Calling all authors!
Join Reading Rainbow and Buffalo Toronto Public Media (BTPM) in sharing the joy of reading with children and families. From June 13 through July 14, authors across the United States and Canada are invited to donate copies of their books as part of a special book drive celebrating literacy, storytelling, and community impact. All donated books will be distributed to a nonprofit organization selected by BTPM. Participating authors may also have the opportunity to have their books featured on Reading Rainbow’s social media platforms, introducing their work to a wider audience.
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Reading Rainbow | Official Trailer After nearly 20 years… Reading Rainbow is returning to motivate, help, and encourage kids to become avid readers with new episodes, new friends, new projects, and of course… new books! Make sure to #FollowTheRainbow!
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Watch Reading Rainbow on PBS Retro FAST channel
Reading Rainbow is now available on the PBS Retro FAST channel, alongside other classic content like Mister Roger's Neighborhood and Kratts Creatures! PBS Retro is available on Prime Video, Roku, TCL and Vizio.
Learn More

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The Future of Reading Rainbow
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The broadcast and creation of new Reading Rainbow episodes ended in 2006 due to funding challenges and a growing need to update the show’s concept to adapt to changing technology and delivery methods. The series continued to air in re-runs until 2009. The media landscape of children’s programming has expanded considerably since the show’s premiere over three decades ago; there is now an abundance of new shows, channels, and means of watching video, including on-demand, streaming, and on tablets and mobile devices.  These means allow for direct links to related interactive activities and educational games. Buffalo Toronto Public Media (BTPM) plans to re-establish Reading Rainbow as a leader in children’s education programming. To meet the needs of kids today and ensure the longevity of the series, it is necessary to adapt to evolving digital media needs and delivery methods. New and emerging technology has opened up a whole new world of possibilities for this type of creative engagement, and there is now more evidence-based research on the most effective teaching strategies across different media. BTPM is currently exploring the most popular and effective methods of developing and enhancing content in order to determine the optimal course of action for reimagining this program.We have some exciting projects in the works for Reading Rainbow, so check back to our website often and be sure to follow us on social media!

Join Reading Rainbow and Buffalo Toronto Public Media (BTPM) in sharing the joy of reading with children and families. From June 13 through July 14, authors across the United States and Canada are invited to donate copies of their books as part of a special book drive celebrating literacy, storytelling, and community impact.All donated books will be distributed to a nonprofit organization selected by BTPM, helping connect more readers with meaningful stories. Participating authors may also have the opportunity to have their books featured on Reading Rainbow’s social media platforms, introducing their work to a wider audience.
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Eligibility
Authors:Must be 18 years or older or if under the age of 18, must submit written consent from a parent or legal guardian.Open to authors residing anywhere in the United States and Canada.All submissions must be original work created by the entrant.All published books are eligible, including self-published works.
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Submission Guidelines
Authors may submit and donate any number of new (unused) books of their original authorship.There is no entry fee, but you are responsible for covering your own shipping costs.Books must be mailed to BTPM and postmarked by July 14, 2026.All submitted books must have their primary language in English.Books of all genres and age ranges are welcome for donation.Your contact information must be included with the submission. Include social media handles, if applicable. Social Media Feature Consideration:While all new and unused books are appreciated and will be donated, only children’s books intended for ages 4–8 will be considered for potential feature on Reading Rainbow’s social media.Books outside of this category will not be eligible for feature but are still encouraged as part of the donation effort.Mail submissions to:
[H3] Reading Rainbow Team
[H3] Buffalo Toronto Public Media
[H3] 140 Lower Terrace
[H3] Buffalo, NY 14202
Download Submission Form
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Content & Selection Criteria
Submissions should align with Reading Rainbow’s mission of promoting literacy, imagination, and inclusive storytelling.Books considered for social media feature must be appropriate for young audiences and must not contain explicit language, graphic content, or inappropriate themes. BTPM reserves the right to:Select which submissions are featured on social media.Decline any submissions that do not meet guidelines or standards.Disqualify entries suspected to be AI-generated or not authentically created.
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Timeline
Submission Window: June 13 – July 14, 2026Deadline: All packages must be postmarked by July 14, 2026Social Media Features: Selected titles will be featured throughout July and August 2026
Download Official Rules

[H2] A creation of Buffalo Toronto Public Media (BTPM), Reading Rainbow premiered in 1983 as a wildly successful approach for using television to inspire children’s love of reading and build lasting connections between kids and books.

[H2] It grew to become one of the longest-running and best-loved children’s literacy series on PBS.
[H2] The program reached more than two million viewers each week and for many years was the most watched PBS program in elementary school classrooms across the country. Over its 26-year run, Reading Rainbow received considerable international acclaim, garnering more than 250 awards, including a Peabody Award, 26 Emmy Awards – including 10 for Outstanding Children’s Series – a Teachers’ Choice Award, and 9 Parents’ Choice Awards.

[H2] Reading Rainbow was partially supported by a “Ready to Learn” grant from the U.S. Department of Education. As a result, a series of goals were recognized as vehicles for content development around four major themes: to motivate kids in grades K-3 to become avid readers; help all kids succeed as readers; encourage a strong home literacy environment; and enrich classroom literacy environments. These objectives made up the core of Reading Rainbow’s success.
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[H1] Reading Rainbow timeline:
Launched in 1983, it was the most-watched PBS program in the classroom featuring a library of over 150 programs.As of 2005:Reading Rainbow was carried on 95% of the Public Television Stations, serving 85% of the Designated Market Area (DMA).Based on carriage reports, an average of 670,000 individuals per week watched Reading Rainbow. However, these numbers don’t include the approximately 10 million students who watched Reading Rainbow weekly in school...via broadcast, VHS, DVD and video streaming.When production ended in 2006, over 2.1 million children, teachers and parents were tuning in to Reading Rainbow.Production ended in 2006.August 2009 Reading Rainbow came to the end of its broadcast run.November 2018, Reading Rainbow announced that Research and Development began on a new series thanks to a $200,000 grant from The John R. Oishei Foundation.Reading Rainbow announces the first of several new chapters with “Reading Rainbow Live,” which uses the interactive virtual platform Looped and invites viewers into the screen to interact with each other and the event’s hosts.  Learn more at readingrainbowlive.com.
[H1] Bragging Points
Reading Rainbow was the most-watched PBS program in the classroom featuring a library of over 150 programs.In the 2004 “PBS Study of Video and Television Use Among K-12 Teachers,” Reading Rainbow was the number one most-watched PBS program in classrooms nationwide.Over 500,000+ copies of Reading Rainbow episodes have been sold since 1995.During its broadcast run, more than 40,000 children K-3rd grade entered the Reading Rainbow Young Writers & Illustrators Contest each year.PBSKIDS.org/readingrainbow (primary audience is children, secondary audience is parents) received an average 1,433,626 page views/month. readingrainbow.org (primary audience is educators) received an average of 90,000 visitors/month who downloaded over 20,000 PDF files.Reading Rainbow has earned more than 250 awards, including a Peabody, nine Parents’ Choice awards, and 25 Emmys, nine of which were for Outstanding Children’s Series.Educators continue to use the series in their classrooms, and the series is currently available for streaming through Amazon Prime Video.
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KidzukoMoo Hoo  | Full EpisodeMychal The Librarian explores the many ways we can understand and express our emotions in this heartfelt new episode of Reading Rainbow! Actor Adam Devine reads aloud “Moo-Hoo” by Audrey Perrott, a story about embracing your feelings, being true to yourself, and finding friends who like you just the way you are. Along the way, dancers Rylee Arnold and Ezra Sosa from Dancing With The Stars visit a rage room to release their emotions through art, while we learn how to make our own homemade sensory bottles to help us focus and feel calm. Psychologist and professor Dr. Raquel Martin also joins to explain why we feel big emotions and how we can manage them in healthy ways. KidzukoMore Than Peach | Full EpisodeGrab your crayons and your imagination because we’re reading More Than Peach, the inspiring story by Bellen Woodard, who at 9 years old showed us that beauty comes in every shade! The story is read aloud by actress Gabrielle Union, reminding us we’re all more than peach. Then we catch up with Bellen again, now a 14-year-old CEO changing the world one crayon at a time! Plus, activist Blair Imani shows us how to stand up for the causes we care about, and we get crafty making our own homemade postcards.  KidzukoTiny Troubles: Nelli's Purpose | Full EpisodeMychal The Librarian shares the many ways someone can find their purpose, while Chrissy Teigen and John Legend read a story about two best friends on a journey to find theirs. Along the way, we meet people fulfilling their unique purposes in the real world and build buzzing bee buffets as we learn all about a bee’s special role in nature. KidzukoNo Cats In The Library  | Full EpisodeMychal The Librarian builds tiny libraries, while Actress Jamie Chung reads a story about a cat who loves being read to at the library, and Actor Ebon Moss-Bachrach shows how you can read to cats at your local animal shelter.