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The Worst Episodes of Reading Rainbow

Every episode of Reading Rainbow ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Reading Rainbow!

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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

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    Reading Rainbow Season 1 Episode 3 - Bea and Mr. Jones
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S1:E3

    LeVar is already worn out after working on several scenes all day long on the production of the series. He feels he needs to take on another identity, segueing into introducing the featured book, Bea and Mr. Jones. Madeline Kahn reads the book about a kindergarten student and her father who get so bored with their jobs that they decide to experiment by switching places for the day.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Reading Rainbow Season 1 Episode 5 - Louis the Fish
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S1:E5

    Louis the Fish

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Reading Rainbow Season 1 Episode 7 - Liang and the Magic Paintbrush
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S1:E7

    Liang and the Magic Paintbrush

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Reading Rainbow Season 1 Episode 8 - Gila Monsters Meet You at the Airport
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S1:E8

    In the featured book, a young boy and his family move from New York City to the Southwest and he has many misconceptions about what his new home is like.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Reading Rainbow Season 1 Episode 9 - Three Days on a River in a Red Canoe
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S1:E9

    Three Days on a River in a Red Canoe

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Reading Rainbow Season 1 Episode 10 - The Gift of the Sacred Dog
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S1:E10

    The first of many programs favoring Native Americans. In this instance, a Midwestern legend suggests how horses arrived to the tribe. Later in this episode is the song "Ancient Places, Sacred Lands" which lists several words originating from various locations of the United States and the tribal meaning of their names.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. Reading Rainbow Season 1 Episode 11 - Gregory, the Terrible Eater
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S1:E11

    Today's subject is goats and what they eat.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Reading Rainbow Season 1 Episode 12 - Three by the Sea
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S1:E12

    Three by the Sea

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Reading Rainbow Season 1 Episode 13 - Arthur's Eyes
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S1:E13

    LaVar explores seeing and our other senses, as Bill Cosby tells the story of how the young aardvark, Arthur Read acquired his pair of glasses.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Reading Rainbow Season 1 Episode 14 - The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S1:E14

    The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Reading Rainbow Season 1 Episode 15 - Ty's One Man Band
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S1:E15

    LeVar is ready to find music everywhere, and he does. This show includes the animation Onomatopoeia. Lou Rawls reads the story of Ty's One-Man Band, about a man who teaches a boy how to make music using household items.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Reading Rainbow Season 2 Episode 1 - Hot-Air Henry
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S2:E1

    LeVar goes to South Carolina to ride a hot-air balloon. In another study of how air travel has advanced, schoolchildren visit the Space Camp for Aspiring Young Astronauts. William Windom reads the story of Hot-Air Henry, the misadventures of a cat who sneaks on board his family's hot air balloon and how he gets back down again.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Reading Rainbow Season 2 Episode 2 - Simon's Book
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S2:E2

    Simon's Book

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Reading Rainbow Season 2 Episode 3 - Ox-Cart Man
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S2:E3

    Ox-Cart Man

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Reading Rainbow Season 2 Episode 4 - Mystery on the Docks
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S2:E4

    Mystery on the Docks

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Reading Rainbow Season 2 Episode 5 - A Chair for My Mother
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S2:E5

    A Chair for My Mother

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Reading Rainbow Season 3 Episode 1 - Paul Bunyan
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S3:E1

    Lavar visits a lumberjack camp in the forest. Today's featured book is based on the legend of Paul Bunyan, the giant woodsman.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Reading Rainbow Season 3 Episode 2 - The Patchwork Quilt
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S3:E2

    The Patchwork Quilt

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Reading Rainbow Season 3 Episode 3 - Hill of Fire
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S3:E3

    Hill of Fire

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Reading Rainbow Season 3 Episode 4 - The Tortoise and the Hare
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S3:E4

    LeVar has entered a bicycle race. He's in competition not just with the other bikers, but with himself as well. This program also includes a lengthy piece on a karate class. Comedienne Gilda Radner reads the Aesop's tale of "The Tortoise and the Hare," about an arrogant rabbit that's over confident that he can beat a determined turtle in a foot race.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Reading Rainbow Season 3 Episode 5 - Perfect the Pig
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S3:E5

    LeVar visits a pig farm in Hawaii to find out why pigs are so popular. He also interviews Kermit the Frog to ask him about his famous girlfriend, Miss Piggy.James Coco reads the story of Perfect the Pig, about a little runt pig who makes a wish to have wings in order to be special, and how he found a special person to be his friend and companion.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Reading Rainbow Season 4 Episode 1 - Animal Cafe
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S4:E1

    LeVar goes to a 24-hour diner to look into night jobs, and profiles people who have occupations in the evening and early morning hours, like radio DJ's, bakers, cab drivers, and police officers. In a separate story, a man ventures into a cave to see bats and other nocturnal animals. Martin Short narrates the story of "Animal Cafe," about a cat and dog who operate a third shift restaurant for all the animals in their neighborhood while keeping it a secret from their human owner.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Reading Rainbow Season 4 Episode 2 - Alistair in Outer Space
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S4:E2

    Alistair is on his way to return library books when he is captured in a spaceship by two creatures called Goots. Also includes Library of Congress, Maps and Globes, Conan the Librarian, Book Care and Repair and book reviews for Check it Out! The Book about Libraries, Commander Toad and Maps and Toads.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Reading Rainbow Season 4 Episode 4 - Watch the Stars Come Out
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S4:E4

    LeVar visits a pig farm in Hawaii to find out why pigs are so popular. He also interviews Kermit the Frog to ask him about his famous girlfriend, Miss Piggy.James Coco reads the story of Perfect the Pig, about a little runt pig who makes a wish to have wings in order to be special, and how he found a special person to be his friend and companion.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Reading Rainbow Season 4 Episode 5 - Mama Don't Allow
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S4:E5

    When Miles gets a saxophone for his birthday, neither his parents nor his neighborhood can stand the racket! No one guesses what's in store for them, when Miles and his Swamp Band receive and invitation to play at the Alligator Ball. Also includes Alligator Farm, Meet Fred Newman, Visit the Creole Queen, and The Saxophone Player and book reviews for Miranda, Apt. 3 and Alligator Shoes.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Bea and Mr. Jones" is the worst rated episode of "Reading Rainbow". It scored /10 based on 0 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 6/8/1983. This episode scored 0.0 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Louis the Fish".