My youngest son recently discovered the magic that is Reading Rainbow, and we’ve been watching the show daily. With every book featured, my son says, “We need to get that from the library!” Then I go running for a pen and paper so I can jot down titles and authors before they’re off the screen.
For that reason, I decided to start creating Reading Rainbow book guides for each episode. I wanted to make it easy for parents, teachers, and kids to find the books they see featured on the show. Whether you’re remembering a book from your youth or looking for a requested book for your child, I hope you’ll find these helpful.
You’ll also want to check out the new Reading Rainbow app. It’s a great way to use your child’s screen time to encourage a love of books. We love it!
Reading Rainbow: Season 1, Episode 3 – Bea and Mr. Jones
Bea and Mr. Jones by Amy Schwartz – Bea is tired of kindergarten, and her dad Mr. Jones is tired of going to the office. So they decide to switch places!
Max by Rachel Isadora – Max loves baseball, but when he gets pulled into a ballet class one morning, he finds that he also loves to dance!
There’s a Nightmare in My Closet by Mercer Mayer – A little boy is scared of the nightmares that live in his closet at bedtime. When he faces his fears head on, he realizes that things aren’t as scary as they seem.
The Ugly Duckling by Lorinda Bryan Cauley – A little duckling is called ugly by his peers, but no one realizes his true beauty.
Daydreamers by Tom Feelings – This beautifully illustrated book shares the hopes and dreams of African-American girls and boys.
Like the Reading Rainbow theme song says, take a look! It’s in a book! For more Reading Rainbow episode guides, be sure to follow our Reading Rainbow Pinterest board.
Note: The episodes of Reading Rainbow featured on Netflix and Amazon Prime are collections, and are not the chronological seasons. The first episode you get on these services will not be Season 1, Episode 1.
