Best tv shows like Reading Rainbow
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
Reading Rainbow was an American children's television series that aired on PBS from June 6, 1983, until November 10, 2006, that encouraged reading by children. The public television series garnered over 200 broadcast awards, including a Peabody Award and 26 Emmy Awards, 11 of which were in the "Outstanding Children's Series" category. The series was created under the leadership of Cecily Truett Lancit and Larry Lancit, at Lancit Media Productions in New York. The concept of a reading series for children originated with Twila Liggett, Ph.D., and Paul Schupbach, of the Great Plains National Instructional Television Library at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln; and Tony Buttino, of WNED-TV Buffalo, New York. The original team included Lynne Brenner Ganek, Ellen Schecter, and host LeVar Burton. Each episode centered on a theme from a book, or other children's literature, which was explored through a number of segments or stories. The show also recommended books for kids to look for when they went to the library. It is the third-longest running children's series in PBS history, after Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and Sesame Street. It was also one of the first PBS shows to be broadcast in stereo.
IMDB Rating: 8.4
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Family
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: educational
Best tv shows and movies like Reading Rainbow (1983):
Similar in 75%
My First Barbie: Happy DreamDay (2023)
Plot Summary:
Sing along with Barbie, Barbie, Teresa, and Renee in this musical adventure as they plan the biggest surprise birthday party ever for Barbie’s sister, Chelsea.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 33
Genere: Family
Country: USA
Duration:
Plot tags:
Similar in 82%
Crescent Gang (2023)
Plot Summary:
When five kids learn they are leaving the only home they've known the new kid forms a hopeless plan. With their friendship hanging in the balance, a group of kids embarks on a high-stakes scavenger hunt in Las Vegas. The kids endure a quirky adventure until the story comes full circle.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 84
Genere: Family
Country: USA
Duration: 82 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 77%
Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny Days (2009)
Plot Summary:
A look back at 40 years of Seasame Street.
IMDB Rating: 9.2
IMDB Votes: 15
Genere: Family
Country: USA
Duration: 330 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 89%
Zoom (1972)
Plot Summary:
Zoom is an American educational television show, created almost entirely by children, which aired on PBS originally from January 3, 1972 to March 24, 1978. This was produced by WGBH-TV in Boston.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 353
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family, Music
Country: USA
Duration:
Plot tags: weird
Similar in 86%
This Is Emily Yeung (2006)
Plot Summary:
This is Emily Yeung is the follow-up to the award winning hit series, This is Daniel Cook. In this new series, six-year-old Emily takes on the world with her own unique perspective. She's joined on her adventures by everyone from snake handlers to professional basketball players; from stuffed animal makers to upside down pineapple cake bakers. Whoever her guest may be, inquisitive Emily is always up for a new experience or challenge.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 60
Genere: Family
Country: Canada
Duration: 6 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 85%
The Upside Down Show (2006)
Plot Summary:
The Upside Down Show, was a Logie Award winning show featuring Shane Dundas and David Collins that airs on Noggin, Nick Jr. Australia and ABC Australia. On the show they play brothers who live together in a strange house with a variety of unusual rooms. The show premiered on Nick Jr. Australia in August 2006 and on Noggin US on 16 October 2006, with 13 episodes developed by the highly acclaimed Sesame Workshop. The Sesame Workshop logo used on this show can only be seen on Noggin. Initial views of The Upside Down Show were disappointing, as it failed to match the views of Play With Me Sesame and Caillou during the 2006-2007 season. The show's début was criticized as being similar to Ernie and Bert. On 27 December 2006, in a New York Post interview, Shane Dundas expressed doubts about the return of the show for a second season. On 1 June 2007, the Umbilical Brothers announced on their website that Nickelodeon/Noggin USA were not interested in a third season of The Upside Down Show, despite its success. In 2007, the show won the Creative Craft Daytime Emmy Award for Main Title Design and a Parents' Choice Award Silver Honor for Television.
IMDB Rating: 8.7
IMDB Votes: 826
Genere: Comedy, Family
Country: Australia, USA
Duration: 24 min
Plot tags: educational
Similar in 81%
The Polos (2018)
Plot Summary:
The Bo Bolu Expedition Team is composed of six children who are brave to explore and love science. They go to the sky to the universe, dive to the bottom of the sea, and shuttle between deserts and rainforests. Bo Bolu's footsteps have crossed the entire planet and happened. A thrilling and interesting story! The six friends not only share knowledge from the real world, but also break the routine and experience some things that seem incredible in reality!.
IMDB Rating:
IMDB Votes:
Genere: Family
Country: Canada
Duration:
Plot tags:
Similar in 82%
Kiri and Lou (2019)
Plot Summary:
"Kiri and Lou" follows the adventures of Kiri, a feisty little dinosaur with overpowering emotions and Lou, a gentle but thoughtful creature. Kiri and Lou live in a forest of cutout paper and other creatures made of clay. They are joined by motherly Pania, sensitive Sorry, who is an extremely fast little animal who cares about everyone, and Dalvanius. Kiri and Lou invite children to learn about empathy, kindness and the true meaning of friendship. Together, these clay creatures navigate a forest of feelings with laughter, adventures and songs.
IMDB Rating: 8.8
IMDB Votes: 197
Genere: Family
Country: New Zealand, Canada
Duration: 5 min
Plot tags: educational
Similar in 83%
Scout & The Gumboot Kids (2015)
Plot Summary:
A hybrid animated and live-action children's show about mindfulness and nature. The show features Scout, a curious mouse who leads the Gumboot Kids through a series of clues that take them outdoors to solve nature mysteries.
IMDB Rating: 8.7
IMDB Votes: 47
Genere: Family
Country: Canada
Duration:
Plot tags:
Similar in 79%
Jackanory (1965)
Plot Summary:
Jackanory is a long-running BBC children's television series that was designed to stimulate an interest in reading. The show was first transmitted on 13 December 1965, the first story being the fairy-tale Cap-o'-Rushes read by Lee Montague. Jackanory continued to be broadcast until 1996, clocking up around 3,500 episodes in its 30-year run. The final story, The House at Pooh Corner by A. A. Milne, was read by Alan Bennett and broadcast on 24 March 1996. The show returned on 27 November 2006 for two one-off stories. The show's format, which varied little over the decades, involved an actor reading from children's novels or folk tales, usually while seated in an armchair. From time to time the scene being read would be illustrated by a specially commissioned still drawing, often by Quentin Blake. Usually a single book would occupy five daily fifteen-minute episodes, from Monday to Friday. A spin off series was Jackanory Playhouse which were a series of thirty minute dramatisations. These included a dramatisation by Philip Glassborow of the comical A. A. Milne story "The Princess Who Couldn't Laugh".
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 409
Genere: Family, Fantasy
Country: UK
Duration: 15 min
Plot tags: anthology, anime, children's story
Similar in 83%
Katie Morag (2013)
Plot Summary:
Based on the much-loved series of books by Mairi Hedderwick, Katie Morag is a small red-headed girl who lives with her family on the remote and beautiful fictional Scottish island of Struay. Although she lives in a fairly unique setting, her adventures are full of experiences and feelings that all children can recognize and identify with. Her stories are full of jealousy, bravery and rivalry – surrounded by an annoying little brother, busy shopkeeper parents, a perfectly perfect best friend and a couple of grandmothers who between them know everything about everything. The stories celebrate the intrinsic sense of community, the preciousness of the environment and the universal tensions and joys of family life. Katie Morag is a feisty character who has been known to get herself into scrapes but who generally emerges from them (usually with some assistance from one or other of her Grandmothers) in a funny and endearing way.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 78
Genere: Family
Country: UK
Duration: 15 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 83%
Woolly and Tig (2012)
Plot Summary:
Woolly and Tig is a British series of 5-minute live action comedies about a girl named Tig and her toy spider Woolly. The episodes focus on the feelings that children may have when faced with new experiences. Woolly talks Tig through how she is feeling and possible solutions.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 59
Genere: Family
Country: UK
Duration:
Plot tags: educational, thought provoking, captivating, entertaining, semi serious
Similar in 78%
HOW (2020)
Plot Summary:
A revival of the 1960s and 1990s TV series where children can learn the answer to anything beginning with "how". New presenters Sam, Vick and Frankie demonstrate, and are set tasks by "Head of HOW", original series presenter Fred Dinenage.
IMDB Rating:
IMDB Votes:
Genere: Family
Country: UK
Duration: 24 min
Plot tags: educational
Similar in 85%
LazyTown Extra (2008)
Plot Summary:
This show features the LazyTown characters in short, humourous sketches whilst Ziggy visits the UK to encourage healthy eating and getting active.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 215
Genere: Family
Country: Iceland
Duration:
Plot tags: educational
Similar in 86%
Sesame Street Mexico (1972)
Plot Summary:
Plaza Sésamo is an educational children's television series for preschoolers, which is the Spanish-language adaptation for Mexico and Latin America of Sesame Street. Both programs are pioneers of the contemporary educational television standard, combining both education and entertainment. The program was first broadcast in 1972. Originally co-produced by the Children´s Television Workshop, Xerox and Televicentro. Manolo Barbachano then with Televisión Independiente de México brought the idea of making a Spanish speaking version to John Page who became the Executive Producer and produced the series from the Taller de Televisión Infantil in Mexico City. It was written by Juan Manuel Torres, Ana María Palos, Gerardo de la Torre and Grillo MacGregor. Studio producer was Fernando Morett and documentaries were done by Roberto Lomelí. The editor was Gabriel Carbajal and Content Supervision was the responsibility of Zita Chao and later on by Patricia Arriaga Jordán. The second season was produced by Children's Television Workshop and Televicentro. Later it was produced mainly in Mexico by CTW and Mexican television network Televisa. it aired in america of the united states.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 98
Genere: Family
Country: Mexico
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: educational, feel good, humorous, semi serious
Similar in 80%
The Puzzle Place (1994)
Plot Summary:
The Puzzle Place is an American children's television series produced by KCET in Los Angeles, California and Lancit Media in New York City, New York. It premiered on the Public Broadcasting Service on January 16, 1995, and ran for about four years, airing its final episode on December 4, 1998. Reruns were continued until March 31, 2000. The show followed a multi-ethnic group of kids from different parts of the United States who hung out at "the Puzzle Place", which is a teen hangout themed around jigsaw puzzle pieces. In each episode the characters were confronted with an everyday conflict usually encountered in childhood and even early teenagerdom, such as making moral decisions, sharing, racism, sexism, etc.
IMDB Rating: 8.2
IMDB Votes: 277
Genere: Family
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: educational
Similar in 76%
Between the Lions (1999)
Plot Summary:
Between the Lions is a PBS Kids puppet television series designed to promote reading. The show is a co-production between WGBH in Boston and Sirius Thinking, Ltd., in New York City, in association with Mississippi Public Broadcasting, in Mississippi. The show has won seven Daytime Emmy awards between 2001 and 2007. The target audience is children 4 to 7 years old. It has the same puppet style as Sesame Street and several season 2 episodes, notably in Dance in Smarty Pants, had a few characters from Sesame Street guest appearing. Between The Lions started its 10th and final season on September 20, 2010. The Show Ended in November, 22 2010 Along with Reading Rainbow.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: educational, clever, humorous, semi serious
Similar in 88%
Hi-5 (1999)
Plot Summary:
Hi-5, an Australian children's television program, was first shown on the Nine Network in 1999. Hi-5 is known as a children's pop music group as well as being a television show, much like peer children's entertainers The Wiggles. They also teach arts and crafts. Hi-5 is now shown in approximately 80 countries. Each year, the series has 45 episodes with nine weekly themes. In 2004, the show was marked by reduced episodes than normal, with 30 episodes in six weekly themes due to the band concentrating more on touring. In 2009 was marked the beginning of the "second generation" of Hi-5, with all of the original members having departed in 2007/2008. The series was renewed for another five years with the new cast by the Nine Network, which would have the contract expire in 2013. In March 2013, Hi-5's first movie, Some Kind of Wonderful, was released in selected Hoyts Junior cinemas around Australia and New Zealand. The movie showed the history of Hi-5's cast changes and a behind-the-scenes look at the search to find three new members, Dayen Zheng, Ainsley Melham and Mary Lascaris who would replace Fely Irvine, Tim Maddren and Casey Burgess in 2012/2013. The new Hi-5 series called Hi-5 House will be filmed in Singapore, according to executive producer Julie Grenne. Currently, they commitment of concerts in some Asian countries with Hi-5 Wonderful Tour.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 208
Genere: Family, Music
Country: Australia
Duration:
Plot tags: educational, humorous, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 81%
Animal Atlas (2004)
Plot Summary:
Animal Atlas is produced by Longneedle Entertainment, LLC, a subsidiary of Bellum Entertainment Group. Animal Atlas is a 30-minute educational wildlife show that "takes children on a tour of discovery, uncovering the secrets of how animals live and thrive. Young viewers meet animals from the familiar to the astounding, and the domesticated to the wild, including the diverse creatures of the African savanna, the finned and flippered of the big deep, and the colorful cast of the equatorial rainforest". Atlas began in 2004 for its first season in national syndication and will be going on its tenth year of national syndication during the 2013-2014 season. As of January 2013, Bellum will have produced over 230 high definition episodes of Animal Atlas and fourteen home entertainment DVD titles about animals.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 50
Genere: Family
Country: USA
Duration:
Plot tags: educational, serious, captivating, realistic
Similar in 77%
Blippi (2014)
Plot Summary:
FUN EDUCATIONAL videos for children! Kids will learn colors, learn shapes, learn numbers, learn letters, the alphabet, abc's and so much more with Blippi's nursery rhymes, educational songs, and educational videos! Blippi ties in things children love like Backhoes, Tractors, Planes, Trains, Animals, Boats, Unicorns, Construction Equipment, Firetrucks, Horses, and the list goes on! Incorporating cartoons and animation with real life footage!.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 576
Genere: Family
Country: USA
Duration: 11 min
Plot tags: educational, funny, light, feel good, humorous, captivating, entertaining, semi serious
Similar in 80%
Christmas Star (2012)
Plot Summary:
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IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 207
Genere: Family
Country: Denmark
Duration:
Plot tags:
Similar in 86%
Detention Adventure (2019)
Plot Summary:
Three nerdy friends and the school bully must get themselves thrown into detention to find the entrance to a labyrinth of trap-laden tunnels protecting the fabled hidden lab of Alexander Graham Bell.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 104
Genere: Family
Country: Canada
Duration:
Plot tags:
Similar in 75%
Topsy and Tim (2013)
Plot Summary:
Follow the activities of two children.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 198
Genere: Family
Country: UK
Duration: 11 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 86%
Jonny Briggs (1985)
Plot Summary:
Jonny Briggs is a Children's BBC television programme first broadcast in 1985. It revolves around the exploits of a young boy, the eponymous hero, his pet dog, Razzle, and his eccentric family members: Mam and Dad, older sister Rita and older brothers Albert and Humph. Another older sister is mentioned but never seen. The stories often centre on Jonny's school life, where he and his best friend Pam are constantly in battle with the dreadful twins Ginny and Josie. Previously some of the Jonny Briggs books by Joan Eadington were read on Jackanory. In the books Jonny has two more older sisters - Pat and Sandra. Cast members included Richard Holian as Jonny, Leslie Schofield, and Sue Devaney. Based on a series of popular children's books by Joan Eadington, the programme is set in Middlesbrough, and was filmed in Bradford. The theme tune "The Acrobat" composed by J A Greenwood in 1936 is considered synonymous with the series. The piece of music chosen for the programme was recorded by renowned trombonist Colin Buchanan.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 196
Genere: Family
Country: UK
Duration: 20 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 87%
Art Attack (1990)
Plot Summary:
Art Attack is a British children's television series revolving around art. The original series was one of CITV's longest running programmes, running from 1990 to 2007, and was presented throughout by Neil Buchanan. The new series launched on Disney Junior on 6 June 2011 and was presented by Jassa Ahluwalia. Each show involved Ahluwalia voicing-over footage of an artist producing three works of art, taking the viewer through the various stages of production step by step. The show's latest series is hosted by Lloyd Warbey. The new series launched on SAB TV on 10 June 2013 at 7 am IST.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Family
Country: UK
Duration:
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, realistic, semi serious, educational
Similar in 76%
Take Hart (1977)
Plot Summary:
Take Hart is a British children's television show about art, presented by Tony Hart. It took over from Vision On, and ran from 1977 until 1983. The show featured Hart and the animated Plasticine character Morph, and other characters created by David Sproxton like 'Smoulder the Moulder', which was a lump of mould which would create props by 'spraying' them out of a spray can. The only other human to appear on a regular basis was Mr Bennett, the caretaker, played by Colin Bennett. The programme won a BAFTA award for Hart in 1984. As well as demonstrating small-scale projects, Hart also created large-scale artworks on the TV studio floor, and even used beaches and other open spaces as 'canvases'. This idea was later adopted by Art Attack. A regular feature of the show was 'The Gallery', which displayed artworks sent in by young viewers. The easy-listening vibraphone music accompanying this feature - "Left Bank Two", composed by Wayne Hill - has passed into British TV musical lore. In later series, "Left Bank Two" alternated with John Williams' recording of "Cavatina", which is also well-remembered by many viewers.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 113
Genere: Family
Country: UK
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: claymation
Similar in 79%
Barney & Friends (1992)
Plot Summary:
Barney & Friends is an American children's television series aimed at children from ages 2 to 5. The series, which first aired on April 6, 1992, features the title character Barney, a purple anthropomorphic Tyrannosaurus rex who conveys educational messages through songs and small dance routines with a friendly, optimistic attitude. New episodes have not been produced since 2009; however reruns continue to air on various PBS stations.
IMDB Rating: 3.9
IMDB Votes: 8000
Genere: Family
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: spooky, humorous, semi serious, independent film, educational
Similar in 77%
This Is Daniel Cook (2004)
Plot Summary:
This is Daniel Cook is a children's television series created by J.J. Johnson and Blair Powers and produced by Toronto's marblemedia and Sinking Ship Productions in association with Treehouse TV and TVO, and is shown in Canada on Treehouse TV, TVOkids, Access, Knowledge Network, and SCN. The series also airs on the Disney Channel, Disney Japan, and on ABC2. The series is about a child named Daniel Cook who learns new things and shares his experiences and adventures with other kids. For example, he learns about taekwondo, gymnastics, and animals. He also visits a fire station, a YMCA, and more. The show was filmed in Toronto, Ontario; New Brunswick; Nova Scotia, and Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Every episode six minutes long, half-hour shows consist of five six-minute episodes. The series has been sold by Distribution360 to over eighty-five countries worldwide, and dubbed into fourteen languages. The series has also launched a six-volume book series distributed by Kids Can Press and produced by marblemedia. Five DVDs have also been released featuring episodes from the series. There is another television series that complements This is Daniel Cook, called This is Emily Yeung, which premiered on Treehouse TV in the Fall of 2006.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 126
Genere: Family
Country: Canada
Duration: 6 min
Plot tags: sentimental, explanatory, feel good, educational, semi serious
Similar in 75%
Waffles + Mochi (2021)
Plot Summary:
Curious puppet pals Waffles and Mochi travel the world exploring the wonders of food and culture while learning how to cook with fresh ingredients.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 557
Genere: Family
Country: USA
Duration:
Plot tags: educational, funny, light, feel good, humorous, captivating, entertaining, semi serious, smart, clever
Similar in 77%
Imagination Movers (2008)
Plot Summary:
Imagination Movers is a Live-action Pre-school television series that premiered on September 6, 2008 on Disney Channel. The program was originally part of the Playhouse Disney daily block intended for preschoolers. On February 14, 2011, it was moved to the Disney Junior block, serving as Playhouse Disney's replacement. The Imagination Movers TV series is based on the format and music of the New Orleans based music group Imagination Movers who both act and are co-executive-producers of the show. On May 30, 2011, it was announced that the series will end after the remaining episodes of the third season have aired, though the band itself will continue and is open to doing other projects. On November 28, 2011 the Movers ran an announcement on official Facebook page implying that they have been given the green light to air more new episodes of the show in 2012.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 874
Genere: Family
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: humorous, semi serious, funny, feel good, captivating, entertaining, realistic, nostalgic