“Reading Rainbow” was created to combat summer reading slumps

LeVar Burton and the show’s appeal

• Many recall Reading Rainbow as exceptionally well done: Burton’s calm, respectful, “Fred Rogers–like” way of speaking to children is praised as making learning feel safe, fun, and “cool.”
• Several note his broader screen charisma (including Star Trek: TNG) and think that kind of warm, personal presence is missing from much modern kids’ media.
• Others highlight the format: book read‑alouds plus real‑world field trips, like proto‑audiobooks with low-key visuals.

Divergent reactions to the show

• Some avid childhood readers found the pacing slow, corny, or “propaganda‑ish,” feeling it targeted kids who didn’t already like reading.
• A few say they always turned it off, enjoyed only the theme song, or preferred shows like Wishbone that adapted “bigger” stories.
• Defenders respond that it was explicitly aimed at reluctant or struggling readers, not book‑obsessed kids.

PBS and 80s/90s educational TV ecosystem

• Commenters reminisce about a broader golden age of PBS: Mister Rogers, Ghostwriter, Wishbone, Carmen Sandiego, Magic School Bus, etc.
• There’s side debate over how intentionally these shows pushed geography, math, or social messages, and whether that’s “overt promotion” or just good curriculum design.

Reading incentives and gamified programs

• Users recall Pizza Hut’s Book It!, Accelerated Reader, local library summer programs, and Norway’s Sommerles as powerful motivators.
• Some see “read X, get pizza/toy” as manipulative and worry about tying food or trinkets to achievement; others say cheap prizes strongly motivate kids and can build lasting reading habits.
• Several describe how these systems were gamed (choosing ultra‑short books, sharing quiz answers), but still credit them with more reading overall.

Libraries and access

• A long subthread compares U.S. and Polish public library density, with many stressing that qualitative access (walkability, services, interlibrary loan, free space, internet) matters more than raw counts.
• People share nostalgic stories of small-town libraries, surprise reads, and the role of libraries as rare free public spaces.

Broader issues: propaganda, schooling, funding

• Some argue children’s shows (including Reading Rainbow and Mister Rogers) inevitably carry value judgments and can feel like “indoctrination”; others counter that they mainly ease anxiety and support diverse starting points.
• There’s debate on whether summer vacation hurts literacy and should be redistributed through the year, versus its value for family time and non-school learning.
• Later comments broaden into concern over cuts to PBS/CPB, attempts to weaken agencies like NOAA over climate reporting, and the long-term loss of publicly funded educational programs.