New book details history, impact of beloved children’s series ‘Reading Rainbow’

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A new book now available for purchase delves into the history and untold stories of the beloved children’s TV series “Reading Rainbow.”

“Creating Reading Rainbow: The Untold Story of a Beloved Children’s Series” dives into the reason the longtime PBS show was created back in 1983, its journey and its lasting impact.

The book’s co-author, Dr. Barbara Irwin, said the goal of the show all those years ago was to address a problem we still see today: the “summer loss phenomena.” She added that fans of the series will discover a new side to the show and learn about its Buffalo roots.

“When people get their hands on this book, they are going to find out some things about Reading Rainbow that nobody knows,” Irwin said. “It’s an untold story, it really is. Because the history of the show is here in Buffalo.”

The book is available to order online or as an e-book and can be purchased here.

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Adam Gorski is a Buffalo native who joined the WIVB News 4 team in 2022. You can find more of his work here.

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