Reading Rainbow, BBC Children, PBSKids, Sprout

Reading Rainbow plotting a return? In a tweet last week actor LaVar Burton, the host of the series for its full 23-year run, said, "You heard it here first ... Reading Rainbow 2.0 is in th[e] works! Stay tuned for more info.

But, you don't have to ...", per Huffington Post. Reading Rainbow, which both educated kids about reading, spotlighted books, provided kid reviews and encouraged kids to read for (dare I say) fun, ran on PBS 1983- 2006. For lots of folks, even those that don't recall the series clearly, the theme song remains in their heads ...

Butterfly in the sky
I can go twice as high
Take a look
It's in a book
A Reading Rainbow


Sprout, the 24/7 multi-platform preschool service, and Decode Enterprises, the distribution arm of DHX Media, announce the exclusive US debut of dirtgirlworld, a green living series for preschoolers that aims to get kids up, outside, active and to "go get grubby" with the dirtgirl and her equally eco-interested friends.

Sprout's Dig Into Earth Day with dirtgirlworld marathon will feature several episodes of the series and air on Sprout on TV from 12p-3p on Earth Day, Thursday, April 22. Following its debut, dirtgirlworld will air on Sprout daily at 4:50p.

Games, crafts and environment friendly tips for parents of preschoolers will be available on SproutOnline.com ( www.sproutonline.com ). Created by writer/producer Cate McQuillen and composer/writer Hewey Eustace in northern New South Wales, Australia, the music-centric dirtgirlworld series features a mix of live-action and animation with photomontage and illustration. dirtgirlworld also airs on CBeebies (UK), CBC (Canada) and ABC (Australia).


PBS Kids will host its annual Share the Earth Day, featuring eco/science/outdoor-themed episodes of 15 series, on Earth Day, Thursday, April 22, 2010 (check local listings).

The goal of the programming event, which includes episodes of Curious George, Sesame Street and Super Why!, The Electric Company and Cyberchase, is to encourage kids to learn about the earth and explore earth sciences on a daily basis.

On the digital front, PBSKidsGo.org/video ( www.pbskidsgo.org/video ) will feature the online premiere of WordGirl's Earth Day Girl episode, as well as a themed channel of Earth Day episodes. From this week, PBSKidsGo.org will launch new content on EekoWorld, an interactive website that introduces kids to the basics of ecosystems, conservation and pollution, and on April 5th, PBSKidsSGo.org/designsquad/contest will feature the launch of the 2010 Trash to Treasure competition which challenges kids to recycle, reuse and reengineer everyday items into new inventions.

PBSKids.org ( www.pbskids.org ) will offer 20+ environment and nature games, as well as an Earth Day specific playlist at PBSKIDS.org/video. Additionally, PBSParents.org
( www.pbsparents.org ) will showcase eco friendly crafts and kid party ideas, and host an as the expert Q&A with Kimberly Brenneman, education advisor on Sid The Science Kid. PBSTeachers.org ( www.pbsteachers.org ) will host a webinar on April 5, titled Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day.

BBC Children's new Director, Joe Godwin, unveils the new CBeebies spring/fall 2010 programming line up. Included in the new lineup are:

Zingzilla - a music-based series developed and produced in-house by CBeebies Productions;

Mighty Mites a new series hosted by Sarah-Jane Honeywell, which encourages kids to get up and get moving in various activities, each episode two kids go on an adventure to try an activity for the first time;

Mister Maker Comes To Town Mister Maker returns with a new series as he takes his arts and crafts on the road to get kids involved in art projects at home; Let's Celebrate celebrates the different religious and cultural festivals around the UK and meeting kids and families as the prepare for the celebrations;

The Octonauts debuting later this year the series features a group of underwater adventure heroes as they set out to rescue sea animals and explore underwater worlds, the series is based on the books by Meomi;

Same Smile host Nisha Anil bicycles across the UK with her three cuddly pandas to visit kids and discover our similarities and differences, the series is a collaboration with BBC teams from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and London;

Everything's Rosie the CG animated series about Rosie, "a 21st century ragdoll" that lives in a playhouse and sets out on adventures with her pals during which they learn about life and friendship;

Timmy Time Timmy and his pals head out on a new set of barnyard exploits;

Tinga Tinga Tales the series returns with new stories about animals based on African folk tales and the Tingatinga art of Tanzania.