Reading Rainbow, the classic children’s television show that encouraged kids to read and offered up recommendations, is making a welcome comeback in the form of an iPad app. From the looks of it, it’s going to be the last word on storybooks apps.
The Reading Rainbow app will curate hundreds of children’s books, which are grouped into different themed islands for kids to explore. Each book will feature celebrity narration, animation, and interactive activities. Some books will even be narrated by the legend LeVar Burton himself.
The app is keeping the spirit of the show alive by including video field trips, which connect the reading material to the real world. Those video field trips will use a combination of new footage and old clips from the television show. Reward stickers can be earned through reading more and more books.
At launch, the app will feature 150 books and 16 video field trips. New books, field trips, and themes will be introduced regularly after launch. The Book Report segment on the show is promised to be in the works, as well.
The Reading Rainbow app is available now for free on the iTunes App Store, and is subscription based. Currently, subscriptions are $9.99 per month or $29.99 for six months. The app works like a library – kids can “check out” up to five books at one time, returning each when they’re done through a virtual slot – you have to appreciate the nod to the classic library.
