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Reading Rainbow
Pete Seeger Reads 'Abiyoyo' on Reading Rainbow
Pete Seeger joins host LeVar Burton to read (and sing) the classic African folktale 'Abiyoyo' on Reading Rainbow. In this complete Reading Rainbow segment from 1986, legendary American folk singer Pete Seeger sings and tells us the story of a fearsome giant named Abiyoyo. Watch as a father and son use music and magic to battle a mighty giant.
Reading Rainbow
Fairytales - Classic Reading Rainbow
In this Classic Reading Rainbow segment, LeVar Burton heads to a Renaissance Faire and learns about the entire process of making garments in days of old, from sheering, to spinning, to weaving, to dyeing.
Reading Rainbow | The Tin Forest | Remembering 9/11
Reading Rainbow
The Tin Forest
Deeply affected by the events of September 11, LeVar spends the day with the students.
Two stories, one fictional and one real-life, demonstrate the healing power of the human spirit. In Helen Ward's book The Tin Forest, a sad old man decides to change things and gradually transforms his surroundings from gloomy and lonely to lush and full. Jeff Bridges reads the story, and LeVar relates the book's theme to what happened in downtown Manhattan following the 9/11 attacks.
LeVar then visits P.S. 234, a New York elementary school just blocks from Ground Zero, and talks to the students about how they have dealt with the tremendous upheaval in their lives since the September 11 attack. Together, they make a music video expressing their message of hope and gratitude. Twenty years later, these lessons are as important and powerful as ever.
This episode of Reading Rainbow originally aired on PBS September 3, 2002.
Activities and Educational Resources
This episode of Reading Rainbow is poignant as we reflect on the attacks of 9/11 twenty years later. The messages of hope and gratitude are especially relevant for today’s youth, many of whom have experienced trauma and learning disruption due to the pandemic.
Below are several activities educational resources you and your child or class can do together after watching this episode.