‘Reading Rainbow’ takes kids around the world with a story and a song

Offering a colorful palate of daily storytelling and reading motivation, PBS’ Emmy-winning Reading Rainbow celebrates its 10th anniversary with new half-hour episodes, each featuring locations connected to the show’s feature book.

The books are narrated by celebrities such as Bill Cosby, Ruby Dee and Dixie Carter while the book’s illustrations are shown on-screen. After the book is read, the show includes “real-life” situations and book reviews by children.

The new shows, which begin this week, include “Sam the Sea Cow.” Host LeVar Burton travels to Sea World of Florida for an up-close look at manatees for “Sam the Sea Cow,” which is based on the book by Francine Jacobs and narrated by Jason Robards.

For the Lola Falana-narrated “Sophie and Lou”--Petra Mathers’ story of a mouse who overcomes shyness by learning to dance--Burton is joined by a troupe of hip-hop dancers who take a globe-trotting look at dance around the world.

Other features include animation, music videos, dances, songs and “kid-on-the-street” interviews.

The half-hour “Reading Rainbow” airs weekdays at 9:30 a.m. KOCE, 11:30 a.m. KCET and 5 p.m. KPBS. For ages 5-8.

MORE FAMILY SHOWS

Ghostwriter (Sunday 6-7 p.m. KCET, KPBS; starting Oct. 16, 4:30-5 p.m. KVCR) stars six hip kids, who, with the aid of the “Ghostwriter,” solve mysteries. The show is designed to aid and encourage 7- to 10-year-olds to read and write; the kids on the show can only solve the mysteries by reading and writing. For ages 7 to 10.

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ZooLife With Jack Hanna (Sunday 9-9:30 a.m. KABC) begins its new season with a look at exotic animals in Denver; Houston; Toledo, Ohio; Phoenix; San Francisco; Chicago; Detroit; Seattle; Columbus, Ohio; Los Angeles and Knoxville, Tenn., as well as Great Britain, Holland, Costa Rica, Zimbabwe, the Australian outback and mainland China. Animals profiled include young condor chicks, African rhinos, American red wolves, reptiles from South American rain forests, ring-tailed lemur, cheetah cubs, baby giraffes, pandas, puffins and marine life. The show has received the National Education Assn.’s “recommended for viewing” certification. For all ages.

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Fred is skeptical about the strangeness of his new neighbors, the Frankenstones, until he needs help rescuing Pebbles from a dangerous place in Flintstones’ New Neighbors (Sunday 11:30 a.m.-noon Disney Channel). For ages 2-8.

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Ridin’ the range, ropin’ cattle, wavin’ a six-shooter, wearin’ chaps and a 10-gallon hat ... being a cowboy has filled many a child’s fantasy. “Roger Kennedy’s Rediscovering America” presents The Real American Cowboy (Monday 5-9 p.m. the Discovery Channel), uncovering the life of real historical cowboys, their romanticized look in traveling shows such as Buffalo Bill’s and Hollywood’s further glamorization. Kennedy also looks at today’s cowboys, including a third-generation black rancher in Texas, a cowboy poet-philosopher in Montana and New Mexico’s 1991 Cattleman of the Year, who is a woman. For ages 8 and up.

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While for many people, a cat is a household pet, it was once revered as a god by the ancient Egyptians, an animal with magical powers by the Romans and a demon by the English. A Love Hate Affair segment of the “Cats” series (Wednesday 5:30-6 p.m. the Learning Channel) takes a look at the many facets of man’s other best friend. For ages 8 and up.

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The mysterious, caped crusader Zorro enters his fourth and final season Saturday (11:30 a.m.-noon and 7:30-8 p.m. Family Channel). The series, which films in Madrid, will climax in a four-part series finale later in the season. Duncan Regher plays Zorro and his scientifically minded alter ego Don Diego. Prior season episodes will continue to air Monday-Thursday 6:30 p.m. For ages 5 and up.