Launching Young Readers is a series of half-hour television programs that look at different reading strategies to help young children learn to read. The programs also feature practical advice for parents,and interweaves the personal stories of children, families, and teachers.

Filmed in schools, childcare centers, libraries, research centers, and homes around the country, each program also includes a profile of a prominent children's book author. The programs are hosted by celebrities Fred Rogers, Annette Bening, Deborah Norville, Vivica A. Fox, Frank McCourt, Al Roker, Rita Moreno, Henry Winkler, Molly Ringwald and Reba McEntire.

The individual titles are:

• Roots of Reading
• Sounds and Symbols
• Fluent Reading
• Writing and Spelling
• Reading for Meaning
• Becoming Bilingual
• Empowering Parents
• Reading and the Brain
• A Chance to Read
• Toddling Toward Reading
• Reading Rocks!

The programs are available as a DVD set (the first 5 shows combined on to 1 DVD, plus 6 separate DVDs for Reading Rocks! and the five latest episodes). A viewers' guide and a family guide are included.


Available in DVD format.

Running time: 286 minutes