Cover to Cover (1965 TV program) facts for kids

Cover to Cover was an educational television show. It was broadcast on public TV stations in the United States and Canada. The show ran for many years, from the 1960s to the 1990s.

The host was John Robbins. He would introduce young viewers to one or two books. As a part of the book was read aloud, Robbins would draw scenes from the story. After the reading, he would encourage viewers to find the book. He wanted them to read the rest of the story on their own. The program was also known by other names, but it always followed the same basic idea.

How the Show Worked

At the start of each show, John Robbins would introduce a book. Robbins was a kind person and a former elementary school teacher. The books were usually for kids aged nine to twelve. This is like grades 4, 5, and 6 in the United States.

Robbins or another narrator would read an exciting part from the book. While they read, the camera would show Robbins drawing. He used colored pencils to create a picture from the story. As he finished the drawing, the reading would often end at a thrilling moment. This is called a cliffhanger. Robbins would then tell viewers to find the book at a library. He wanted them to read the rest of the story to find out what happened.

Some shows focused on just one book. Others featured two books and two shorter drawings. Millions of schoolchildren learned about great books through Robbins' work. They also learned about art and illustration. Many of the books featured on the show had won the Newbery Medal. This is a very important award for children's books.

Some of the books shown over the years included:

• Little House in the Big Woods
• Call It Courage
• Misty of Chincoteague
• Caddie Woodlawn
• A Bear Called Paddington
• The Witch of Blackbird Pond
• Island of the Blue Dolphins
• The Cricket in Times Square
• A Wrinkle in Time
• The Mouse and the Motorcycle
• A Wizard of Earthsea
• Sounder
• The Toothpaste Millionaire
• The Dark is Rising
• Bridge to Terabithia
• Tuck Everlasting

Other narrators on the show included Paul Lally and Jane Symons.

Making the Show

The first version of Cover to Cover started in 1965. It was a local show in Washington, D.C., where John Robbins lived. Two years later, in 1967, a group in Bloomington, Indiana, decided to make the show for the whole country. Ray Gladfelter was the producer for this and later series.

In 1973, Gladfelter's company, "Instructional Television Cooperative" (ITVC), took over production. This is when the first color episodes were filmed. Later shows were produced by Gladfelter's company, which changed its name to "Children's Television International" (CTI) in 1979.

Even though the show's format stayed the same, its title often changed. It was known as The Book Bird, Storybound, and Readit. Later shows used names similar to the original. These included Books from Cover to Cover, More Books from Cover to Cover, and Read on: Cover to Cover. The very last series was made in 1996.

All these programs were made with the help of the Greater Washington Educational Television Association, or WETA. They were shown on public television stations across the United States and Canada. For many years, they were a regular part of children's programming on PBS.