What was the PBS show where while the story was read, someone drew the illustrations on screen?

Question

The illustrations were like a big painting with crayon-like oil sticks on screen. He'd draw about 4 for each story. I specifically remember a Rumpelstiltskin episode very
vividly, but can't remember the name of the show. I'm pretty sure it wasn't Reading Rainbow but something different. If anyone can help, much appeciated. I can't find it anywhere!

The illustrations were like a big painting with crayon-like oil sticks on screen. He'd draw about 4 for each story. I specifically remember a Rumpelstiltskin episode very vividly, but can't remember the name of the show. I'm pretty sure it wasn't Reading Rainbow but something different. If anyone can help, much appeciated. I can't find it anywhere!

(Added later: nope, it wasn't Bill Cosby. I don't remember seeing anyone's face specifically. Just his drawings. He'd also do voices for all the characters.)

Answer 1

You described a long-running ITV (instructional television) series called "Cover to Cover with John Robbins". There have been several series since at 1975.

The easiest place to look is your local PBS station. They should be running it as part of their classroom TV block.

[A tip:go directly to your local PBS station and give an engineer $25 and a pack of bank VHS tapes and ask if he can dub a copy of the series for you.]

Answer 2

are you talking about the show will Bill Cosby and the pen with a face on it? it would make some kinda noise when he wrote.

I liked that show.