John Robbins

John Nelson Robbins, Jr. (1938–2016) was an illustrator and educator, who hosted the public television program Cover to Cover, aired in the United States and Canada from the 1960s to the 1990s.

Background Robbins was born at Greensboro, North Carolina on January 18, 1938, and studied art and music at East Carolina University. During summer breaks, he played the piano in various jazz ensembles. In 1959, he took a job as a fifth-grade teacher at Forestville Elementary School in Prince George's County, Maryland.

Collaboration with WETA In 1962, Robbins was hired by the Greater Washington Educational Television Association (WETA), with the title of "Studio Teacher of Language Arts", in order to develop educational programming for elementary school students. Robbins collaborated with WETA for twenty-six years.

In a 1978 interview, Robbins said, "I also do a lot of traveling. I go and spend several weeks in one state, speaking to librarians, kids, and college groups." His hobbies included birdwatching, playing the piano, sailing, and water skiing.

Robbins died on December 11, 2016, following an extended illness.