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It’s been 19 years since one of my favorite childhood TV shows, Reading Rainbow, went off air. For anyone who is unfamiliar or needs a refresher, Reading Rainbow began in 1983 and aired on PBS. Its goal was to encourage kids to read. It featured a different book each week and told its story through interactive, on-location segments. RR went off air in November 2006, after helping at least three generations of kids find their love of reading. RR also had one of the best theme songs ever.
There have been several attempts to bring the series back over the years – LeVar Burton came close in 2016 – but the closest we’ve gotten to an official reboot was an interactive app that came out in 2012. Well, the wait is over. Reading Rainbow is officially back! It will be hosted by Mychal Threets (aka TikTok’s Michael the Librarian) and air on the YouTube channel KidZuko. Butterfly in the skyyyyy!
After almost 20 years, the beloved children’s TV program — known to promote childhood reading while busting the “summer loss phenomena” — is returning to the air on KidZuko. The revived show announced on Sept. 29 that it will feature a new host, Mychal Threets (affectionately known as Mychal the Librarian on TikTok), plus a wide lineup of celebrity guest stars to encourage kids to discover the joys of reading.
Threets is a librarian and advocate for literacy, and currently serves as the resident librarian for PBS Kids. The show announced its return with a books-filled, colorful video on Instagram, offering a glimpse into what’s to come in the new edition.
“Reading Rainbow is returning, with all new episodes! Are you ready?” Threets asks the children around him, who offer a resounding “Yes!”
Celebrity guests slated to appear on the show include Dancing With The Stars’ Rylee Arnold and Ezra Sosa, 14-year-old author Bellen Woodard and “actor & cat dad” Ebon Moss-Bachrach.
The new program promises new friends, projects — postcards and sidewalk libraries, for example — and books, per the video. A range of books will feature famous narrators, including Jamie Chung, Gabrielle Union, Adam DeVine, Chrissy Teigen and John Legend.
“In the meantime, make sure to follow the rainbow!” Threets concluded the video.
Previously hosted by LeVar Burton, Reading Rainbow launched in 1983 and, according to its site, was the “most-watched PBS program in the classroom.”
The new Reading Rainbow digital series will debut on KidZuko as a four-episode short-form run, accompanied by companion vertical videos. Episodes will premiere weekly on Saturdays, beginning Oct. 4 and continuing through Oct. 25, with each installment available at 7 a.m., as well as on ReadingRainbow.org.
I think this is a reboot that we can all get behind. It also comes at such a crucial time, too, thanks to America’s already declining literacy rates as well as Republicans actively defunding the Department of Education and PBS. I won’t even hate on YouTube being the main medium. At this point, you gotta meet the kids where they are. The stakes are too high not to. My kids have had a YouTube ban for several months now, but I have such fond memories of RR as a kid that I may very well lift the band to let them watch it.
Also, I’m not gonna lie, I’ve been randomly belting out the theme song around my house ever since I saw this news. It’s driving my kids absolutely insane, but that’s too bad for them, as I had to put up with the Paw Patrol theme song for half of a decade. They owe me this, just like I owe them a return to YouTube Kids via the new Reading Rainbow reboot.
I am so happy for all of us that Reading Rainbow is returning! Friends, YOU all did this! 😂🤣
We're flying twice as high, butterflies in the sky! 🦋🌌
Make sure to follow the rainbow! 📚🌈
www.readingrainbow.org
— Mychal Threets (@mychal3ts.bsky.social) October 1, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Yay! 🦋 in the sky…. I hope the same lady sings the theme song!
I know, I really hope they don’t remix it or redo it. I LOVE the original. It will now be in my head all day and that is OK!
As a child free woman over 50 I have zero reason to watch reading rainbow, but I think I might.
I bet it soothes my soul like with love Meghan and the Taylor swift new heights episode.
I’ve enjoyed this guy on social media
This is the feel-good story we needed!
Mychal’s presence on social media is SUCH a delight. He is such a kind, thoughtful and energetic ambassador for reading. I am really looking forward to this!
Omg, yes. Remember when some horrible person started posting his videos and making fun of him, and like people came out of the woodwork to defend him and shame the person making fun of him. It was actually kind of heartwarming that so many people responded to shut that down. But it did really hurt him, and he started talking about his mental health, and it just made me so mad that some jerk had to ruin a nice thing. I’m so happy that he has been given this role, I just think he will do so well, its made for him!
This is wonderful!
It’s so cool to see something that encourages kids to read. I smile when I see kids walking out of my local library with arms filled with books.
I am a professor and teach Children’s Literature as one of my subject matters. A few years ago when Mychal’s star was just rising, he agreed to let me interview him for the class. His grace and kindness were overwhelming in that interview, which veered into topics of mental health. He openly shared his struggles and how his work helps him stay here. He is a lovely, lovely man, and a huge voice within Children’s Literature, especially now that voices are being silenced. I’m so happy for him!