Beloved Children’s Show Reading Rainbow Makes a Digital Comeback
Mychal Threets is hosting the new iteration of Reading Rainbow, which starts Saturday.
Image Credit: Buffalo Toronto Public Media/Embassy Row
The cherished children’s program Reading Rainbow is making a return after nearly 20 years, with an updated format and a new host, yet retaining its core goal of inspiring young readers to discover the joys of books.
Originally hosted by LeVar Burton, Reading Rainbow aired on PBS for 26 years, garnering over 250 awards, including 26 Emmys and a Peabody Award. The show has played a pivotal role in sparking a passion for reading among countless children.
Taking the reins as the new host is Mychal Threets, a librarian renowned for his social media presence and work in Solano County, California. Threets, who has tattoos of PBS cartoon character Arthur Read’s library card, is a self-proclaimed “library evangelist.”
On Instagram, Threets expressed his admiration for the show and its former host, stating: “I was raised on Reading Rainbow, LeVar Burton is my hero. I am a reader, I am a librarian because LeVar Burton and Reading Rainbow so powerfully made us believe we belong in books, we belong everywhere.”
The new season of Reading Rainbow has been co-produced by Buffalo Toronto Public Media, who initially co-created the series in 1983. The revival will consist of four episodes and will be available on YouTube to align with the digital media habits of today’s youth. The inaugural episode will be released this Saturday on Kidzuko, a YouTube channel operated by Sony Pictures.
While a second season has yet to be confirmed, representatives from Buffalo Toronto Public Media remain optimistic about the show’s future.
Previously, LeVar Burton attempted to revive Reading Rainbow, but his efforts were hindered by legal disputes with the local PBS station within Buffalo Toronto Public Media. For more information, read the full story on NPR.
