A Beloved Children’s Show Returns: The Rebirth of Reading Rainbow
Reviving nostalgia for many and igniting excitement among new audiences, the iconic children’s program Reading Rainbow is set to make a comeback. This reboot introduces a fresh face and embraces a digital format while staying true to its original mission: to inspire a love of reading.
The show, which originally graced PBS screens for 26 years, was hosted by LeVar Burton and boasted an impressive collection of over 250 awards, including 26 Emmys and a Peabody Award. It fostered an enduring passion for reading among countless children.
Mychal Threets steps into the shoes of the beloved Burton as the new host. A librarian in Solano County, California, Threets gained social media fame, becoming a library evangelist with a tattoo of PBS cartoon aardvark Arthur Read’s library card. He expresses deep admiration for the original series, stating on Instagram, “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, co-produced by Buffalo Toronto Public Media, the same entity behind the original 1983 series, will consist of four episodes. To align with contemporary viewing habits, these episodes will be released on YouTube, beginning this Saturday on Sony Pictures’ Kidzuko channel.
While discussions of a second season remain uncertain, Buffalo Toronto Public Media holds optimistic expectations for the show’s future.
Notably, former host LeVar Burton previously attempted to relaunch Reading Rainbow but faced legal challenges involving the local PBS affiliate associated with Buffalo Toronto Public Media.
