Good news is coming your way because Reading Rainbow is coming back with a big surprise. On social media, Mychal Threets, the viral librarian was named the new host and the Internet at large celebrated vigorously. It’s a moment engineered to make you feel warm and fuzzy as someone truly devoted to raising awareness about literacy gets elevated to a symbolic position that will have real impact among young readers. Can you believe it’s really been almost 20 years since Reading Rainbow was on the air?
“There have been two hosts in the history of Reading Rainbow. The Legend of Literacy, LeVar Burton! And… me, Mychal Threets, a librarian,” the star shared. “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. I am so happy for all of us that Reading Rainbow is returning! YOU all did this! We’re flying twice as high, butterflies in the sky! Stay tuned…”
Mychal Threets is the new host!
It’s important to note that The new version of Reading Rainbow will air on KidZuko, a platform that favors the younger viewers on places like YouTube and various streaming platforms. Threets’ own account and the official Buffalo Toronto Public Media social pages handled the announcement. The new trailer’s presence online quickly warmed the day of most adults who saw it. Millennials don’t take much to waltz down memory lane.
Reading Rainbow’s new edition will feature guest star appearances like Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Fantastic Four: First Steps) and others. That might seem out of place for old school Reading rainbow fans. But, that sort of thing is par for the course with kids TV now. (And honestly it was pretty normal for the mid 90s as well.)
Reading Rainbow coming back at the perfect time
Of course, there are those that were a little bit confused by the announcement of a brand new iteration of Reading Rainbow. Levar Burton is not the man sitting there doing the presentation this time. But, It seems like these two have a pretty good working relationship. On Threads, Threets talked about stepping into those iconic shoes for Reading Rainbow. Change can be scary, but the new hos encourages fans to understand that his performance aims to honor Burton’s legacy as host.
“Oh! If you’re upset because I’m not LeVar Burton… GET BEHIND ME! I am at the front of that line! I will be like Donald Glover in Community if I ever get to mee LeVar Burton,” Threets joked. “We all want the LeVar Burton Reading Rainbow Storytime read aloud treatment! I’ll be doing all I can to make him and all the library kids proud.”
As new episodes happen weekly every Saturday, it’s important to remember realities that spurned a resurgence of Reading Rainbow. Earlier this year the current administration spearheaded an effort to defund the Public Broadcasting Service and National Public Radio. Despite that, your local PBS Station and NPR stations are doing the work of informing the public, entertaining all audiences, and spotlighting essential chronicling the history of the many people who call this country home.
With the gaps created by these funding shortages, hopefully some kids can get entertainment and education from programs like Reading Rainbow. Things may be harrowing outside, but the library remains a refuge for so many in our communities. One that will only become more and more important in the months and years ahead. So, get your library cards ready!
(Credit: KidZuko)
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