There’s more Reading Rainbow on the way.
Sony Pictures Television has officially ordered 24 new episodes of the beloved children’s literacy series, marking a major expansion of the reboot that relaunched last year with four digital episodes.
Mychal Threets, known to millions online as Mychal the Librarian, will return as host. Joining him is Daytime Emmy-winning producer Kristen McGregor (Sesame Street, Ms. Rachel), who steps in as executive producer and showrunner.
The series is being produced by Sony’s Embassy Row in partnership with Buffalo Toronto Public Media, with Sony now taking the show to market in search of a TV or streaming home. Talks are already underway.
From PBS Staple to Digital Revival
Originally hosted by LeVar Burton, Reading Rainbow ran for 23 seasons from 1983 to 2006, becoming one of the most influential literacy programs in children’s television history. For many millennials, it wasn’t just educational programming — it was foundational.
The reboot quietly returned in 2025 with four digital episodes on Sony’s KidZuko YouTube channel, amassing nearly 4.8 million views. The strong response helped pave the way for this expanded 24-episode order.
While KidZuko will continue to air shortened exclusive episodes, Sony is now positioning the full season for a larger distribution platform.
Star Power Meets Storytime
The initial revival episodes featured appearances from:
- Rylee Arnold and Ezra Sosa (Dancing with the Stars)
- Author Bellen Woodard (More Than Peach)
- Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Bear)
Books were narrated by Jamie Chung, Gabrielle Union, Adam DeVine, John Legend, and Chrissy Teigen.
The new season promises even more celebrity guests and featured books, with announcements coming at a later date.
Why This Matters Now
The expansion of Reading Rainbow arrives at a moment when conversations around literacy rates and access to educational programming feel increasingly urgent.
Michael Davies, executive producer and president of Embassy Row, emphasized that the series “offers more than entertainment — it empowers viewers through reading,” noting that literacy rates are in historic decline.
The revival also represents a meaningful win for public media partners like Buffalo Toronto Public Media, especially following funding cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting last year. Securing a buyer for the new season would create a new revenue stream for the Buffalo-based station.
A New Era, Same Mission
What made Reading Rainbow iconic wasn’t just the books — it was the sense of wonder. The idea that reading could take you anywhere. That imagination had power.
With Mychal Threets at the helm — someone who has built a following around joyful, affirming literacy advocacy — the reboot feels intentional for this moment. It bridges nostalgia for the generation that grew up with the series and accessibility for today’s kids who primarily live online.
And if the digital numbers are any indication, the appetite is still there.
There is, once again, a rainbow in our future.