Butterflies in the sky and bookworms, rejoice! After almost two decades, Reading Rainbow is back.
A Reading Rainbow reboot will premiere beginning this weekend, bringing the love of libraries to a new generation of kids (and a lot of heartwarming nostalgia to plenty of their parents).
The original series, hosted by LeVar Burton, premiered in 1983, and ran through 2006.
Take a look at how to watch the new Reading Rainbow reboot, who the new Reading Rainbow host is and what else to expect from the 2025 iteration of the PBS classic.
Are they bringing back Reading Rainbow?
Reading Rainbow is coming back with a new host, a new platform, and some fun new additions, including DIY projects and celebrity guests.
Related: The Most Heartwarming and Nostalgic Reading Rainbow Clips
Where can I watch the new Reading Rainbow?
New episodes of Reading Rainbow will premiere on the Reading Rainbow website and on the KidZuko YouTube channel.
Who is the new Reading Rainbow host?
Mychal ThreetsCraig Barritt/Getty Images for TIME
The new Reading Rainbow host is Mychal Threets, a librarian-turned-TikTok star who went viral for showcasing his love of libraries.
Threets adores Burton and is clearly honored to follow in his footsteps.
“There have been two hosts in the history of Reading Rainbow. The Legend of Literacy, LeVar Burton! And… me, Mychal Threets, a librarian,” he wrote 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.”
Celebrities including The Bear and Fantastic Four: First Steps star Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Gabrielle Union, Dancing With the Stars pros Rylee Arnold and Ezra Sosa, Jamie Chung, Adam Devine, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen will be on hand as well, some in guest appearances and some to narrate stories.
Related: LeVar Burton Dishes on Directing NCIS: Hawaii
When does the new Reading Rainbow come out?
New episodes of Reading Rainbow will be released every Saturday at 10 a.m. starting Oct. 4, 2025, through Oct. 25, 2025.
Why was Reading Rainbow canceled?
The original Reading Rainbow ended in 2006 mostly due to budget constraints, some partly as a result of the No Child Left Behind Act reallocating PBS’ funding.
Is Reading Rainbow still available?
New Reading Rainbow episodes will be on the Reading Rainbow website and on the KidZuko YouTube channel.
You can also watch episodes of the original Reading Rainbow on pbs.org, in the free PBS app and on the PBS KIDS Video app on Amazon Fire TV, Android, Apple TV, Chromecast iOS and Roku; on Samsung, Vizio and Xumo smart TVs; and via the PBS Retro FAST channel on Prime Video, Roku, TCL and Vizio.
Where can I watch old Reading Rainbow?
Original Reading Rainbow episodes are available to stream on pbs.org, in the free PBS app and on the PBS KIDS Video app on Amazon Fire TV, Android, Apple TV, Chromecast iOS and Roku; on Samsung, Vizio and Xumo smart TVs; and via the PBS Retro FAST channel on Prime Video, Roku, TCL and Vizio.
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What age group is Reading Rainbow for?
Reading Rainbow is typically targeted towards kids between the ages of 4 and 8 years old, but you can use your discretion—you know your own kids better than we do!
What is the point of Reading Rainbow?
Reading Rainbow encourages children to develop a love of reading and to explore and enrich their worlds and imaginations through books.
“When the idea for a children’s television show that came on during the summer to steer children back in the direction of literature, the written word, was presented to me, I just thought it made so much sense,” Burton previously told Parade. “I think Reading Rainbow captured the right thing at the right time. Nothing had come along yet that was really about fostering a love of reading.”
Is Reading Rainbow free on Prime?
It sure is! You don’t need any add-on subscriptions to enjoy streaming classic Reading Rainbow episodes on Prime Video.
This story was originally reported by Parade on Oct 2, 2025, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.