Reading Rainbow is coming back—with former children’s librarian (and viral TikToker) Mychal Threets as the new host, the show announced this week in an Instagram post:

“🎶 Take a look, it’s in a book 🎶

“After nearly 20 years… Reading Rainbow is returning to motivate, help, and encourage kids to become avid readers with new episodes, new friends, new projects, and of course… new books! Make sure to follow the rainbow.”

The video announced guest stars, including dancers Rylee Arnold and Ezra Sosa; young activist, author, and entrepreneur Bellen Woodard; and actor Ebon Moss-Bachrach; as well as “new projects like postcards, sensory bottles, and sidewalk libraries” and books narrated by celebrities Jamie Chung, Gabrielle Union, Adam DeVine, John Legend, and Chrissy Teigen.

“I was raised on Reading Rainbow, LeVar Burton is my hero,” Threets posted to Instagram. “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.”

Burton hosted the show, which launched in 1983, for more than 20 years. New episodes ended in 2006. The new show will begin Saturday with episodes premiering at 10 a.m. ET every Saturday during October on KidZuko on YouTube and the Reading Rainbow website. 

The kid lit and library community celebrated Threets and the return of a beloved show about books.

“Tears of JOY for my friend Mychal! What a lucky generation of young readers,” Jarrett Krosoczka wrote on Facebook. “I am so thankful for Mychal! I am so thankful for PBS! I am so thankful for Reading Rainbow!”

Author Samira Ahmed responded to Threets sharing the video announcement on Bluesky.

“Brilliant!!!! Amazing news!!!!!!” she wrote.

And Leander (TX) ISD district librarian Becky Calzada wrote, “I’m so excited for a whole new generation of readers to enjoy Reading Rainbow with you!!”

Threets addressed possible criticism of him replacing Burton immediately with humility and humor.

“If you’re upset because I’m not LeVar Burton… GET BEHIND ME! 😂I am at the front of that line!” Threets wrote on Threads. “I’ll be doing all I can to make him and all the library kids proud.”