It's Official: 'Reading Rainbow' Reboot Coming To TV And Streaming

February 25, 2026

A beloved children’s series that inspired generations to fall in love with reading is officially turning the page to a brand-new chapter.

Embassy Row

“Reading Rainbow,” the iconic show built around the magic of books, is returning with a 24-episode order, Sony Pictures Television and Buffalo Toronto Public Media announced this week. For families who grew up with the series — and for a whole new generation of young readers — it’s welcome news.

Originally launched in 1983, Reading Rainbow quickly became a classroom favorite and the most-watched PBS program in schools. The show was initially created to address what educators call the “summer loss phenomenon,” when children can lose reading skills during the summer months if they aren’t actively reading. What began as a seasonal solution soon blossomed into a cultural touchstone.

Over its remarkable 26-year run, the series earned more than 250 awards, including a prestigious George Foster Peabody Award and 26 Emmy Awards — ten of them for Outstanding Series — along with numerous Telly Awards and Parent’s and Teacher’s Choice honors.

Many longtime fans closely associate the show with original host LeVar Burton, whose warm storytelling became synonymous with the series. But as Reading Rainbow makes its return, a new host will help guide viewers through literary adventures.

Mychal Threets, a passionate literacy advocate known for using his social media platforms to encourage people of all ages to read, will lead the revival. Threets previously hosted a four-episode run last year — more than two decades after the original series concluded — helping introduce the show’s message to modern audiences.

The new episodes, produced and distributed by Sony Pictures Television, will feature celebrity guests and a fresh lineup of books, with more details expected soon.

For decades, Reading Rainbow proved that stories can open doors, spark imagination, and build lifelong readers. Now, with 24 new episodes on the horizon, the message remains the same: books have the power to take you anywhere.

And for young viewers just discovering it for the first time — the adventure is just beginning.