Meet Mychal Threets, new host of ‘Reading Rainbow’

Launched in July 1983, the popular children’s show is returning nearly two decades after ending its original run on PBS, hosted previously by actor LeVar Burton. “Reading Rainbow” was created to motivate children to find joy in reading during summer recess from school, according to ReadingRainbow.org.

“Reading Rainbow” is entering a new chapter with an announcement about their new host, Mychal Threets, a literacy advocate and internet-beloved librarian. Threets joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss Arizona PBS’ annual “Be My Neighbor Day” and his new role.

“I’m a PBS kid through and through and I’m happy to be the resident librarian,” Threets said. “I’m loving it. As far as I know I’m the first one they’ve ever had. I hope that they have many more to come.”

Threets, a former library supervisor in Solano County, California, amassed a large online following in recent years by sharing his daily experiences at the library and openly discussing his mental health challenges.

“I grew up loving Levar Burton, loving Mr. Rogers, all things PBS, everything wholesome, good and kind,” Threets said. “So to somehow be chosen as the host of ‘Reading Rainbow’, until they come to their senses, I’m glad to be part of the ‘Reading Rainbow’ world.”

Threets credits Burton for his initial interest in the “Reading Rainbow” as a child. He added, “It was cool to see a person who looked like myself on the screen but even more so seeing a person who loved books. Who saw the adventures, the curiosity, the imagination of books. Who saw that every book could be an adventure and…saying ‘this is a part of your world. You belong in books. You belong everywhere.'”

The goal of “Reading Rainbow” remains the same as when Threets was a kid where there is an emphasis in empowering viewers to be readers but that they are also worthy of being readers and that it is a fun activity rather than being a chore.

Threets added, “I’m a person who is shy, has anxiety, depression, panic attacks, nightmares and ‘Junie B. Jones’, ‘Amelia Bedelia’, ‘Boxcar Children’, ‘Henry Huggins’, ‘Ramona and Beezus’ were all my friends when I was a little library kid.”