When we heard that one of our favorite shows, PBS’ Reading Rainbow, was getting a reboot, we greeted the news with hope and trepidation. Because LeVar Burton served as the host and executive producer of the series from 1983 to 2006, spanning 23 seasons, we don’t want to see his legacy tarnished. The new series is being produced by Kidzuko, a YouTube channel distributed by Sony Pictures. And they have picked someone who can connect with audiences today, Mychal Threet, aka Mychal the Librarian.
Burton’s Reading Rainbow won more than 250 Awards. Among them are 26 Emmys and a Peabody Award, and sparked a love of books in generations of children.
If You Don’t Know Mychal the Librarian
Mychal, a librarian at the Solano County Library in Dixon, California, endeared himself to his growing following by simply being himself, sharing his passions for his vocation, and being vulnerable about his mental health struggles. He was an advocate for visiting local libraries, not only taking out books but also using the services.
He offered positive mental health messages. While sometimes sharing his own struggles.
Mychal became known for his greetings to the extent that people started making drawings to give to him.
But as his notoriety grew, the online bullies and trolls wouldn’t leave him alone. And those who want to ban books would show up at his library to harass him. All of that wasn’t good for his mental health. He left his full-time job, but he has never stopped spreading the joy that can be found in libraries.
About the Reading Rainbow 4-Part Reboot
The new Reading Rainbow follows a similar format to the previous iteration. This is a case of “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” According to NPR, Buffalo Toronto Public Media, which co-produced the original series in 1983, also co-produced the new season. It will only run for four episodes.
It appears that when Burton attempted to reboot himself, issues arose between the two companies. We won’t hold that against Mychal.
But in the spirit of sparking the joy of reading, here is the trailer, and some books that we think your little one will love:
Chef Carla Hall has a new picture book, Carla and the Tin Can Cake Party, about a game of dress-up gone wrong at the grandparents’ house, with a lesson learned about a family recipe.
In Dorethea Taylor’s There’s a Dragon in My Closet, a young boy blames all his misdeeds on an imaginary dragon in his closet.
Finally, get this duo by the late Faith Ringgold. Her classic Tar Beach, which features Cassie Louise Lightfoot’s magical wish for freedom, is told from the rooftop of her Harlem apartment building, also known as “Tar Beach.” In Cassie’s Word Quilt, the follow-up, she offers readers a behind-the-scenes look at her day-to-day life—from her home to her neighborhood, school, and more. At every stop, Cassie is teaching them new words, ones they’ve never heard before.
And if you want to give your child a special treat, check out Ms. Ringgold reading Tar Beach on the original Reading Rainbow below.
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