"Butterfly in the sky, I can go twice as high." You probably just sang that in your head. It’s okay. Most of us who grew up between 1983 and 2006 have that melody hardwired into our brains like a core memory. For over twenty years, that song was the universal signal to drop everything and find a television. But things have changed. If you’re asking who does Reading Rainbow today, you aren't just looking for a name; you’re looking for a legacy that recently took a very modern turn.
Honestly, for the longest time, the answer was only one man: LeVar Burton. He didn't just host the show; he was the show. With his calm voice and those iconic "but you don't have to take my word for it" sign-offs, he became the internet’s collective dad. But skip ahead to late 2025 and early 2026, and the landscape looks a bit different. There’s a new face in the library.
The New Chapter: Mychal Threets Takes the Lead
If you’ve spent any time on TikTok or Instagram lately, you’ve probably seen a man with a massive afro and a smile that basically radiates pure sunshine. That’s Mychal Threets. In October 2025, he officially became the new host for the digital-first revival of Reading Rainbow.
It’s a bit of a passing of the torch that feels... right? Mychal was a librarian in Fairfield, California, before he became "internet famous." He calls it "unhinged library joy." He’s the kind of guy who gets genuinely emotional about a kid finding the right book, which is exactly the energy the reboot needed. This new version isn't airing on your local PBS station at 4:00 PM like it used to. Instead, it’s living on the KidZuko YouTube channel and ReadingRainbow.org. It’s short-form, punchy, and designed for kids who are used to scrolling, but the heart of the show—the books—is still the main character.
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Why LeVar Burton Isn't Doing It Anymore
Let’s address the elephant in the room. Why isn't LeVar back? You've probably heard bits and pieces about legal drama. A few years ago, there was a pretty messy lawsuit between LeVar’s company, RRKidz, and WNED-TV, the Buffalo-based station that actually owns the Reading Rainbow brand.
Basically, they couldn't agree on how the brand should be used. It got complicated. It got expensive. Eventually, they settled, and the result was that LeVar moved on to his own projects, like the LeVar Burton Reads podcast (which is incredible for adults, by the way) and Skybrary. He’s still a massive advocate for literacy, but he’s no longer the face of the official "Rainbow."
Mychal Threets actually addressed this on social media, joking that if anyone is upset that he isn't LeVar Burton, he’s at the front of that line himself. He’s a fanboy first, host second.
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It’s Not Just One Person: The Celebrity Voice Factor
One thing people forget when asking who does Reading Rainbow is that the show was always a massive collaboration. Even in the 80s and 90s, LeVar didn't read every book. He’d intro the theme, and then a celebrity would take over the narration. We’re talking legends like Maya Angelou, James Earl Jones, and even Hulk Hogan.
The 2025-2026 revival is leaning even harder into this. The new episodes feature a heavy-hitting roster of voices:
- John Legend and Chrissy Teigen (the ultimate power couple for storytime)
- Adam Devine (bringing that high-energy comedy)
- Gabrielle Union
- Ebon Moss-Bachrach (yes, Cousin from The Bear is reading children's books now)
It’s a smart move. It keeps the "cool factor" high while Mychal handles the "field trips" and the core hosting duties.
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The "Summer Loss" Secret
Most people don't realize Reading Rainbow was originally created for a very specific, almost clinical reason: the "summer slide." Research showed that kids, especially those from lower-income families, lost a huge chunk of their reading skills during summer vacation.
The show was a literal intervention. It was designed to keep kids engaged with libraries when school was out. That mission hasn't changed. Even in 2026, the goal is still to combat that loss of literacy, just through different screens.
What You Can Do Right Now
If you’re a parent, or just a nostalgic millennial, the best way to support what the show is doing now is to actually engage with the new format.
- Check out the KidZuko YouTube channel. The new episodes are there, and they’re free.
- Follow Mychal Threets. Even if you don't watch the show, his "Library Joy" updates are the mental health boost most of us need.
- Revisit the classics. A lot of the original LeVar Burton episodes are now available on the PBS Retro FAST channel (available on things like Roku or Amazon Prime).
- Support your local library. Mychal’s whole platform is built on the idea that "you belong at the library." Go get a card.
The "who" of Reading Rainbow might have changed from a legendary actor to a viral librarian, but the vibe remains exactly the same: books are magic, and you should probably go read one.