Sony Greenlights 24 New Episodes of ‘Reading Rainbow’ with Kristen McGregor as Executive Producer and Showrunner
In an exciting development for fans of educational television, Sony Pictures Television has announced the production of an additional 24 episodes of the beloved literacy program, Reading Rainbow. Mychal Threets, known as Mychal the Librarian, will return to host the series. Daytime Emmy-winning producer Kristen McGregor, recognized for her work on Blippi’s Treehouse and Sesame Street, will serve as executive producer and showrunner.
The new episodes will be produced in collaboration with Michael Davies’ Embassy Row and Buffalo Toronto Public Media, with distribution talks already underway. Shortened exclusive episodes are also set to be featured on Kidzuko, the recently launched YouTube channel by SPT – Kids.
Details regarding celebrity appearances and new book selections for the upcoming episodes will be revealed in the future.
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Michael Davies, executive producer and President of Embassy Row, expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating, “When I saw the response to the relaunch of Reading Rainbow and the enthusiasm for Mychal as host, it was clear there is a passionate audience that truly values educational children’s programming. This series offers more than entertainment—it empowers viewers through reading, which feels especially critical at a time when literacy rates are in historic decline. I’m incredibly excited to welcome Kristen and her expertise as we continue to evolve the show and discover what new magic Reading Rainbow can bring.”
In addition to McGregor and Davies, the executive production team includes Tom Calderone and Nancy Hammond for Buffalo Toronto Public Media.
Originally hosted by LeVar Burton, Reading Rainbow aired for 23 seasons from 1983 to 2006 on PBS and later on PBS Kids. The program returned in 2025 as a four-episode reboot with Threets at the helm. These episodes aired every Saturday from October 4 to 25, 2025, on the Kidzuko YouTube channel and have garnered over 4.79 million views to date. The reboot featured celebrity guests such as Rylee Arnold and Ezra Sosa from Dancing With The Stars, author Bellen Woodard, and actor Ebon Moss-Bachrach. Notable narrators included Jamie Chung, Gabrielle Union, Adam DeVine, John Legend, and Chrissy Teigen.
Tom Calderone, CEO and president of Buffalo Toronto Public Media, remarked on the journey to revive the series, stating, “We’ve been working for several years to bring Reading Rainbow back, and Michael Davies and Embassy Row have been the ideal partners to help make that vision a reality. Seeing the impact these first four episodes have already had confirms that the timing is right—and that evolving the series for today’s audiences is both necessary and meaningful.”
Embassy Row produces the series in association with Sony Pictures Television and Buffalo Toronto Public Media.
