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The iconic PBS Reading Rainbow<\/em><\/a> is making a return after 19 years with brand new episodes, a new host, and a new home.<\/p>\n The official Reading Rainbow<\/em> Instagram page<\/a> revealed the news on Monday alongside a video previewing what\u2019s to come in the new series. \u201cAfter nearly 20 years\u2026 Reading Rainbow<\/em> is returning to motivate, help, and encourage kids to become avid readers with new episodes, new friends, new projects, and of course\u2026 new books!\u201d the caption read.<\/p>\n Mychal Threets, also known as Mychal the Librarian, will host the show, which LeVar Burton<\/a> previously hosted. According to The Hollywood Reporter<\/em><\/a>, the show is set to debut on Saturday (October 4) and will air digitally on KidZuko, the kids-focused YouTube channel run by Sony Pictures Television.<\/p>\n The teaser video for the new edition features several celebrity guests, including Dancing With the Stars<\/em><\/a>\u2018 Rylee Arnold<\/a> and Ezra Sosa<\/a>, The Bear<\/em><\/a> actor Ebon Moss-Bachrach<\/a>, Jamie Chung<\/a>, Gabrielle Union<\/a>, Adam DeVine<\/a>, Chrissy Teigen<\/a>, John Legend<\/a>, and more.<\/p>\n Reading Rainbow<\/em> originally debuted in 1983 and aired on PBS until 2006. The purpose of the educational show was to encourage a love of books and reading among children. Roots<\/em><\/a> actor Burton hosted the entire run and has frequently spoken about the show\u2019s impact.<\/p>\n On his Finding Your Roots<\/em><\/a> episode, Burton said<\/a> hosting Reading Rainbow<\/em> is what he\u2019s most proud of in his career. \u201cThat\u2019s the first line in my obituary, I think, \u2018host and producer of Reading Rainbow<\/em>,’\u201d he said. \u201cHaving an impact on the reading habits of a couple of generations of human beings\u2026 it doesn\u2019t get any better than that.\u201d<\/p>\n Earlier this year, the Trump administration rescinded $1.1 billion in federal funding<\/a> for public broadcasters, including PBS and NPR. \u201cGovernment funding of news media in this environment is not only outdated and unnecessary but corrosive to the appearance of journalistic independence,\u201d Trump wrote in an executive order, per the\u00a0celebrity.land<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n PBS launched on October 5, 1970, as a free-to-air network\u00a0and\u00a0is best known for its educational programs, including Reading Rainbow,\u00a0<\/span>Sesame Street<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Magic School Bus<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Mister <\/span>Rogers\u2019 <\/span>Neighborhood<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/strong>,\u00a0and more.<\/span> The network\u00a0also\u00a0hosts several news programs, including\u00a0<\/span>Frontline<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>PBS NewsHour<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/strong>, and\u00a0<\/span>Firing Line<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n Reading Rainbow,<\/em> Premieres, Saturday, October 4, KidZuko YouTube Channel<\/strong><\/p>\n Read the latest entertainment news on TV Insider<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n