Rainbow Remix

On October 16, TFK Kid Reporter Ethan Yu interviewed Mychal Threets, a librarian with millions of social-media followers. Threets was recently named host of a YouTube version of the TV show Reading Rainbow. Read Ethan’s account below.

Have you ever watched Reading Rainbow, on PBS Kids? The popular series won more than 250 awards for motivating kids to read. It’s now back, on KidZuko, a kids’ YouTube channel from Sony Pictures. Mychal Threets, also known as Mychal the Librarian, is the host. Mychal, who’s passionate about inspiring kids to read, shares his love for books with everyone he meets.

I interviewed Mychal at the top of New York City’s 30 Rockefeller Plaza, where we enjoyed a 360° view of a perfect autumn day in New York City. It turns out he’s as full of energy and fun in person as he is onscreen. Mychal has a children’s book coming out next year. I can’t wait to read it.

As an avid reader, I really enjoyed speaking with Mychal about libraries and about Reading Rainbow. Read part of our conversation here.

What inspired you to become a librarian?

I grew up loving books. I was always reading books, ever since I was a kid. And honestly, I think that’s why I always felt safe at the library. I had a lot of anxiety, as a kid. I still do, as an adult. The library is a place where I always felt like I belonged. I was like, “Yes, this is a place where I can be me.” Then I figured out I could go to school and become a librarian, and I did. Now I get to be here talking with you today.

Did you grow up watching the old Reading Rainbow?

I love the old Reading Rainbow so much. I love LeVar Burton. He’s such a legend of literacy. That’s what I call him. Watching that show meant everything to me. It was so cool to see a person who looked like me talking about books, saying, “Yes, we should celebrate stories. We should celebrate one another.” So now, to be part of this new Reading Rainbow project, so kids like yourself can grow up watching this version, just like I grew up watching LeVar, it means the absolute world.

How did you become the Reading Rainbow host?

People on the Internet kept on saying they thought I would be great at Reading Rainbow or some sort of show revolving around books. So it’s all thanks to people who saw me [on social media] and who supported me and my love of library joy.

That’s cool, because now you get to inspire more kids to read and explore new books.

I really hope so. That’s the whole goal. Thank you for saying that. That makes my day.

What was your favorite part of filming the episodes?

My favorite part was doing all of the activities with the kids: creating bee buffets, creating sidewalk libraries and sensory bottles, hearing them talk about books, stories, and what matters to them. I was a children’s librarian for a long time, and those parts of filming made me feel like a children’s librarian again. I was like, “Yes! I’m back in the library. I’m back talking about stories, celebrating every single reader.”

I read that you have a picture book coming out next year. Can you tell me about it?

It’s called I’m So Happy You’re Here: A Celebration of Library Joy. I wrote the words, and Lorraine Nam made the illustrations. It comes out in February 2026. It is a love letter to librarians, library workers, libraries, and library kids.

Are there any other projects you’re working on right now?

Reading Rainbow is the main project I’m working on, in addition to being an author. But I’m always just trying to spread library joy.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.