Reading Rainbow Returns to a Country Far More Hostile to Books

It’s been 19 years since “Reading Rainbow” last aired its beloved words of wisdom, wonder, and encouragement to children across America. And now, in a turn of poetic irony, the show makes its return one day before the kickoff of the 2025 Banned Books Week. Talk about timing.

I grew up in a time when “Reading Rainbow” was more than just a TV show—it was a lifeline. It offered a gentle nudge to children across race, class, and circumstance that the world could be bigger than what we saw around us. That through books, we could touch galaxies or understand each other’s pain. It told us we mattered. That curiosity was something to nurture. That imagination was worth protecting.

Today, nearly two decades later, I ask myself: where does “Reading Rainbow” land in this America?

A Changed Landscape

America in 2025 is not the same place it was in 2006. Yes, we’ve got better tech, streaming platforms, and a few more avenues for diverse voices. But we’ve also got a country where books—particularly those authored by people of color, LGBTQ+ voices, and critical reflections on history—are being stripped from shelves at an alarming rate.

From small-town libraries to big city school districts, we’ve watched books that challenge dominant narratives or discuss identity quietly vanish or get publicly banned. And what’s worse—these actions often come wrapped in the language of “parental rights” or “protecting children,” as if truth were something too dangerous for young minds to consume.

But isn’t that what made “Reading Rainbow” so powerful? It didn’t run from complexity. It taught kids to think for themselves and appreciate different stories. That kind of education doesn’t “indoctrinate”—it empowers.

Veteran’s Perspective: Freedom Includes Words

As a veteran, I served to protect freedoms I believed in—including our freedom to read, speak, and think. It pains me to see how we hollow out those freedoms by censoring stories we find uncomfortable.

Let me be clear: reading about someone’s lived experience—even if it’s different from your own—is not a threat to children. It’s a gift.

It’s a soldier writing poems to process trauma.
It’s a child seeing their reflection in a story about growing up Black, or queer, or poor.
It’s a young mind picking up a banned book not because they want rebellion—but because they want connection.

The Power of Books and the Return of Hope

So yes, “Reading Rainbow” is coming back—and I say we need it more than ever.

We need it not just for nostalgia or feel-good programming but as an act of resistance. A welcome counterpunch to the waves of book bans and curated ignorance we’ve allowed to flood our schools.

Can you imagine how powerful it would be for today’s kids—especially those in communities hit hardest by erasure—to tune into “Reading Rainbow” and hear a voice telling them again: “Take a look, it’s in a book, a Reading Rainbow”? Because that voice says, *you matter, your curiosity is valid, and your story belongs here, too*.

Our Responsibility to the Next Generation

We can’t just welcome “Reading Rainbow” back with a tweet or a smile and move on. We need to honor its return by doubling down on defending the very thing it champions: access to stories that reflect the vast and vibrant landscape of the human experience.

Let’s make this Banned Books Week more than symbolic. Let’s make it a reminder of what’s at stake when we allow fear to decide what kids are allowed to read and learn. We need to challenge school boards, support librarians, and educate one another about why access to diverse books affects ALL of us—not just the ones “targeted.”

And if you’ve got kids or grandkids—sit with them. Read something banned. Watch “Reading Rainbow” together. Teach them why some people want to pull those words from sight and why it’s more important than ever to hold them close.

Conclusion: Don’t Just Watch—Act

The return of “Reading Rainbow” isn’t just television history—it’s a cultural plea for us to get back to what truly matters: truth, curiosity, and empathy.

We are standing at a crossroads where storytelling itself is under siege. And yet, here comes “Reading Rainbow,” walking gently but firmly back into the conversation.

Let’s celebrate its return—but let’s not do it silently. Let’s raise our voices for the books still under attack, and for the generations counting on all of us to make reading not just a right—but a joy.

Welcome back, “Reading Rainbow.” We’ve missed you.

I’d love to hear what books shaped your life—especially the ones someone tried to keep off the shelf. Drop a comment or email me. Let’s shine a light