Reading Rainbow is back! Celebrate with these 8 picture book recs

Take a look! Nearly 20 years after Reading Rainbow went off the air, the beloved children’s show is making a comeback on YouTube with social media librarian Mychal Threets as host. 

Originally conceived to combat summer reading loss, Reading Rainbow ran for 26 years on PBS and won more than 250 awards with LeVar Burton at the helm. It had a huge impact on the publishing industry, increasing sales of books featured on the show, and leading publishers to preemptively print paperback editions of selected titles. But most importantly, it helped develop a lifetime love of reading in generations of children—myself included.

To celebrate the show’s relaunch, here are eight picture book recommendations—straight from a children’s librarian—that you can find on Libby.

Broken by X. Fang
🎧 Audiobook

A young girl struggles with guilt and anxiety after breaking her grandmother’s favorite cup in this recent release from award-winning illustrator X. Fang. Equal parts comedy and drama, this title is sure to resonate with anyone who’s ever worried about making mistakes.

Bear and the Three Goldilocks by Patrick Horne

When the Goldilocks family decides to go on a camping trip in the woods, they certainly don’t expect a young bear to wreak havoc on their campsite—but that’s just how bears roll in this fun fractured folktale perfect for fans of titles like Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs or The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs.

Chooch Helped by Andrea L. Rogers
🎧 Audiobook

A frustrated young girl struggles to get along with her baby brother in this heartwarming story from award-winning Cherokee author Andrea L. Rogers. While all the adults in her life insist that Chooch is “helping” them with tasks, Sissy’s sure he’s just getting away with everything from messing up murals to wrecking gardens. So when Chooch damages a clay pot she’s carefully crafted, Sissy’s finally had enough. Can the grownups help Sissy embrace her role as one of Chooch’s teachers?

Spanish Is the Language of My Family by Michael Genhart

To prepare for his school’s Spanish spelling bee, a young Latine boy named Manolo asks his abuela for help. As they study, Abu tells Manolo she wasn’t allowed to speak anything except English at school as a child, a revelation that inspires him to work even harder—even when frustrations set in.

Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora
🎧 Audiobook

When the matriarch of her neighborhood—affectionately termed Omu, the Igbo word for queen—makes a thick red stew, the delicious scent of it lures everyone from a little boy to a hot dog vendor to her door. But after she generously offers to feed each person who knocks, Omu’s left with nothing for her own dinner. What will she do now? This sweet, lyrical story offers a beautiful lesson on sharing and community that’s sure to delight readers of all ages.

They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel
🎧 Audiobook

As a cat slinks through the pages of this book, everyone from a child to a flea observes it. But of course, each observer sees the cat differently—a fact that author/illustrator Brendan Wenzel captures beautifully through his art. Share this title with fans of Eric Carle or anyone who enjoys a good change of perspective.

The Cazuela that the Farm Maiden Stirred by Samantha R. Vamos
🎧 Audiobook

A farm maiden and all her animals collaborate to make a delicious pot of rice pudding in this vibrant picture book. After each animal’s initial introduction, author Samantha R. Vamos seamlessly integrates their Spanish names along with the Spanish for the ingredients they contribute into the building narrative. Perfect for fans of cumulative tales like This Is the House That Jack Built, this one makes an especially fun read-aloud.

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
🎧 Audiobook

Bear’s hat is gone, and he wants it back. After patiently asking each animal he meets if they’ve seen his hat, and hearing ‘no’ each time, Bear becomes despondent. Will he ever see his beloved hat again? Observant readers will realize before Bear that he already has. This silly, sly book is the first of a three-title set, loosely connected by their shared hat theme, but it’s my personal favorite.

*Title availability may vary. 

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