diff --git a/adafruit_led_animation/__init__.py b/adafruit_led_animation/__init__.py
index ff60e91..05102ca 100644
--- a/adafruit_led_animation/__init__.py
+++ b/adafruit_led_animation/__init__.py
@@ -28,13 +28,23 @@ def monotonic_ms():
         return monotonic_ns() // NANOS_PER_MS
 
 except (ImportError, NotImplementedError):
-    import time
-
-    def monotonic_ms():
-        """
-        Implementation of monotonic_ms for platforms without time.monotonic_ns
-        """
-        return int(time.monotonic() * MS_PER_SECOND)
+    try:
+        from time import monotonic
+
+        def monotonic_ms():
+            """
+            Implementation of monotonic_ms for platforms without time.monotonic_ns
+            """
+            return int(monotonic() * MS_PER_SECOND)
+
+    except (ImportError, NotImplementedError):
+        from time import time_ns
+
+        def monotonic_ms():
+            """
+            Implementation of monotonic_ms for platforms without time.monotonic_ns or time.monotonic
+            """
+            return time_ns() // NANOS_PER_MS
 
 
 NANOS_PER_MS = const(1000000)
diff --git a/adafruit_led_animation/animation/__init__.py b/adafruit_led_animation/animation/__init__.py
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index 87e1bf2..f54055f
--- a/adafruit_led_animation/animation/__init__.py
+++ b/adafruit_led_animation/animation/__init__.py
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 __repo__ = "https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_CircuitPython_LED_Animation.git"
 
 from adafruit_led_animation import MS_PER_SECOND, monotonic_ms
+from adafruit_led_animation.helper import pixel_object_show, pixel_object_auto_write_set
 
 
 class Animation:
@@ -41,7 +42,7 @@ class Animation:
     # pylint: disable=too-many-arguments
     def __init__(self, pixel_object, speed, color, peers=None, paused=False, name=None):
         self.pixel_object = pixel_object
-        self.pixel_object.auto_write = False
+        pixel_object_auto_write_set(pixel_object, False)
         self._peers = [self] + peers if peers is not None else [self]
         self._speed_ms = 0
         self._color = None
@@ -116,7 +117,7 @@ def show(self):
         """
         Displays the updated pixels.  Called during animates with changes.
         """
-        self.pixel_object.show()
+        pixel_object_show(self.pixel_object)
 
     @property
     def peers(self):
@@ -154,7 +155,7 @@ def fill(self, color):
         Fills the pixel object with a color.
         """
         self.pixel_object.fill(color)
-        self.pixel_object.show()
+        pixel_object_show(self.pixel_object)
 
     @property
     def color(self):
diff --git a/adafruit_led_animation/color.py b/adafruit_led_animation/color.py
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index 9f8b17a..a062797
--- a/adafruit_led_animation/color.py
+++ b/adafruit_led_animation/color.py
@@ -24,7 +24,41 @@
   https://circuitpython.org/downloads
 """
 # Makes colorwheel() available.
-from rainbowio import colorwheel  # pylint: disable=unused-import
+try:
+    from rainbowio import colorwheel  # pylint: disable=unused-import
+except (ImportError, ModuleNotFoundError):
+
+    def colorwheel(pos):
+        """
+        Generate a color from a position value on a color wheel.
+        This function maps an input position (0-255) to a color on a
+        virtual RGB color wheel. The colors transition smoothly through
+        red, green, and blue.
+        :param float pos: Position on the color wheel (0-255). Values outside
+                        this range will be wrapped around.
+        :return: color
+        """
+
+        # ref:
+        # https://github.com/adafruit/circuitpython/blob/main/shared-module/rainbowio/__init__.c
+        pos = pos - ((pos // 256) * 256)
+        shift1 = 0
+        shift2 = 0
+        if pos < 85:
+            shift1 = 8
+            shift2 = 16
+        elif pos < 170:
+            pos -= 85
+            shift1 = 0
+            shift2 = 8
+        else:
+            pos -= 170
+            shift1 = 16
+            shift2 = 0
+        pos_new = (int)(pos * 3)
+        pos_new = pos_new if (pos_new < 256) else 255
+        return (pos_new << shift1) | ((255 - pos_new) << shift2)
+
 
 RED = (255, 0, 0)
 """Red."""
diff --git a/adafruit_led_animation/grid.py b/adafruit_led_animation/grid.py
index b15254c..5e9ad31 100644
--- a/adafruit_led_animation/grid.py
+++ b/adafruit_led_animation/grid.py
@@ -26,7 +26,16 @@
 """
 from micropython import const
 
-from .helper import PixelMap, horizontal_strip_gridmap, vertical_strip_gridmap
+from .helper import (
+    PixelMap,
+    horizontal_strip_gridmap,
+    vertical_strip_gridmap,
+    pixel_object_show,
+    pixel_object_auto_write,
+    pixel_object_auto_write_set,
+    pixel_object_brightness,
+    pixel_object_brightness_set,
+)
 
 
 HORIZONTAL = const(1)
@@ -130,7 +139,7 @@ def __setitem__(self, index, val):
         else:
             raise ValueError("PixelGrid assignment needs a sub-index or x,y coordinate")
 
-        if self._pixels.auto_write:
+        if pixel_object_auto_write(self._pixels):
             self.show()
 
     def __getitem__(self, index):
@@ -150,12 +159,12 @@ def brightness(self):
         """
         brightness from the underlying strip.
         """
-        return self._pixels.brightness
+        return pixel_object_brightness(self._pixels)
 
     @brightness.setter
     def brightness(self, brightness):
         # pylint: disable=attribute-defined-outside-init
-        self._pixels.brightness = min(max(brightness, 0.0), 1.0)
+        pixel_object_brightness_set(self._pixels, brightness)
 
     def fill(self, color):
         """
@@ -170,18 +179,19 @@ def show(self):
         """
         Shows the pixels on the underlying strip.
         """
-        self._pixels.show()
+        pixel_object_show(self._pixels)
 
     @property
     def auto_write(self):
         """
         auto_write from the underlying strip.
         """
-        return self._pixels.auto_write
+        return pixel_object_auto_write(self._pixels)
 
     @auto_write.setter
     def auto_write(self, value):
-        self._pixels.auto_write = value
+        # pylint: disable=attribute-defined-outside-init
+        pixel_object_auto_write_set(self._pixels, value)
 
 
 def reverse_x_mapper(width, mapper):
diff --git a/adafruit_led_animation/group.py b/adafruit_led_animation/group.py
index 2377d1d..54731aa 100644
--- a/adafruit_led_animation/group.py
+++ b/adafruit_led_animation/group.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 __repo__ = "https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_CircuitPython_LED_Animation.git"
 
 from adafruit_led_animation.animation import Animation
+from adafruit_led_animation.helper import pixel_object_show
 
 
 class AnimationGroup:
@@ -146,7 +147,7 @@ def animate(self, show=True):
                 for member in self._members:
                     if isinstance(member, Animation):
                         if last_strip != member.pixel_object:
-                            member.pixel_object.show()
+                            pixel_object_show(member.pixel_object)
                             last_strip = member.pixel_object
                     else:
                         member.show()
diff --git a/adafruit_led_animation/helper.py b/adafruit_led_animation/helper.py
index b033b58..0fd2dbf 100644
--- a/adafruit_led_animation/helper.py
+++ b/adafruit_led_animation/helper.py
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ def __setitem__(self, index, val):
         else:
             self._set_pixels(index, val)
 
-        if self._pixels.auto_write:
+        if pixel_object_auto_write(self._pixels):
             self.show()
 
     def __getitem__(self, index):
@@ -161,12 +161,12 @@ def brightness(self):
         """
         brightness from the underlying strip.
         """
-        return self._pixels.brightness
+        return pixel_object_brightness(self._pixels)
 
     @brightness.setter
     def brightness(self, brightness):
         # pylint: disable=attribute-defined-outside-init
-        self._pixels.brightness = min(max(brightness, 0.0), 1.0)
+        pixel_object_brightness_set(self._pixels, brightness)
 
     def fill(self, color):
         """
@@ -182,18 +182,19 @@ def show(self):
         """
         Shows the pixels on the underlying strip.
         """
-        self._pixels.show()
+        pixel_object_show(self._pixels)
 
     @property
     def auto_write(self):
         """
         auto_write from the underlying strip.
         """
-        return self._pixels.auto_write
+        return pixel_object_auto_write(self._pixels)
 
     @auto_write.setter
     def auto_write(self, value):
-        self._pixels.auto_write = value
+        # pylint: disable=attribute-defined-outside-init
+        pixel_object_auto_write_set(self._pixels, value)
 
     @classmethod
     def vertical_lines(cls, pixel_object, width, height, gridmap):
@@ -310,3 +311,57 @@ def __init__(self, pixel_object, start, end):
             pixel_ranges=[[n] for n in range(start, end)],
             individual_pixels=True,
         )
+
+
+def pixel_object_show(pixel_object):
+    """
+    Show the pixel object.  This is a helper function to handle both
+    MicroPython and CircuitPython.
+    :param pixel_object: The pixel object to show/write to.
+    """
+    if hasattr(pixel_object, "show"):
+        pixel_object.show()
+    elif hasattr(pixel_object, "write"):
+        pixel_object.write()
+
+
+def pixel_object_auto_write(pixel_object):
+    """
+    Get the auto_write property of the pixel object.
+    :param pixel_object: The pixel object to get the auto_write property from.
+    :return: The auto_write property of the pixel object.
+    """
+    if hasattr(pixel_object, "auto_write"):
+        return pixel_object.auto_write
+    return False
+
+
+def pixel_object_auto_write_set(pixel_object, value):
+    """
+    Set the auto_write property of the pixel object.
+    :param pixel_object: The pixel object to set the auto_write property on.
+    :param value: The value to set the auto_write property to.
+    """
+    if hasattr(pixel_object, "auto_write"):
+        pixel_object.auto_write = value
+
+
+def pixel_object_brightness(pixel_object):
+    """
+    Get the brightness property of the pixel object.
+    :param pixel_object: The pixel object to get the brightness property from.
+    :return: The brightness property of the pixel object.
+    """
+    if hasattr(pixel_object, "brightness"):
+        return pixel_object.brightness
+    return 1.0
+
+
+def pixel_object_brightness_set(pixel_object, value):
+    """
+    Set the brightness property of the pixel object.
+    :param pixel_object: The pixel object to set the brightness property on.
+    :param value: The value to set the brightness property to.
+    """
+    if hasattr(pixel_object, "brightness"):
+        pixel_object.brightness = value