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Mister Rogers' Neighborhood

A Visual History

Foreword by Tom Hanks
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Hardcover (Paper-over-Board, no jacket)
$35.00 US
8.78"W x 10.27"H x 1.16"D   | 55 oz | 8 per carton
On sale Oct 29, 2019 | 336 Pages | 9781984826213
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A visual celebration of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, America’s most beloved children’s television show, including a foreword by Tom Hanks and a peek at the making of the feature film A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, in theaters Thanksgiving weekend.
 
Go behind the scenes of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood with this unprecedented dive into its storied history. More than fifty years ago, Fred Rogers, a modest television host, revolutionized children’s entertainment with a simple set design, quiet dialogue, and a few hand puppets playing out everyday situations. The effect was extraordinary: Mister Rogers created a relationship with millions of young viewers, each of whom felt as if they were visiting with a trusted friend. His radical kindness, acceptance, and empathy created a sacred place where everyone felt safe and valued. 

Featuring exclusive photographs; a guide to the characters, puppets, and episodes; original interviews; and rare ephemera, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood: A Visual History reveals how the show came together to have a deep impact on American culture. Discover wonderful anecdotes from Yo-Yo Ma and Wynton Marsalis as well as the actors, directors, art designers, producers, studio musicians, and more who devoted their careers to working with Fred. Chronicling the show's complete timeline—from its humble beginnings on WQED in Pittsburgh to its commemoration on the big screen in the feature film A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, starring Tom Hanks, based on a screenplay written by Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster and directed by Marielle Heller—this incredibly comprehensive book celebrates both Fred Rogers and the wonderful legacy of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.
“[Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood: A Visual History] takes readers on a journey from the show’s humble beginnings in Pittsburgh to international stardom and beyond. [It’s] a complete guide to all the magical characters that came from Fred’s mind [and it] touches on the magic of Fred’s show the way no other has.”Nerdist

“Not to be missed.”—GeekDad

“Did you love Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood as a child? Relive the beloved television show with the book’s exclusive photographs, a guide to the characters, puppets, and episodes as well as ephemera and original interviews.”—My Modern Met
Fred Rogers Productions inspires a lifetime of learning by creating quality children's media that models an enthusiasm for learning and earns the trust of parents and caregivers.

Max Dalton is a graphic artist and illustrator of Everything I Need to Know I Learned from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and The Wes Anderson Collection books by Matt Zoller Seitz. His work has also been featured in Vogue, GQ, The Sunday Times (UK), and many art and design blogs. View titles by Fred Rogers Productions
Foreword

Along with being the best neighbor a kid could want, Fred Rogers was also an ordained minister, though not one with ceremonial robes or a collar, but rather a zip-up cardigan sweater and a pair of blue sneakers. He had no church of his own, if you consider church as a place of brick and mortar, pews and stained-glass windows, pipe organs and hymnals. He did have a cozy living room and kitchen, an aquarium of hungry if nondescript  fish, and he sang songs that sprung from the conversations he was having. He gave no sermons to his parishioners, instead speaking with them in simple, commonsense tones, often asking questions. Despite having a daily TV show for so many years, he was by no means a TV preacher.

Fred Rogers knew where his ministry was, in the few feet on the other side of the TV screen. His congregation was the children who made watching Mister Rogers a part of their day. Without ever mentioning God, or using the word religion, Fred tended to the needs and the worries of his flock with ardent passion and preparation. His television programs were studied and precise works meant to address the infinite fears and questions faced by children: Can I get sucked down the drain of my bathtub? Am I safe in an airplane? Why am I so sad sometimes? For an appreciation of just how much Fred Rogers strived to make his congregation understand the workings of its world, look at his broadcasts dealing with death, assassination, and divorce.

What many people cannot fathom in Fred Rogers is that his affection, delight, and care for children was sincere. It was. His true faith was stated in the continuous message of his ministry, that each of us are special in our own way, that what is essential in life is invisible to the naked eye, and that he really did want us to be his neighbor.

Tom Hanks

Photos

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About

A visual celebration of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, America’s most beloved children’s television show, including a foreword by Tom Hanks and a peek at the making of the feature film A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, in theaters Thanksgiving weekend.
 
Go behind the scenes of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood with this unprecedented dive into its storied history. More than fifty years ago, Fred Rogers, a modest television host, revolutionized children’s entertainment with a simple set design, quiet dialogue, and a few hand puppets playing out everyday situations. The effect was extraordinary: Mister Rogers created a relationship with millions of young viewers, each of whom felt as if they were visiting with a trusted friend. His radical kindness, acceptance, and empathy created a sacred place where everyone felt safe and valued. 

Featuring exclusive photographs; a guide to the characters, puppets, and episodes; original interviews; and rare ephemera, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood: A Visual History reveals how the show came together to have a deep impact on American culture. Discover wonderful anecdotes from Yo-Yo Ma and Wynton Marsalis as well as the actors, directors, art designers, producers, studio musicians, and more who devoted their careers to working with Fred. Chronicling the show's complete timeline—from its humble beginnings on WQED in Pittsburgh to its commemoration on the big screen in the feature film A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, starring Tom Hanks, based on a screenplay written by Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster and directed by Marielle Heller—this incredibly comprehensive book celebrates both Fred Rogers and the wonderful legacy of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.

Praise

“[Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood: A Visual History] takes readers on a journey from the show’s humble beginnings in Pittsburgh to international stardom and beyond. [It’s] a complete guide to all the magical characters that came from Fred’s mind [and it] touches on the magic of Fred’s show the way no other has.”Nerdist

“Not to be missed.”—GeekDad

“Did you love Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood as a child? Relive the beloved television show with the book’s exclusive photographs, a guide to the characters, puppets, and episodes as well as ephemera and original interviews.”—My Modern Met

Author

Fred Rogers Productions inspires a lifetime of learning by creating quality children's media that models an enthusiasm for learning and earns the trust of parents and caregivers.

Max Dalton is a graphic artist and illustrator of Everything I Need to Know I Learned from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and The Wes Anderson Collection books by Matt Zoller Seitz. His work has also been featured in Vogue, GQ, The Sunday Times (UK), and many art and design blogs. View titles by Fred Rogers Productions

Excerpt

Foreword

Along with being the best neighbor a kid could want, Fred Rogers was also an ordained minister, though not one with ceremonial robes or a collar, but rather a zip-up cardigan sweater and a pair of blue sneakers. He had no church of his own, if you consider church as a place of brick and mortar, pews and stained-glass windows, pipe organs and hymnals. He did have a cozy living room and kitchen, an aquarium of hungry if nondescript  fish, and he sang songs that sprung from the conversations he was having. He gave no sermons to his parishioners, instead speaking with them in simple, commonsense tones, often asking questions. Despite having a daily TV show for so many years, he was by no means a TV preacher.

Fred Rogers knew where his ministry was, in the few feet on the other side of the TV screen. His congregation was the children who made watching Mister Rogers a part of their day. Without ever mentioning God, or using the word religion, Fred tended to the needs and the worries of his flock with ardent passion and preparation. His television programs were studied and precise works meant to address the infinite fears and questions faced by children: Can I get sucked down the drain of my bathtub? Am I safe in an airplane? Why am I so sad sometimes? For an appreciation of just how much Fred Rogers strived to make his congregation understand the workings of its world, look at his broadcasts dealing with death, assassination, and divorce.

What many people cannot fathom in Fred Rogers is that his affection, delight, and care for children was sincere. It was. His true faith was stated in the continuous message of his ministry, that each of us are special in our own way, that what is essential in life is invisible to the naked eye, and that he really did want us to be his neighbor.

Tom Hanks