The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers

by Maxwell King

Fred Rogers articulated his philosophy in written form, as well as in broadcasts. He wrote, coauthored, or contributed to almost three dozen books published during his life, and a few that were released immediately after his death in 2003. Many were service books meant to help parents and children (The New Baby, 1996; Making Friends, 1996; Going to the Potty, 1997; Going to the Hospital, 1997; When a Pet Dies, 1998; Let’s Talk About It: Divorce, 1998). But some of the later books were the offerings of a sage: You Are Special: Words of Wisdom from America’s Most Beloved Neighbor, 1994; The World According to Mister Rogers: Important Things to Remember, 2003; and Many Ways to Say I Love You: Wisdom for Parents and Children from Mister Rogers, 2006. Many of these are still in print and available online through the Fred Rogers Company website and in major retail outlets. The Giving Box (2000), which taught children lessons of generosity and community, came packaged with a tin bank in which kids could save coins to donate. The book contains fables from around the world that convey a tradition of giving (e.g., the Hebrew tale “The Brothers,” about two siblings who secretly help each other without the other’s knowledge, and Aesop’s “The Lion and the Mouse”). In his writing, Rogers was homespun in his wisdom and quite elegant in his wording, sometimes simultaneously. The art that won him honors for homiletics at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary often shines through. Former Fami...