He wasn’t afraid to put his feet in a tub of water with a black man, or introduce Jeff, a disabled child, along with many other guests to break down walls of prejudice, racism and other serious subjects. His message of loving you “just the way you are”, and broaching heavy topics of divorce and death made him a unique voice. His program was the most successful children’s program on public television due to his vision, commitment and singular ability to talk to children on their level. My opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advanced copy.Fred Rogers is beloved by millions of people - children, now adults, who remember Mr. Thanks to Netgalley, Abrams Press, and Maxwell King for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. An engaging story, rich in detail, The Good Neighbor is the definitive portrait of a beloved figure, cherished by multiple generations. King explores Rogers’s surprising decision to walk away from his show to make television for adults, only to return to the neighborhood with increasingly sophisticated episodes, written in collaboration with experts on childhood development. Drawing on original interviews, oral histories, and archival documents, Maxwell King traces Rogers’s personal, professional, and artistic life through decades of work. The Good Neighbor, the first full-length biography of Fred Rogers, tells the story of this utterly unique and enduring American icon. Rogers was fiercely devoted to children and to taking their fears, concerns, and questions about the world seriously. Through his long-running television program, he was a champion of compassion, equality, and kindness.

The New York Times bestseller: “A superb, thoughtful biography” of the creator and star of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood (David McCullough).įred Rogers was an enormously influential figure in the history of television and in the lives of tens of millions of children.

The Good Neighbor by Maxwell King