Narrators John Lithgow and Kate Mulgrew alternately share poems and songs created by Fred Rogers for his long-standing television show. Rogers’s messages affirm children and give voice to the myriad feelings, good and bad, that all people feel from time to time. Wonder, joy, questions, exploration, outsides and insides, a new baby, one-of-a-kindness, needs emotional and material are examples of the breadth of Rogers’s words. Lithgow’s voice has its own richness, reminiscent of Rogers’s own. His tone is firm and straightforward. When his voice expresses the anger of a poem, for example, he soon becomes calm as the anger fades. Kate Mulgrew is equally genuine and sets a pace for children’s consideration of each message. A.R. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

01/07/2019

Delivering on the page the same reassurance they originally imparted on the TV screen, these 75 uplifting songs elucidate the late Fred Rogers’s legacy of positivity and compassion. Through recurring themes considered from various angles, the author empathically validates children’s changeable emotions, urging them to articulate their feelings and to realize they are not alone. The verse is never repetitive, however. Rogers puts different spins on the importance of looking beyond appearances, for example, in the whimsical “Things Are Different” (“When I put on a costume/ To play a fancy part/ That costume changes just my looks./ It doesn’t change my heart”) and in the more direct “It’s You I Like” (“It’s you I like./ It’s not the things you wear/ It’s not the way you do your hair/ But it’s you I like”). Tackling childhood head-on yet gently, these poems embody Rogers’s signature message: “You’re a beautiful, marvelous, spirited, lovely,/ Wonderful one of a kind!” His on-point vocabulary, cadence, and rhyming, in concert with the universal childhood experiences the poems address, give this compilation broad accessibility and appeal. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 6–8. (Mar.)

A Parents' Choice Gold Award winner
A 2019 Goodreads Choice Awards Winner
A Red Tricycle Best Kids Book of 2019

“This treasure trove of gentle wisdom and playful fun, complemented by the sunny charm of Luke Flowers' illustrations...speak[s] directly to children about communicating, recognizing and dealing with emotions, and self-acceptance.”—Parents' Choice Foundation

“Earnest messages, lighthearted flights of fancy, and familiar phrases [are] found in the poems gathered here…[and] Flowers’ illustrations are energetic.”—Kirkus Reviews 

“Perfect for bedtime, sing-along, or quiet time alone, this beautifully presented volume of meaningful, inspiring, entertaining poetry is nicely illustrated by Luke Flowers, making it unreservedly recommended for family, elementary school, and community library poetry collections for children ages 6-8.”—Children's Bookwatch

“The collection is the perfect read for young kids as well as the millions of adults who grew up watching Mister Rogers on TV.”—Paste Magazine

“The poems in this fun collection range from silly to sensitive, uplifting to energizing, always keeping kids' feelings center stage.”—Common Sense Media 

“A heartfelt and indeed beautiful collection for both older fans and a new generation to share.”—Booklist

“Now we can remember the charm and love presented by this cherished personality with a collection of 75 of his songs presented as poetry in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: The Poetry of Mister Rogers.”—Florida Times Union Jacksonville 

“Illustrator Luke Flowers' vivid, cheerful pictures enhance this collection of songs presented as poetry. It is sure to convey to children that they are loved and treasured.”—The Banner

 “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood will make everybody happy.”—The Bookworm Sez 

“This gorgeous book is like mainlining nostalgia for a more carefree time.”—The Roar Bots

“This lovely book shares 75 of his delightful songs, all illustrated with familiar characters and settings that will bring joy to those who remember the happy times they spent in his neighborhood.”—Story Monsters Ink

“Mister Rogers will remind you what it means to be an educator, and what it means to be a person in this world.”—EdSurge

Narrators John Lithgow and Kate Mulgrew alternately share poems and songs created by Fred Rogers for his long-standing television show. Rogers’s messages affirm children and give voice to the myriad feelings, good and bad, that all people feel from time to time. Wonder, joy, questions, exploration, outsides and insides, a new baby, one-of-a-kindness, needs emotional and material are examples of the breadth of Rogers’s words. Lithgow’s voice has its own richness, reminiscent of Rogers’s own. His tone is firm and straightforward. When his voice expresses the anger of a poem, for example, he soon becomes calm as the anger fades. Kate Mulgrew is equally genuine and sets a pace for children’s consideration of each message. A.R. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine