Hello, Neighbor!

Hello, Neighbor! is a picture book biography of Fred Rogers, the creator and host of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. It is written and illustrated by Matthew Cordell, a Caldecott Medal winner, and is the only authorized picture book biography of Rogers.

The story traces Rogers' early life and the events that led him to create his television show. Cordell's lively, colorful illustrations carry the telling, and archival photographs from Fred Rogers Productions, published here for the first time, give a behind-the-scenes look at the program and the people who worked to make it.

The show gave children and their families a place of comfort in hard times, a way to talk about what was happening around them and to feel hopeful about the future. Rogers took young viewers to art museums, introduced them to different kinds of work, and spoke with compassion and reassurance about difficult subjects such as the death of a loved one or their parents' divorce.

The back matter includes a short biography of Rogers, a history of the show, and a note from Cordell about why he has long admired Rogers and his neighborhood. Fans of the film A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, starring Tom Hanks, and anyone who wants to share ideals of kindness, patience and compassion with children will find it a good fit.