Fred Rogers (1928–2003) was an enormously influential figure in the
history of television and in the lives of tens of millions of
children. As the creator and star of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,
he was a champion of compassion, equality, and kindness. Rogers was
fiercely devoted to children and to taking their fears, concerns, and
questions about the world seriously.
The Good
Neighbor, the first full-length biography of Fred Rogers, tells
the story of this utterly unique and enduring American icon. Drawing
on original interviews, oral histories, and archival documents,
Maxwell King traces Rogers’s personal, professional, and artistic
life through decades of work, including a surprising decision to walk
away from the show to make television for adults, only to return to
the neighborhood with increasingly sophisticated episodes, written in
collaboration with experts on childhood development. An engaging
story, rich in detail, The Good Neighbor is the definitive
portrait of a beloved figure, cherished by multiple generations.