Hello, Neighbor!: The Kind and Caring World of Mister Rogers
Author: Matthew Cordell
Illustrator: Matthew Cordell
Neal Porter Books
6 April 2020
40 pages

This month’s PB review is by Ryan G. Van Cleave (Biggest Mister Rogers Fan at Only Picture Books) and Florida author-​illustrator Loreen Leedy, a friend of the OPB family.

–Ryan’s Review of the Writing–

Hello, Neighbor, an authorized biography, takes a direct chronological approach to the life of Fred McFeely Rogers (1928–2003). A lot of care is given to establishing the motivation for Fred’s later commitment to creating quality educational TV programming, starting from being bullied as a child to his growing faith to his sincere interest in becoming a minister.

Then came this: In those days, television was new and just beginning to become popular. And Fred didn’t like what he saw.

Fred decided he could do better. So, what he did was learn the industry from the inside out, then he brought his love for puppetry and music to bear with the première of Mister Roger’s Neighborhood in February 1968. Fred’s interest in welcoming and accepting others was key to all he did–it’s why “Police Office Clemmons was the first African American character to appear in a recurring role on a children’s television series.” Through the many guests to The Neighborhood, viewers also encountered artists, musicians, and people from all walks of life.

One noteworthy linguistic technique is the shift to first-​person plural–we–once Fred’s own show is underway. That might be a choice that represents Fred’s inclusivity or the lasting impact of his work, though many young readers of today won’t be as familiar with The Neighborhood as their adult reading companions will surely be, so they’re not exactly part of the aforementioned “we.” But no doubt, they’d like to be after reading/​hearing so many good things about Fred.

The nonfiction element of Fred’s story doesn’t quite allow for the richness of language and the poetry of sound to emerge within the lines themselves, though perhaps that sense of beauty instead is found in the accompanying artwork done in Cordell’s sketchy-​scratchy style. Cordell is a skilled artist and his soft imagery has a leisurely sensibility that fits the mood of Fred’s life.

The back matter–archival images, a robust About page, visual glossary, and more–is necessary to give a deeper sense of all that Fred did to earn his lasting legacy. And inspirational quotes that get to the heart of who he was and what he believed in are prominently displayed on endpapers.

There are few adults I can think of who are more universally beloved and respected than Fred Rogers. This book serves as a welcome tribute to this admirable, kind-​hearted man.

4 out of 5 pencils

– Loreen’s Review of the Illustrations–

4 out of 5 crayons

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