"A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: The Poetry of Mister Rogers" is full of heartfelt verses that capture the essence of Mister Rogers' kind and caring spirit. I am an elementary school librarian, and I purchased this book for my library as soon as I saw it available. As a fan of Fred Rogers and his iconic show, I was eager to explore this poetic collection, and it did not disappoint. The book opens with a touching foreword that provides insights into Mister Rogers' love for poetry and how he used it as a medium to communicate with children and adults alike. The poetry featured in this collection is simple, yet deeply meaningful. Mister Rogers had a unique way of touching hearts with his words, and his poetry is no exception. What I appreciated most about "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" is the way it feels like a personal conversation with Mister Rogers himself. The poems read as if he is speaking directly to you, assuring you that you are loved and valued. The accompanying illustrations by Luke Flowers beautifully complement the verses, adding a touch of whimsy and visual appeal. As a librarian, "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" has provided a wonderful opportunity to introduce my students to the timeless wisdom of Mister Rogers. It has sparked meaningful discussions about empathy, emotions, and the importance of being kind to ourselves and others. Read more
Beautiful illustrations and inspirational poetry. It was nostalgic for me to read through my favorites and share them with my children. I think adults would do well to remember the things we learned watching Mr. Roger's Neighborhood. Read more
This book is a must for any fan of Fred Rogers! 75 songs presented as poetry with fun, colorful illustrations. The poems, much like Mister Roger's Neighborhood, touch on many things that go through children's minds. It will make you laugh, cry, and inspire you to be more like that incredible man on the TV who always liked us no matter what. These poems encouraged my kids to open up more about fears and concerns that I didn't really know they had. We watch Mister Rogers and Daniel Tiger all the time in our home, but something about sitting down with them in the evening and reading through some of these really gets them talking. It's a beautiful way to end the day with your babies. A nice reminder of just how their little brains hold so much wonder about life and how desperately they look to us adults to help them understand it. Fred Rogers is one of the very best examples of how wonderful us humans can be when we decide to love everyone we meet...starting with the very smallest ones. Read more
Absolutely wonderful book of poems. I have three boys and even the almost-nine year old is captivated by the positive, reassuring, kind messages inside. It's all about self-control, loving yourself as you are, and finding beauty and fun in simple things. I'll admit that even as an adult I find peace reading this book. I bought it specifically because I think Mr. Rogers was the absolute best, and I'm not disappointed! The artwork is also lovely - and I love that we spied a sort of Easter egg: in one of the pictures, a boy is reading a book with a little, familiar-looking ninja on the cover. If you know the Moby Shinobi books, the same guy who wrote and illustrated those is the illustrator for this book of poems! Pretty cool. I think the only thing that was a little disappointing was that not all of the poems were actually written by Mister Rogers - some of them are songs that he wrote the music for but the lyrics/words were by someone else. A bit of a bummer. Read more
When Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood began its run on PBS, I was in my early teens, yet I found myself often watching the program simply because Mr. Rogers was such a calming presence for me when much of the rest of my life was falling apart. The same thing would happen throughout much of my adult life, and it was a terribly sad day for me when he passed away. This book of poetry is just fantastic! These poems have deep meaning to people of all ages and get their points across pleasantly, yet pointedly. The book is beautifully designed and should be an essential part of everyone's library, even if you don't have children (like me). Read more
This is a wonderful book for those of us who grew up on Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. The poems are sweet and simple. They will whisk you back to your childhood and you can practically hear Mr. Rogers singing/reciting these to you as you sit and have a snack after school. The illustrations are fun and creative. My youngest daughter calls this her Daniel Tiger book, we're so glad we purchased this and would totally make a great gift for young, old and everyone in between. Read more
The media could not be loaded. I grew up watching Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, and as a kid my favorite segments were when he sang. However it wasn't until I got older and had children that I really understood the lyrics and the special principles it teaches. They weren't just for entertainment, but taught special lessons that I remember listening to and repeating as a child. Now that I'm older I realize that I applied these lessons without even knowing it. I love having this book to be able to read them to my children and pass down those invaluable things (which are needed more now than ever) that I absorbed naturally as a kid. Read more
My kids- both mine and other parent's kids I refer to as "my kids" (I am an early childhood educator) love this book of poems! I was pleasantly surprised to find so many emotionally intelligent poems that are not just upbeat and pro-social, but many that are also very fitting for some of the more difficult and dark emotions children are wrestling with. I honestly got a little teary-eyed reading it, and sat with some tea late at night in my bed, reading through it, thinking of which of my kids would connect with which poems, leaving tabbed book marks in the pages. There is something for everyone in this book. I originally flipped though it at a bookstore chain, but found it here on Amazon for more than $10 cheaper. Read more
