It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day for a neighbor. Sound familiar?
Comfy sweaters, tiny trolleys and friendly neighbors. These are just a few things that many people associate with Fred Rogers and his iconic children’s television show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.”
March 20, Fred Rogers’ birthday, is “Won’t You Be My Neighbor Day”, a celebration of the life and legacy of Fred Rogers and “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”.
Fred Rogers started his career in television in the 1950s in Pittsburgh. He was a program manager for the station WQED and a co-producer, puppeteer and organist for the tv program “The Children’s Corner”.
Rogers, who went to seminary school and was a Presbyterian minister, pursued a graduate degree in child development and was passionate about creating a show that would support children and their families. Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood first launched in Pittsburgh in 1966 and was aired nationally for the first time in 1968.
While the show ran from 1968 to 2001 for 895 episodes, it has had an everlasting impact on people of all ages in the decades since the show stopped airing. Fred Rogers’ legacy is one of empathy and kindness for our neighbors in our local community.
To celebrate “Won’t You Be My Neighbor Day”, celebrate kindness in your neighborhood! Share a few kind words with a friend in your life or a stranger in your community. Share a few fun facts about Mr. Rogers and the tv show, like:
- All of Mr. Rogers’ cardigans that he wore on the shoe were handmade by his mother. One of the sweaters is even hanging in the Smithsonian Institute!
- Fred Rogers learned to play the piano at five years old. He wrote almost all of the music for the show!
- During each season of the show, the iconic Trolley traveled almost 5000 miles.
You can also consider giving back to your community through agencies like Volunteer New York. And don’t forget about your neighborhood at YPL! Check out our wide variety of upcoming programs both online and in-person at Riverfront, Will, and Crestwood.
On Saturday, March 23 at 10:30 AM, Crestwood Saturday Storytime will be Mister Rogers Neighborhood Celebration. We hope to see you there or anywhere in the YPL neighborhood!
Alison Robles is a Part-Time Junior Clerk at the Crestwood Library. She is an avid reader with a passion for YA lit, historical fiction and fantasy. A Yonkers native, she is currently pursuing an MS in Information and Library Science from the University at Buffalo.