Today is Mr. Rogers’ birthday! He was born on 20 March 1928. Let’s celebrate this kind-hearted soul who definitely left the world a better place with his unconditional love and peaceful TV show. I watched his show often while growing up. I loved everything about it except for the character of Lady Elaine Fairchild, who scared me with her bulbous nose, and obnoxious ways. I also hated the operas put on by the citizens of the Neighborhood of Make-Believe. Yawn, they were so boring. I guess I wasn’t a cultured enough child to appreciate it all. But I loved most of the visits from the neighbors and the movies he showed in his living room. I also loved most of his music. My mom had his songbook that she bought in the 1960s when the show first came out, before I was born. It often was perched on piano, inviting us to play the music.

Here’s a fun book you can read today in honor of Mr. Rogers. It tells the story of his life, how we grew up lonely, sometimes being bullied, and sought refuge in his music and his imagination. It tells how he came up with his TV show and what a pioneer he was in creating thoughtful TV programming for children. It’s a sweet book with charming illustrations and reminds us of the wonderful legacy he left.

You don’t even have to run to the public library to read it. Just watch the video below, with the book read aloud by the author, Matthew Cordell.

Want more of Mr. Rogers?

Here’s a review of the Mr. Rogers card game.

Here’s his music with a jazzy beat. It’s Mr. Rogers meets swing! I love it!

Here’s a book written by a man who cultivated a healing friendship with Mr. Rogers.

We finished this book after I read it aloud for over a month to my three youngest children, during their kitchen cleaning/dishes time. I did read ahead and skip some parts and paraphrase because it’s written for adults and not kids. Mr. Rogers played a healing role in the author’s life, to help him heal from depression, a verbally abusive father, and the death of his brother, who died from cancer. So amazing! “I’m proud of you,” has become a phrase in our family now, which usually elicits laughter. Like when I climbed into bed one night. My husband’s head had already hit the pillow. I told him I had finished the book with the kids that day and he surprised me by saying, “I’m proud of you!” It made me burst out laughing. Anyway, I learned a lot about Mr. Rogers from reading it. He was amazing! He was a Christian minister who lived out his religion most definitely.