Bound To Stay Bound

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Booklist - 06/01/2019 *Starred Review* As a boy, Freddie Rogers suffered from allergies and illnesses that often kept him indoors. It was hard to make friends, and bullies sometimes chased him. Though grown-ups advised him to hide his emotions, he learned to express them through puppetry and music. Grandpa McFeely was an ally, telling Fred that he was special and that “he liked him just the way he was.” As an adult, Rogers created a children’s television show, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, in which he spoke directly to children, sometimes used puppets, and sang his own songs, all the while passing along the messages and tools that had supported him through his own childhood. Writing with simplicity, emotional clarity, and a sense of purpose, Reid tells Fred Rogers’ story in a meaningful, sometimes moving way. Phelan’s fluid pencil-and-watercolor artwork brings that story to life on the page. Whether depicting the fearful boy running from neighborhood bullies or Rogers as an adult delivering a message to his “television friends,” the sensitively drawn, beautifully composed illustrations illuminate the scenes. Following an appended page offering additional biographical information, the writer and illustrator each reflect on watching Rogers’ TV show (one as a parent, the other as a child) and their approaches to telling his story. A beautifully crafted, heartfelt picture-book biography. - Copyright 2019 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 08/01/2019 PreS-Gr 2—A quietly moving picture book biography about the origin story of Mister Rogers. In straightforward language, Reid lays out the facts of Fred "Freddie" Rogers's childhood—bouts of sickness that forced him to remain inside for weeks on end, loneliness that laid the foundation for an expansive imagination, bullying, and a close relationship with his grandfather, who showed love and unconditional support and gifted young Freddie with the words that would shape his own philosophy: that he "was special and that, just by being himself, [he] made the day special, too." Phelan's soft pencil work and washes of watercolor give the artwork an appropriately nostalgic feel, while bright pops of green and red—Fred's iconic cardigans—draw the eye and underscore the unique power of Mister Rogers to inspire an almost instantaneous bond with his viewers. Young readers who may not be familiar with Mister Rogers' Neighborhood but who've likely enjoyed its successors, especially Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, will learn about the man behind the creation of the original Neighborhood of Make-Believe and his path from shy boy to the visionary who revolutionized educational television for children. Back matter, including a brief biography, notes from Reid and Phelan, and a selected bibliography will help students understand the emotional impact Fred Rogers had—and continues to have—on generations of children. VERDICT With the popularity of Daniel Tiger and the recent Morgan Neville documentary (Won't You Be My Neighbor?) and the upcoming biopic starring Tom Hanks, it is an ideal time to introduce the next generation to the pure magic of Mister Rogers and his legacy. His enduring message to children of all ages—that you are enough, just as you are—can never be overstated.—Kiera Parrott, School Library Journal - Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

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