On Becoming Neighbors: The Communication Ethics of Fred Rogers

Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood (1962–2001) was an entertaining and groundbreaking children’s TV series that imparted lessons on ethics, family, self-esteem, friendship, respect, and learning—for viewers of all ages. In this well-researched study, Klarén (Johns Hopkins Carey Business Sch.) thoroughly examines the show’s impact on educational television and U.S. culture. Drawing on expert studies, material from the Fred Rogers Archives, and other resources, she explores the show, from the many people who stopped by host Fred Rogers’s house to the puppets in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe. The author also looks at the program’s use of everyday objects, conversations, problem-solving, fantasy, and play, as well as Rogers’s effective way of relating to his audience. Detailed, striking analyses of scenes and episodes and well-crafted examples of Rogers’s philosophies of communication and learning reveal the layers of preparation that went into the series.