Fred Rogers, known to generations as the caring and gentle host of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, has left an indelible mark on countless lives.
As a last minute holiday gift, consider a new posthumous book of quotes entitled This Beautiful Day, which contains 365 reflections drawn from his vast recorded legacy inviting readers to explore themes of kindness, community, and self-acceptance.
Whether navigating the ups and downs or seeking a moment of quiet motivation, every page is an invitation to generosity, compassion, and gratitude in Fred’s warm voice, reminding us of inherent daily delights.
Rogers saw the potential and possibility of media to help children explore the world around them, with special emphasis on their social-emotional learning. His impact is still felt today in the hearts and minds of young people and adults who continue to be nurtured and inspired by his timeless wisdom.
Among the selected quotes, you’ll find the following gems.
“I would like to tell you what I often told you when you were much younger: I like you just the way you are.”
“Many adults feel that they are falling short in one, if not all, of the “assignments” of their lives. They often feel they are failures. Well, people are not failures when they’re doing the best they can… Our performance doesn’t have to be measured against anyone else’s—just against our own abilities to cope.”
“There’s the good guy and the bad guy in all of us, but knowing that doesn’t ever need to overwhelm us. Whatever we adults can do to help ourselves—and anybody else—discover that that’s true can really make a difference in this life.”
“The world needs a sense of worth, and it will achieve it only by its people feeling that they are worthwhile.”
The moving introduction by LeVar Burton, an actor and lifelong advocate for literacy and learning, honors his old friend.
Burton’s role as the host of Reading Rainbow inspired generations of young readers. He writes “we met for the first time at a PBS function in Washington, DC, during the summer of 1983 or 1984, very early on in the production of Reading Rainbow.
“I remember being eager to meet the man behind what I was convinced was a television persona he’d created in Mr. Rogers. I was sure it was an act. It became immediately clear to me that Fred was not playing a character on TV; he was showing up as his authentic self in every episode.”
The book is part of the Day by Day series from Hachette Book Group, a collection of books designed to help infuse some meaning and intention into the simple habit of starting your day with a quote.
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