You Are Special: Words of Wisdom from America's Most Beloved Neighbor - Fred Rogers

The words of Fred Rogers' grandfather, the man he was named after - Fred Brooks McFeely - impacted Mr. Rogers his entire life: "Freddy, I like you. Just the way you are." As a young man, Rogers was frustrated by children's programs that seemed to consist primarily of pies in the face and slapstick. While working as a puppeteer and organist for an hour-long live daily program for young people called The Children’s Corner, Fred attended seminary and was ordained as a Presbyterian minister with a special charge to serve children and their families through the mass media. He later studied child development. Those who only know Rogers through his children program may not realize how profound his personal writings can be. This book is a collection of select quotes on topics such as relationships, childhood, play, discipline, learning, parenting, and communication. Most of his wisdom revolves around accepting our need to love and be loved, to be formed in safe communities, to understand our inherent uniqueness while also recognizing how we are, in many ways, intimately connected with one another - sharing many of the same feelings and experiences.