Fred’s Big Feelings: The Life and Legacy of Mister Rogers is a love story to Fred Rogers.vand Bridgett Barrager start this book with the iconic living room many of us grew up “in”. Then they head back to 1930’s Philadelphia where we see how Fred Rogers became Mr. Rogers: a boy teased for his weight and had asthma, so he was unable to play like other kids. And finally, we end back in that famous living room. The life, times and thought of Rogers comes to life with the tone of Rogers himself. The afterwards gives more information on the man who is synonymous with children’s television.
Renauld might be a bit optimistic and does not show anything negative, but instead highlights the highlights of the show. We see the iconic Officer Clements and Mr. Rogers sharing the swimming pool, we see the trolley, we see the beloved characters.
The art is realistic but in an imaginative manner. The feel of them also mirrors the feeling of Rogers himself. Both show the feelings he did not shy away from on his show. We also see a little bit of the history of children’s television.
I teared up learning that Mr. Fred Rogers sang the “Mad Song” in Congress when public television was being threated to have funding cut. In other words, he still making emotions over a decade after his death.
Love him or hate him, despite any controversy around him (some say he is responsible for the “we are all special” spoiled attitudes of multiple generations) this is a great introduction, but complete, picture biography.