Drawing on original interviews, oral histories and archival documents, the author traces the iconic children's program host's personal, professional, and artistic life through decades of work.

Prologue: A beautiful day -- Freddy -- Breathing room -- College days -- Love and music -- Basic training -- The Children's Corner -- On-air ministry -- Dr. Margaret McFarland -- Toronto and the CBC -- The birth of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood -- The Pastore hearing -- Language and meaning -- Mister Rogers, boss and teacher -- Puppet world -- On hiatus -- He's back! -- Behind the scenes in the Neighborhood -- Fred Rogers, musician -- Mister Rogers's family values -- Fearless authenticity -- Swimming -- The legacy -- The end of the Neighborhood -- America's favorite neighbor -- Mister Rogers lives on -- Epilogue: A personal note on the importance of Fred Rogers.