Customer Reviews

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood - A Day at the Circus

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When Fred Rogers passed away in 2003, I was surprised by the welling up of emotion I felt... I had, of course, watched him on TV when I was little and alwys liked him, although I intuitively knew the show was a bit babyish... Then, when "Sesame Street" came along, I switched my allegiance... I wanted to watch the more "grown-up" show...:-) but I always felt a lingering fondness for Mr. Rogers, and while an increasingly cynical popular culture made fun of his doting sweetness, I never did.

Now, a parent with a child of my own, in search of non-disturbing entertainment that won't insult the intelligence of a little kid, I've come back to Mister Rogers' neighborhood, and it feels like home. Sadly, amazingly, inexplicably, there are only three DVDs of Mister Rogers material to be found(!) and they are all from his later years, when his hair was grey and he tended to drop things a lot... But the sweetness, the sincerity, the earnest desire to make the world a better place still comes through loud and clear. Mister Rogers is a comforting presence, and his Land of Make Believe is still as magical as ever: we were hooked. It's a pity you can't see all the old stuff, too -- I imagine in a few years it will all be available online as downloads, but I'm sad that we will have to miss it, when the time is so right. Oh, well.

Anyway, these DVD editions are nice, although they do have their quirks. "A Day At The Circus" is one of the best because it has two stand-alone episodes, one about visiting the circus and another about making music. The footage of live animals and chats with various circus performers is nice, and as ever Mr. Rogers aims at making life easier for the littlest people: one of the messages he gives them is that it's okay to want to leave the circus if you feel you've "had enough", and that it's okay to say so to your parents.

The other discs are wonderful, too, though a little more problematic in that they tell whole stories, but in a fractured fashion. As longtime viewers will know, Mr. Rogers would continue plotlines from day to day, so that a story might begin on Monday but not be resolved until Friday... So for example, in one storyline two Make Believe characters get in a fight, but the resolution comes several days later. All very well and fine, except that there are only two episodes on each disc, so we see the beginning, and get the set-up, but when the next episode comes up there are references fto all many events that happened in the interim -- the lesson is still learned, but the gap in the narrative is disconcerting, and shows a surprising lack of respect for the audience. Nonetheless, this was a wonderful show, and if these discs are the only material available to households that do not watch "real" TV, they are still certainly worth watching. Hopefully the folks at Anchor Bay (Rogers' company) will open the vaults soon, and more Make Believe magic will be available again.

This DVD is very good because it includes an excellent episode on music. The other Mister Rogers DVD available at Amazon.com is also great because is focuses on friendship and love.

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood is probably the best show ever made for children, because he understands the educational and emotional needs of young children. It may not be obvious, but quite a bit of thought was put into the design, format and content of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.

Mister Rogers teaches young children to value themselves and respect others. He speaks to them directly on his show and encourages them to use their creativity. He brings them on field trips to interesting places, like a farm, bakery, barber shop, and balloon factory.

He is a good person - an educator - to invite into your home and share time with your child. If your young child does not watch Mister Rogers, she should. His goal is not catchy entertainment, but to help very young children with their early development. His message is simple.

"You're special.

"I like you just the way you are.

"There's only one person in the whole world just like you."

His television show is not as popular as it used to be (once hugely popular) and not as popular as other commercial, shallow television programs. It is not targeted at adults. Instead Mister Rogers is educational entertainment for young children ages two, three, four, and five; the little ones learning to count one-two-three-four-five, tie their shoes, and just beginning to understand themselves and their worlds. That's why Mister Rogers's Neighborhood is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics - your child's doctor.

Fred Rogers is a genius of early childhood education. He wrote over 150 songs, produced and wrote almost all of his shows, and staged most of his puppets himself. He collected four Emmy Awards, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Academy of Television and Arts Sciences, numerous honorary degrees, and other awards. One of his red cardigan sweaters is enshrined in the Smithsonian Institute. Despite his success, he refused opportunities to get rich off his fame and remained a humble man committed to his cause of quality entertainment for young children.

He became widely recognized as a trusted authority on early childhood education, testifying before Congress and interviewed frequently. In an Associated Press Interview he said, "We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It's easy to say `It's not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem.' Then there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people my heroes."

Fred Rogers is one of the unsung heroes of our society, helping children to learn about themselves, learn about the world, like themselves, and respect other people. He was very special.

Mister Rogers is excellent entertainment for your child. This DVD is highly recommended.

Mister Rogers is a classic. A show that began in my parents time, that raised most children in my generation and now my children love it as well. What an amazing show that can span so many generations and yet be loved by all. Mister Rogers is one of those nice people who just make you feel good about yourself. I read him say once that the three feet between him and the children sitting in their homes from California to New York was sacred space and he dedicated his life to honor that space and those children. Such an amazing man. Anyone who has watched the show with their children know how delighted they get when he comes on the screen.

Mister Rogers Neighborhood is an educational springwell and a delight to watch. If you want the best for your kids, this is a MUST-HAVE DVD!

Wouldn't that be lovely!? Well at least now we can bring a little of it back home with us into our neighborhood. My niece turns four this month and I look forward to giving her this and the Mister Rogers- 'Adventures in Friendship' DVD. I know she is going to love it as much as I remember loving this show. Her mother and I would watch it everyday. I have such great memories associated with this show. What a pleasure it will be to create some new ones with my new niece!

Filled to the brim with positive reinforcement and educational material taught at a slow pace so children can absorb it, Mister Rogers, remains after 30 years on PBS one of the best possible educational shows on television. Mister Rogers makes every child feel special and loved while helping them learn the moral lessons that are missing in so much current children's programming.

I would give this DVD more stars if they would let me... like 75 or so. :)

Now you can bring a little bit of Mister Rogers Neighborhood home with you into your very own neighborhood.

My niece turns four this month and I look forward to giving her this and the Mister Rogers- 'Adventures in Friendship' DVD. I know she is going to love it as much as I remember loving this show. Her mother and I would watch it everyday. I have such great memories associated with this show. What a pleasure it will be to create some new ones with my new niece!

Filled to the brim with positive reinforcement and educational material taught at a slow pace so children can absorb it, Mister Rogers, remains after 30 years on PBS one of the best possible educational shows on television. Mister Rogers makes every child feel special and loved while helping them learn the moral lessons that are missing in so much current children's programming.

My children (ages 4 and 1) and I are huge Mister Roger's fans. We have all the DVDs because our PBS station no longer airs the program. This one is my daughter's (age 4) particular favorite because as she puts it " she has never been to the circus" I love it becaue it came with a great hard to find CD of Mister Rogers' music and stories preformed by himself.

The fist episode: Circus Fun: Mister Rogers visits the circus and Chuckles the clown. He also sees baby chicks. In the land of make-believe, a caterpillar learns to like herself the way she is and then turns into a butterfly and Daniel Striped Tiger talks about his fear of clowns and costumes.

The second episode: Musical Adventures: Mister rogers visits a friend with a really cool collection of musical instruments. My daughter loves the gongs. In the land of make-believe, characters put on a base violin festival, with music, dancing, and puppets.

Also included is a tour of a pretzel factory. Very fun. My daughter wanted to eat pretzels for weeks.

I bought this DVD for my best friend's daughter along with the other Mister Rogers DVD ("Adventures In Friendship") and she LOVES them. She has made me watch it with her at least 10 times. I can only imagine how many times she has watched it when I haven't been there!? She loves to sing-along to the DVD even though she can't really understand the words yet. Aren't kids just too funny sometimes!? If you are looking for a DVD for a toddler. THIS IS IT. --- EDUCATIONAL --- ENTERTAINING --- PERFECT!!!

As with all the Mr. Roger's Neighborhood programs, you and your child will go away feeling better about yourself after watching. A Day at the Circus also gives you a behind the scene glimpse of a world totally foreign to most of us which is a good lead-in to discussing how people are all different yet all the same. We need more shows like this to prepare our children for life. My granddaughter asks to watch it over and over again.

I hadn't seen Mr. Rogers Neighborhood in over 30 years until I recently purchased this DVD for my three-year old. I am delighted (and a little teary-eyed still) to say that he adores this DVD, as do I. There is nothing dated about Mr. Rogers' approach to teaching and speaking to children. His loving, attentive manner and creative and calm approach to teaching self-esteem and showing kindness is as vibrant now as it was decades ago. It warms my heart to see my little son moved and delighted by Mr. Rogers words and songs.

One of the episodes on this DVD ("Musical Adventure") is a field trip to the home of a musicologist with an exquisite array of instruments from around the world, which informs and delights both children and adults. The other is a trip to the circus and shows what goes on behind the scenes as well as during the show (how clowns prepare, how cicus families live and travel with the circus and create a "backyard" at the circus when they travel, etc). Both episodes also include sweet forrays to the Neighborhood of Make Believe and talk about feelinga and friendship.

As with all Mr. Rogers episodes, these two are deliberately slow in pace, with allows children to process the information they are being presented with, to ask questions, and to to think sort the feelings the information presented stirs in them. Music was very important to Mr. Rogers, and he understood how powerful it is for children in making transitions and expressing feelings. In addition to beginning both episodes by singing "Won't You be my Neighbor" and ending with the song "Good Feeling", he makes a game of waiting by making up a song about waiting" "Let's think of something to do while we're waiting, while we're waiting for something new..." At one point Mr. Rogers expresses his hope that "you find a way to express the mad you feel without hurting yourself or anyone else" and talks a bit about ways to express anger that are safe and healthy. What a magnificent message!

Also included on this DVD is a trip to a pretzel factory, which is about 10 minutes along and fascinating - a big favorite with us and our three-year old. There are also games to play and a read-along with Mr. McFeely. Fantastic collection!

There is nothing and no one like this on television today, and it's a terrible shame. I'm so grateful to have found this DVD!

Kid love Mr. Rogers just as I did. Wish there were more of these. Special features are nice as well.