Pittsburgh's Heinz History Center to host authors of book inspired by Fred Rogers

The book has been described as a “love letter to Pittsburgh.”

“When You Wonder, You’re Learning: Mister Rogers’ Enduring Lessons for Raising Creative, Curious, Caring Kids” encompasses stories about people in this city who emulate the late Fred Rogers — everyone’s favorite neighbor — in their own way.

Authors Ryan Rydzewski of Aspinwall and Gregg Behr of Ohio Township were inspired to co-write the book from working with Remake Learning, an initiative that connects with youth in the digital age by developing different ways to teach and engage young people through more relevant methods.

The writers noticed a connection between Remake Learning’s mission and Rogers’ teachings on WQED’s “Mister Rogers Neighborhood.”

“This city has some of the most caring and selfless people,” Rydzewski said. “Everyone has a Fred story. From when he came to their house when they were sick to when they met him randomly on an elevator. The stories tell about the human experience.”

The Senator John Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh’s Strip District will host Rydzewski and Behr for an evening of discussion about the book from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday.

“We all had access to Fred through our televisions,” Rydzewski said. “He spoke to us through that TV camera.”

Rogers’ late wife, Joanne, wrote the foreword.

There is a comment on the book cover from Academy-Award-winning actor Tom Hanks, who played Rogers in the 2019 film “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.” Hanks, who has been spotted in Pittsburgh the past week on breaks from acting in a movie, is welcome to attend the event, Rydzewski said.

The book launched last April. It is available online and in many local bookstores. A paperback edition is due in October.

Rydzewski, a freelance writer, has expertise is in science and education reporting. He is a former elementary school teacher.

Behr is executive director of The Grable Foundation, a Downtown Pittsburgh-based grant-making organization focused on helping youth, and co-chair of Remake Learning, which works with children to encourage their curiosity and creativity by patterning with schools, libraries and museums.

The two have collaborated on projects at The Grable Foundation and Remake Learning.

When deciding on a topic, they researched Rogers’ tools to learning. They refer to him as a learning scientist, one who focuses on how children learn and applies those principles. The book has six chapters, which emulate a script from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” Rydzewski said.

One of the people featured in the book is Bill Strickland, founder of Manchester Bidwell Corp., a no-cost workforce development for adults that offers certification in culinary arts, horticulture technology, chemical laboratory technology and allied health; and Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild, an organization that helps youth with free courses in ceramics, design, digital studios and photography. He and Rogers were friends.

“It’s an extraordinary honor to be cited in this book for the work that we do,” Strickland said via email. “The environment of Manchester Bidwell changed the perception of how physical space can open enormous possibilities for learning, and so much of the inspiration behind our mission comes from the legacy of Fred Rogers.”

Other voices in the book came from the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Science Center, the Women & Girls Foundation, and Valerie Kinloch, who is the Renée and Richard Goldman dean of the University of Pittsburgh School of Education.

Kinloch said via email it’s necessary that we make connections between the visible educational commitments of Mister Rogers and how we can reimagine ways to creatively and engagingly teach and learn from children today.

“This is especially true when we think about educational innovations across Pittsburgh neighborhoods, which is an important point presented throughout the chapters of ‘When You Wonder, You’re Learning,’ ” she said. “What a heartwarming, powerful, and relevant book for us to embrace.”

The authors will discuss their research for the book and how Rogers’ teachings continue to impact lives.

Rogers taught the whole child academically and socially and emotionally. His instruction lives on today.

“We all learned from him,” Rydzewski said. “There are footsteps of Fred all over Pittsburgh.”

Advanced registration is recommended here.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children aged 17 and under.

The cost includes access to History Center exhibitions prior to the event including “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” featuring the original living room set and puppets from the legendary show.