Abrams Books – Aimee Reid | Children's Author

Kindness in the Classroom Giveaway: Toast Sticks and Teaching

November 10, 2021November 9, 2021 by Aimee Reid

Mama Bell Frampton and Freddie Rogers, as depicted by Matt Phelan

Mama Bell Frampton was a neighbor of the young Fred Rogers. Fred describes with fondness his visits to her home. Time and again, she welcomed him with a cheery greeting and the gift of a simple offering: buttered toast. What’s more, she showed young Freddie how to make “toast sticks” all by himself. She had no way of knowing how deeply her everyday kindness would affect her young neighbor.

Mama Bell Frampton’s consistent, caring presence helped to form Fred’s vision of a healthy neighborhood—a place where all were welcomed and encouraged to grow. That sense of connection and warmth pervaded the television program that would bring Mr. Rogers into the homes and hearts of countless families over the decades it was on the air.

Fred recognized the transformative power of those who care for children, calling them his heroes. As a former teacher, I honor the vital work of educators. I’m cheering you on as you create communities that recognize the dignity of the students in your care. In honor of World Kindness Day, which is recognized on November 13^th, I want to celebrate Kindness in the Classroom.

I am holding a giveaway for a special prize pack. It will include an online author visit and a signed copy of You Are My Friend: The Story of Mister Rogers and His Neighborhood as well as postcards and temporary tattoos featuring art from the book for every student in the winning teacher’s class.

If you are a teacher, you can enter the draw in four ways:

(1) comment on this blog post,

(2) comment on and share the corresponding World Kindness Day Classroom Giveaway post on my Facebook author page https://www.facebook.com/aimeereidbooks/,

(3) tag me on Twitter (@aimeereidbooks) and use the hashtags #WorldKindnessDay and #teaching, and

(4) tag me on Instagram (@aimeereidbooks), using the hashtags #WorldKindnessDay and #teaching. Each of the four options will give you an entry.

I’ll hold a draw on Sunday, November 14^th and be in touch with the recipient to find out how you’d like your book personalized and where you’d like me to send the book, postcards, and temporary tattoos. We’ll also set up a time for the online visit.

All teachers who participate will receive a link for a downloadable booklet that expands on the themes in You Are My Friend and invites students to write or draw about their own uniqueness. I’d love to see pictures of the booklets your students create!

Special note: I’m also holding a separate giveaway of two signed books for individuals. Check out my blog post entitled World Kindness Day Giveaway: Neighbors, Helpers, and Everyday Goodness for those details. Teachers are welcome to enter both draws.

World Kindness Day Giveaway: Neighbors, Helpers, and Everyday Goodness

November 9, 2021November 9, 2021 by Aimee Reid

from You Are My Friend, illustrated by Matt Phelan

I spent some time standing on my front lawn last night, listening to a neighbor. The stress of the pandemic had taken a toll. I didn’t have answers for the thorny questions that troubled this person, and that was okay. We lingered while my dog played until the growing chill nudged us back indoors.

At the end of the conversation, my neighbor expressed gratitude for an increase in front-lawn visits on our street over the past year or so. “It’s something good,” said my neighbor, who made sure that I knew this observation was not meant to diminish the loss and uncertainty of these months.

I agree.

You may know of Fred Rogers’ advice for children when they encounter frightening situations: “Look for the helpers.” Fred was passing along his mother’s words when, as a child, he had heard scary news on the radio.

One reason I admire Fred Rogers’ work is that he told the truth to children. Fred’s advice was not meant to simply distract them from the fact that the world contains sadness. It was rooted in equally deep and, I believe, more compelling truths: our world is filled with kindness and we have the power to choose our responses.

Good people are everywhere. Thoughtful acts are woven into the fabric of our society, and we can pay attention to them. Cups of tea poured, hands extended, neighbors shoveling walks: these ordinary decisions to care for one another deserve celebration.

In honor of World Kindness Day, which is recognized on November 13^th, I want to give away two signed copies of You Are My Friend: The Story of Mister Rogers and His Neighborhood. You can enter to receive one of the copies in four ways:

(1) comment on this blog post,

(2) comment on and share the corresponding World Kindness Day post on my Facebook author page https://www.facebook.com/aimeereidbooks/,

(3) tag me on Twitter (@aimeereidbooks) and use the hashtag #WorldKindnessDay, and

(4) tag me on Instagram (@aimeereidbooks), using the hashtag #WorldKindnessDay.

Each of the four options will give you an entry. I’ll hold a random draw for the two prizes on Sunday, November 14^th and be in touch with the recipients to find out how you’d like your books personalized and where you’d like me to send them.

Holiday gifts

If you would like to order a personalized copy of You Are My Friend as a gift, let me know. You can reach me through the contact form on my website. I’ll be happy to personalize an inscription and send a copy out in time for the holidays.

Note for teachers and those who appreciate them: I’m also holding a special giveaway for teachers. Check out my blog post entitled Kindness in the Classroom Giveaway: Toast Sticks and Teaching. Teachers can enter both contests.

Making your gift special

December 23, 2019 by Aimee Reid

It’s been a joy to connect with readers of You Are My Friend: The Story of Mister Rogers and His Neighborhood, which shares the story behind Fred’s iconic message: “You’ve made this day a special day by just your being you. There’s no person in the whole world like you, and I like you just the way you are.”

Fred’s words honored the uniqueness of each individual. In that spirit, we’re offering free personalized bookplates that you can place inside a copy of You Are My Friend to create a one-of-a-kind gift.

Just send an email through this link on the website: https://www.aimeereidbooks.com/contact / Let us know the name(s) of the recipient(s) and the address where you’d like the bookplate mailed. I’ll autograph the bookplate with a personalized message and send it out. (Postage is free for the first 100 respondents. After that the small shipping cost of $2.00 CAD may apply.)

Happy holidays and warm wishes for a joy-filled new year.

Celebrating Mister Rogers’ Legacy of Kindness + a Giveaway

August 23, 2019July 25, 2019 by Aimee Reid

Introducing my newest book:

You Are My Friend: The Story of Mister Rogers and His Neighborhood (releasing from Abrams Books on August 6, 2019). Art by Matt Phelan: www.mattphelan.com

I wasn’t able to watch the television program Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood until I
became a mother, so my eldest child and I got to know it together. We learned the opening and closing songs, and Rachel looked forward to the puppets’ new adventures in each episode.

As a teacher, I was impressed by how much Fred respected children.
He told them the truth. He also showed them that all of their feelings were manageable.
I aspired to build the emotional foundation of our home firmly on the kind of unconditional
acceptance that Fred Rogers demonstrated.

Day after day, we listened as Mister Rogers looked right
into the camera and shared his time-honored message: “You’ve made this day a
special day by just your being you. There’s no person in the whole world like
you, and I like you just the way you are.”*

illustration of Freddie Rogers and Grandpa McFeely (c) Matt Phelan

As I researched my book, I was fascinated to discover that these words were shared with Fred by his Grandpa McFeely. They stayed with Mister Rogers throughout his life. In fact, the quotation above comes directly from Fred Rogers’ public testimony to the United States senate on behalf of public television.

The last image of the book is of Fred Rogers looking out at the reader—just as he connected with us one-by-one through his television program—and repeating his grandpa’s message.

My hope in writing You Are My Friend is that readers everywhere will receive those words and allow them to sink deep within. No matter our ages, we all need to hear them.

You are valuable and important—just as you are.

Giveaway:

I’m giving away four signed copies of You Are My Friend, one to each of four winners.

Here’s how to enter:

You can enter the draw a total of four times, once in each of the following ways.

Comment on this blog post
Retweet my pinned tweet about the giveaway:
@aimeereidbooks
Tag someone on my Instagram post about the
giveaway: @aimeereidbooks
Share my post from my Facebook author page about
the giveaway: https://m.facebook.com/aimeereidbooks

The giveaway closes at 12:00 noon EST on August 13, 2019, and I will contact the winners.

* Fred Rogers, testimony, Extension of Authorizations under the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967. Hearings, Ninety-first Congress, first session, S. 1242; April 30 and May 1, 1969. Senate Committee on Commerce, Subcommittee on Communications, Washington, D.C.

You Are My Friend is a work of fiction. This book is an expression of admiration of Fred Rogers, the man and the artist, by the author and illustrator. This book is not associated with or endorsed by The Fred Rogers Company.