(Boston, MA) August 2009 – FableVision Inc., the educational multimedia developer co-located at the Boston Children’s Museum, recently announced the successful construction of a new “home” for America’s most beloved neighbor. Old and new fans of “Mister Rogers Neighborhood,” the PBS children’s television series created and hosted by the late Fred Rogers, can now find Rogers’ cheerful sing-alongs, comforting wisdom, and memorable Neighborhood of Make-Believe characters at the redesigned “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” website: pbskids.org/rogers. Both preschoolers and their nostalgic parents will find plenty to explore—along with new games and activities, the site contains 40 “best of Mister Rogers” clips and a virtual scrapbook of  “Neighborhood” memorabilia.

The website’s launch is timed with the kickoff of PBS Kids’ Saturday morning broadcast line-up (September 12, check local listings), which will include 26 favorite episodes from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.”  These episodes will be available to stream online at the new website later this fall.

“Fred Rogers is the first name that comes to mind when people talk about ‘media that matters,’ or television programming that really makes a positive difference in kids’ lives,” said FableVision CEO Paul Reynolds. “What an honor for FableVision—and what a responsibility—to ensure that Fred’s legacy is not only preserved, but keeps growing and expanding.”

FableVision was tapped for a trip to the “Neighborhood” by Family Communications Inc., the Pittsburgh-based nonprofit production company that owns the rights to the show. “At Family Communications, we continue to hear from adults about what ‘Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood’ has meant in their lives,” said Kevin Morrison, Chief Operating Officer. “The core values of the series—kindness, civility, reassurance, and inspiration—have helped many strive towards being the best they can be. We are excited to continue to infuse Fred Rogers’ values in new platforms with new generations of children.”

The new website invites users to accompany Rogers on a variety of virtual field trips, including visits to a penguin exhibit, a dinosaur museum exhibit, an art museum, a pediatrician’s office, and to meet cellist Yo-Yo Ma, along with the ever-popular factory visits. The site also encourages parent-child interaction with Parent Tips on every screen to help adults understand what their children are working on through their web experience.

Site visitors can also journey to an all-new Neighborhood of Make-Believe area, where Lady Elaine welcomes budding artists to create kaleidoscopes in her Museum-Go-Round and Daniel Striped Tiger helps parents and kids put together a relaxing bedtime routine. 

“The topics and themes covered on ‘Mister Rogers Neighborhood’ are timeless,” said FableVision President Gary Goldberger. “In updating the PBS site, we weren’t looking to ‘bring Mister Rogers to 2009’ so much as guide 21st century kids to this gentle person we all know and love.”

About FableVision, Inc.
Founded in 1996 by Peter H. Reynolds, FableVision, Inc. is an educational multimedia company co-located in the Boston Children’s Museum that has earned an international reputation for its unique brand of meaningful storytelling and constructivist learning applications. FableVision’s clients include The Jim Henson Company, Family Communications, Inc., PBS, Scholastic, the National Archives, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Verizon. Among its K-12 software products are Animation-ish, Stationery Studio, and Get a Clue, designed promote creativity, writing, reading, and essential 21st-century skills. Developed for learners of all types, BrainCogs, Essay Express, and SmartMoves have been recognized as particularly effective for challenged learners. This year, Boston Business Journal recognized FableVision with a Pacesetters Award, given to honor the region’s fastest-growing private companies.