Mister Rogers' Neighborhood - Season 19 (1988)

Queen Ida the accordion-playing "ruler" of zydeco music visits the Neighborhood of Make-Believe. And with talk about secrets, Mister Rogers reminds children how important it is to not keep a secret that you're not comfortable with.

Rogers reveals a message written in invisible ink. Mr. McFeely shows a videotape of how suitcases are made. In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, Chuck Aber must inform Lady Elaine that he had no plans to marry her, but he does have some good news. Rogers finds a message that leads him outside, where several neighbors hold a surprise birthday party for him.

Mister Rogers brings different hats and reminds us that what we wear doesn't change who we are. In Make-Believe, everyone is wearing different hats too. Mister Rogers visits with two folk musicians at a sing-along with young children.

Mister Rogers learns about soccer, watching young players as they practice. In Make-Believe, they are playing soccer too, but Daniel Tiger feels left out because he is not on a team. That's when games stop being fun.

Mister Rogers visits with a Special Olympics team and their coach. The children, some of whom use wheelchairs, are practicing for an upcoming meet. In Make-Believe, there are lots of fun and games and even King Friday joins in.

Basketball Olympic gold medalist Suzie McConnell comes to the Neighborhood to give Mister Rogers a basketball lesson. In Make-Believe, everyone becomes part of the team. And there's a visit with dancers who use a large ball in their dance.

Mister Rogers and Mr. McFeely go bowling where they not only have a chance to bowl, but also to see how the pins and balls are set up. In Make-Believe, there's a game of hide and seek that's fun for everyone because everyone gets to play.

Mister Rogers visits San Diego's Wild Animal Park to see lots of different animals including elephants, tigers and giraffes. They're much like the pretend ones the neighbors are talking about as they plan a special musical in Make-Believe.

Mister Rogers visits a film processing plant to learn how people turn unexposed film into finished photographs. In Make-Believe, the Neighbors continue their preparations the special musical story, "Josephine the Short-Neck Giraffe."

The Neighborhood of Make-Believe presents "Josephine the Short-Neck Giraffe," a musical story for children by Fred Rogers. We meet Josephine who feels badly because her neck is short. Her friend suggests she attend the "School for Growing."

The musical story continues as Josephine and Hazel Elephant enroll at the "School for Growing" where they meet a snake who can't hiss, an elephant with stripes, and a very shy giraffe. They begin to learn about the value of being unique.

Josephine the Short-Neck Giraffe," concludes as shy J. R. Giraffe helps Josephine learn to accept her neck, and herself, just the way she is and Josephine helps J. R. feel more confident. All together sing "I'm Glad I'm the Way I Am."