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It’s a beautiful day in the neighbourhood, and time to meet its newest citizen. Daniel Tiger is the animated star of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, who dons Mister Rogers’ fabled red sweater and sneakers and gets into animated adventures with his friends.

Daniel is the four-year-old son of the original series’ Daniel Striped Tiger, and is PBS’s newest addition to its pre-school lineup, embodying the values the late Fred Rogers instilled on the channels’ viewers for decades. The publicly-supported network is hoping to score with children aged two to four, but they already have a fan in Rogers’ widow.

“I feel that it’s so important to have those values, that were in Fred’s programs out there for every child and every family,” Joanne Byrd Rogers says in a PBS Kids clip introducing Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, which is produced by The Fred Rogers Company, Canada’s 9 Story Entertainment, Curious Pictures and Out of the Blue Enterprises. The program kicked off Monday and airs daily on PBS; check local listings for times.

Rogers began every episode of his series by opening the door to his home, and zipping up his cardigan and swapping out walking shoes for comfy sneakers while singing “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” He then entered the world of Make-Believe, speaking directly to his young viewers about love, acceptance and trying your best.

Daniel dons the legendary sweater and shoes too, before heading off on imaginative adventures with his friends O the Owl, who lives in a tree with his Uncle X; Katerina Kittycat, who is the daughter of the original series’ Henrietta Pussycat; and Prince Wednesday, a descendant of Rogers’ King Friday XIII. Other characters include Miss Elaina and her parents Lady Elaine Fairchilde and Music Man Stan, Baker Aker and Teacher Harriett.

Seventy-two episodes of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood have been shot for PBS.

Rogers passed away in 2003 at the age of 74. The original Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood airs on PBS; check your local listings for dates and times.