ANNOUNCER: "RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY" IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PART BY -- >> YOU AND I.

>> YOU AND I.

>> YOU AND I WILL PROBABLY NEVER MEET.

>> BECAUSE WHAT I TREAT -- >> IS SO RARE.

>> BUT IF YOU NEED ME, I'M HERE.

>> I'M HERE.

>> I AM HERE.

[CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] ANNOUNCER: TONIGHT ON "RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY" -- >> FINDING HIGH QUALITY AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE IN RHODE ISLAND RIGHT NOW IS A TALL ORDER.

MANY DAYCARES HAVE LONG WAITING LISTS AS THEY STRUGGLE TO FIND EMPLOYEES.

>> WHERE THE WORKFORCE THAT SUPPORTS THE WORKFORCE.

AND IF FOLKS IN RHODE ISLAND CAN'T FIND SAFE, AFFORDABLE OPTIONS FOR THEIR CHILDREN, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO WORK.

>> WIMPY KID AUTHOR JEFF KINNEY SAID AS A CHILD HIS TALENT AS AN ARTIST DEVELOPED OUT OF BOTH PLEASURE AND NECESSITY.

DISORDER SO I WAS ALWAYS DRAWING IN CLASS.

FOR SOME PEOPLE, I THINK ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER AND EVEN OTHER CHALLENGES LIKE DYSLEXIA END UP BEING A BLESSING, A TOOL, A GIFT.

AND THAT'S HOW IT'S BEEN FOR ME.

♪ MICHELLE: GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO "RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY."

I'M PAMELA WATTS.

MICHELLE: I'M MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL.

FIRST UP, THE CHILDCARE CRISIS IS GROWING ACROSS THE COUNTRY INCLUDING RIGHT HERE IN RHODE ISLAND.

FEDERAL STIMULUS DOLLARS HAVE HELPED CHILDCARE PROGRAMS STAY IN BUSINESS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

AND MORE HELP MAY BE ON THE WAY.

THE HOUSE RECENTLY PASSED A MEASURE THAT WOULD PROVIDE $100 BILLION IN FUNDING FOR CHILDCARE EXPANSION AND SUBSIDIES.

THE SENATE HAS NOT VOTED ON IT YET.

BUT EVEN IF THE BILL DOES PASS, IT MAY BE TOO LATE FOR SOME CHILDCARE PROVIDERS.

MANY ARE HAVING TROUBLE FINDING AND RETAINING EMPLOYEES.

>> RIGHT DOWN THE STREET, WE HAVE A WAL-MART.

WE HAVE TEACHERS THAT HAVE COME UP TO US AND SAID WHY SHOULD I STAY HERE IF WAL-MART IS OFFERING ME $17 AN HOUR AND YOU'RE ONLY OFFERING $12?

SO HOW DO WE COMPETE WITH THAT?

MICHELLE: VERNA AND HER SISTER OWN OVER THE RAINBOW LEARNING CENTER IN JOHNSTON AND PROVIDENCE.

THEY SAY THEY HAVE GREAT TEAMS AT THEIR TWO LOCATIONS.

BUT THEY NEED MORE EMPLOYEES.

SIX TO BE EXACT.

A LACK OF HELP FORCED THEM TO CLOSE THEIR BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM.

FINDING WORKERS THEY SAY HASN'T BEEN EASY.

>> I LOVE MY YARD.

BUT MOWING GRASS IS MIGHTY HARD.

MICHELLE: CHILDCARE EDUCATORS IN RHODE ISLAND EARN ON AVERAGE $12 AN HOUR.

MANY ENTRY LEVEL EMPLOYEES ARE LEAVING TO WORK AT BIG NAME RETAILERS THAT ARE OFFERING MORE MONEY, HIGHER -- HIRING BONUS AND BENEFITS.

>> HEALTH INSURANCE, 401-K, LONGER VACATIONS.

WE ARE UNABLE TO OFFER THOSE THINGS.

RUNNING A BUSINESS, IT'S TOUGH.

AND I DON'T THINK PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE COSTS THAT GO INTO A CHILDCARE CENTER.

WE HAVE A VERY HIGH OPERATIONAL COST TO KEEP A CHILDCARE CENTER RUNNING.

IT'S NOT JUST LIKE THE WAGES THAT THE TEACHERS ARE GETTING.

IT'S ALSO ELECTRICITY, GAS, RENT, AND ALL THAT.

IT'S EXTREMELY HIGH.

AND JUST INSURANCE TO KEEP THIS PLACE OPEN, IT'S OUTRAGEOUS.

>> WHAT KIND OF FOOD IS THIS?

MICHELLE: AMANDA VEGA HAS WORKED WITH CHILDREN AT OVER THE RAINBOW FOR NINE YEARS.

SHE EARNS $1375 -- $13.75 AN HOUR AND CONSIDERED GETTING A BETTER PAYING JOB BUT CHOSE TO STAY FOR THE CHILDREN AND THE STAFF.

>> I WISH IT WAS, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT MORE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES MONEY CAN'T BUY EVERYTHING.

AND THIS IS WHAT I WAS ABLE TO DO.

MICHELLE: BUT FINDING PEOPLE LIKE VEGA HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS SAY RHODE ISLAND'S CHILDCARE INDUSTRY IS IN A STATE OF CRISIS.

>> WE HAVE FAMILIES THAT CAN'T AFFORD OR FIND QUALITY CHILDCARE.

WE HAVE MASS EXODUS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS FROM THE FIELD.

WE HAVE PROGRAMS WITH VERY LONG WAITING LISTS.

WE HAVE PROGRAMS THAT ARE NOT ABLE TO OPEN CLASSROOMS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T STAFF THEM.

IT'S LIKE JUST ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER.

AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY A CRISIS.

MICHELLE: LISA HILDEBRAND IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE RHODE ISLAND ASSOCIATION FOR THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN.

SHE WORKS CLOSELY WITH LEANNE BARRETT, A SENIOR POLICY ANALYST AT RHODE ISLAND KIDS COUNT.

THEY ADVOCATE FOR CHILDREN AT THE STATEHOUSE.

>> THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH RESOURCES.

WE SPEND WAY MORE PER CHILD ON K-12 EDUCATION THAN WE DO ON EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

AND A LOT OF IT IS -- COMES OUT OF PARENTS' POCKETS.

MICHELLE: THE UNITED STATES SPENDS LESS MONEY ON EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION THAN MOST WEALTHY NATIONS.

INSTEAD, PARENTS MOSTLY FOOT THE BILL OF PRIVATE TUITION.

A RECENT REPORT BY THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT FOUND THAT CURRENTLY, THE AVERAGE FAMILY WITH AT LEAST ONE CHILD UNDER AGE 5 WOULD NEED TO DEVOTE ABOUT 13% OF FAMILY INCOME TO PAY FOR CHILDCARE.

A NUMBER THAT IS UNAFFORDABLE FOR MOST FAMILIES.

>> WE'RE GOING TO GO BYE-BYE.

WE'RE GOING TO DAYCARE.

YOU LOVE DAYCARE.

MICHELLE: INCLUDING THE FAMILY OF FELICIA POWERS.

SHE'S A SINGLE MOM WITH TWO CHILDREN.

SHE SAYS SHE DEPENDS ON GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR CHILDCARE FOR HER 2-YEAR-OLD SON JACOB.

>> IF I DIDN'T HAVE A SUBSIDY I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO WORK.

I WOULDN'T -- I HAVE A SUPPORT SYSTEM BUT NOT ANYBODY THAT CAN CERTAINLY WATCH HIM ON AN EVERYDAY BASIS.

SO IT WOULD BE CHALLENGING.

MICHELLE: POWERS IS STARTING A NEW JOB SOON BUT SAYS SHE WON'T BE MAKING MORE MONEY.

IF SHE DID, SHE SAYS SHE WOULD RISK LOSING HER CHILDCARE SUBSIDY.

>> LOVE YOU.

I CAN'T GET A JOB MAKING $18 AN HOUR BECAUSE I WON'T HAVE CHILDCARE SERVICES.

SO IT'S SCARY.

LIKE THERE'S A CUTOFF LINE.

SO IT'S LIKE HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

IF I MAKE $18 AN HOUR, I'LL HAVE TO PAY OUT-OF-POCKET FOR DAYCARE.

AND IT WOULD BE LIKE I'M MAKING $13 AN HOUR ALL OVER AGAIN.

OR EVEN LESS.

IT IS FRUSTRATING.

YOU CAN'T -- YOU CAN'T GET AHEAD.

YOU CAN'T -- IT'S -- YOU'RE LIKE STUCK.

THAT'S HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS.

YOU'RE STUCK.

MICHELLE: BOTH HILDEBRAND AND BARRETT WANT RHODE ISLAND LEADERS TO USE SOME FUNDS FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT TO INCREASE THE FAMILY INCOME LIMIT FOR CHILDCARE SUBSIDIES.

>> WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE ELIGIBILITY EXPANDED SO THAT MORE LOW AND MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES CAN GET HELP RECEIVING CHILDCARE.

SO CURRENTLY, A FAMILY OF THREE CAN MAKE ABOUT $40,000 A YEAR OR LESS.

AND RECEIVE HELP PAYING FOR CHILDCARE.

AND THEN WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE AT LEAST GO UP TO $50,000.

MICHELLE: PRESIDENT BIDEN WANTS TO OVERHAUL THE CHILDCARE SYSTEM.

THE PRESIDENT SAYS LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME FAMILIES SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY MORE THAN 7% OF THEIR INCOME ON HIGH QUALITY CHILDCARE.

BUT MANY DO.

ACCORDING TO THE ECONOMIC POLICY INSTITUTE, THE AVERAGE ANNUAL COST OF INFANT CARE IN RHODE ISLAND IS $13,696.

THAT'S MORE THAN 1,100 PER MONTH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S GO PLAY WITH YOUR FRIENDS.

>> EILEEN FINNEGAN QUICKLY REALIZED HOW PRICEY CHILDCARE FOR HER DAUGHTER HOLLY WAS GOING TO BE WHEN SHE BEGAN LOOKING AT DAYCARES.

>> I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE A LOT.

I HAD FRIENDS WHO HAD KIDS IN CHILDCARE.

SO I HAD SOME IDEA.

MY HUSBAND DID NOT KNOW.

HE WAS VERY SURPRISED.

I DON'T THINK HE REALLY BELIEVED ME UNTIL WE STARTED LOOKING AT PLACES AND SAW THE NUMBERS.

BUT YEAH.

IT'S A LOT.

MICHELLE: FINNEGAN SAYS IT WASN'T EASY TO FIND CHILDCARE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

SHE COULDN'T FIND PART-TIME CARE SO SHE IS PAYING THE FULL-TIME PRICE TO HAVE HER DAUGHTER IN DAYCARE A FEW DAYS A WEEK.

>> SO WE ARE PAYING FULL-TIME FOR PART-TIME CARE.

WE HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS THE REST MICHELLE: MARY SAYS IT ALL COMES BACK TO A STAFFING CRISIS.

SHE'S THE CHILDCARE DIRECTOR AT BENOIT BROWN CHILDREN CENTER IN WUNSAKET.

>> WE REFER TO IT AS A HAMSTER WHEEL, SPINNING SUSPECT HOPING THE DOOR WILL OPEN AND THINGS ARE GOING TO CHANGE.

MICHELLE: THIS ROOM WAS ONCE TO TAKE CARE OF EIGHT INFANTS BUT IT'S BEEN EMPTY FOR OVER A YEAR.

COTO CAN'T FIND THE TWO TEACHERS SHE NEEDS TO REOPEN IT.

DOWN THE HALL, A TODDLER CLASSROOM IS OPERATING AT HALF CAPACITY BECAUSE ONCE AGAIN, SHE DOESN'T HAVE MUCH EMPLOYEES.

-- ENOUGH EMPLOYEES.

>> WE'RE ALL IN THE FIELD AND WE'RE ALL SORT OF VYING FOR THE SAME PEOPLE.

AND WE FIND THERE ARE A LOT OF JOB HOPPERS OR PERHAPS APPLY, THEY DON'T SHOW.

THEY'LL COME IN.

AND WE INVITE THEM BACK FOR A WORKING INTERVIEW AND THEN THEY DON'T SHOW AGAIN.

MICHELLE: MORE THAN 100 FAMILIES WITH TODDLERS AND INFANTS ARE ON THE WAITING LIST AT BENOIT BROWN CHILDREN CENTER.

SHE SAID SHE HAD ONE MOM OF AN INFANT WHO WENT TO GREAT LENGTHS TO TRY TO GET HER CHILD ENROLLED THERE.

>> BEFORE I KNEW IT, IN MY EMAIL, IN CAME HER RESUME.

SHE WENT ON INDEED.

APPLIED.

AND I CALLED HER BACK.

AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

BUT I REALLY NEED A FULL-TIME STAFF.

AND SHE SAID, WELL, I CAN ONLY WORK PART-TIME UNTIL MY CHILD IS IN CARE FULL-TIME.

MICHELLE: DO YOU HEAR FROM PEOPLE WHO SAY THE REASON I HAVEN'T GONE BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE IS BECAUSE I CAN'T FIND CHILDCARE?

>> YES.

ALL THE TIME.

MICHELLE: AND THE NUMBERS BEAR THAT OUT.

A POLL CONDUCTED BY N.P.R., THE ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION, AND THE HARVARD T.H.

SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH FOUND ONE IN THREE FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN REPORT SERIOUS PROBLEMS GETTING CHILDCARE WHEN ADULTS NEED TO WORK.

>> WE ALWAYS SAY THAT WE'RE THE WORKFORCE THAT SUPPORTS THE WORKFORCE.

AND IF THAT -- IF FOLKS IN RHODE ISLAND WHO ARE WORKING CAN'T FIND SAFE, AFFORDABLE OPTIONS FOR THEIR CHILDREN, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO WORK.

MICHELLE: A CHILD'S BRAIN DEVELOPS MORE FROM BIRTH TO AGE 5 THAN AT ANY OTHER TIME IN LIFE.

IT'S ONE OF THE MANY REASONS EARLY CHILDHOOD ADVOCATES SAY INVESTING IN HIGH QUALITY CARE IS ESSENTIAL.

>> WE'RE KIND OF IN THIS -- AGAIN, THIS MOMENT IN TIME WHERE FOLKS ARE FINALLY KIND OF REALIZING THAT THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN UNDERFUNDED FOR SO LONG.

THAT -- THAT IT NEEDS REPAIR.

IT NEEDS A LOT OF MONEY PUT INTO IT.

AND A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT AND REALLY GREAT PEOPLE TO TRY AND FIX WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT TO MAKE IT WORK BETTER.

IT DOES FEEL A LITTLE BIT HOPEFUL THAT PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO LISTEN.

MICHELLE: BUT FOR FAMILIES WAITING FOR CHILDCARE AND FOR THOSE RUNNING DAYCARE CENTERS, NEEDED CHANGES TO THE SYSTEM MAY BE TOO LATE.

>> DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, OUR COSTS HAVE INCREASED DUE TO THE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS, GLOVES, MASKS, CLEANING COMPANIES THAT USED TO ONLY COME ONCE A WEEK NOW HAVE TO COME DAILY.

SO EVERYTHING HAS BECOME MORE OF A COST.

SO ANYTHING THAT WAS PROFITABLE IS GOING RIGHT BACK INTO THE BUSINESS.

MICHELLE: SO FAIR TO SAY THAT YOU ARE NOT TURNING A PROFIT RIGHT NOW?

>> IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT.

MICHELLE: HOW MUCH LONGER CAN YOU AFFORD TO STAY IN BUSINESS?

>> WE -- MICHELLE: HARD TO SAY.

>> HARD TO SAY.

WE GO ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.

AND WE RELY ON OUR LOANS.

WE RELY ON THE GRANTS THAT WE RECEIVE AND AS YOU SAID, WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT WE ARE RECEIVING THOSE.

BUT ONCE THOSE ARE DONE, WE ARE NOT SURE WHAT -- WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS.

WHAT'S GOING TO BE NEXT?

MICHELLE: YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW JEFF KINNEY BY THAT I.

BUT YOU MAY -- BY NAME, BUT YOU MAY KNOW HIS ALTER EGO WHO HAS RECEIVED INTERNATIONAL FAME.

GREG HEFLEY IS THE HERO OF THE CHILDREN'S BOOK SERIES "DIARY OF A WIMPY KID."

KINNEY'S 16TH BOOK HAS JUST BEEN PUBLISHED AND THIS WEEK, DISNEY PLUS DEBUTS AN ANIMATED MOVIE ABOUT THE BELEAGUERED MIDDLE SCHOOLER.

WE SPENT TIME WITH THE AUTHOR ILLUSTRATOR WHO LIVES IN OUR AREA AND LEARNED HOW KENNY IS USING HIS FAME TO GIVE BACK TO HIS SMALL TOWN.

HIS IS AN UNLIKELY STORY.

JEFF: I THINK KIDS WERE LOOKING FOR A CHARACTER WHO WASN'T HEROIC, WHO WAS -- WHO WAS FLAWED.

AND I WAS FLAWED AS A KID.

I'M FLAWED AS AGRON-UP.

PAMELA: -- AS A GROWN JEW.

PAMELA: AUTHOR JEFF KINNEY HAS TRANSFORMED THOSE FLAWS INTO FICTION.

THAT'S CAPTURED THE IMAGINATION OF CHILDREN ALL OVER THE WORLD.

HE CREATED GREG HEF WILL THE MIDDLE SCHOOLER WHO KEEPS A COMIC JOURNAL ABOUT HIS DAILY ANTICS IN "DIARY OF A WIMPY KID."

HIS 16TH BOOK IS JUST PUBLISHED.

HIS HEADQUARTERS IS THE SPACIOUS THIRD FLOOR STUDIO IN PLAINVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, NEXT DOOR TO NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH.

JEFF: I FEEL LIKE THIS PLACE IS THE MUPPET SHOW.

BACK STAGE AT THE MUPPET SHOW.

I JUST BUZZ THROUGH HERE AND DO MY WORK AND THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING CRAZY GOING ON LIKE CHILDREN'S YOGA OR THE YEUK LAICALLY GROUP -- UKULELE GROUP OR SOMETHING FUN GOING ON.

PAMELA: US THATWAYS THIS LITERALLY HUB IS ALSO A COMMUNITY CENTER.

KENNY RESCUED THE DECAYING 1,800 GENERAL STORE IN PLAINVILLE CALLED FALK'S MARKET AND RENAMED IT AN UNLIKELY STORY.

INSIDE -- INSIDE IS AN INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE AND CAFE ON THE FIRST FLOOR.

PERFORMANCE SPACE ON THE SECOND STORY.

AND KENNY -- KINNEY'S STUDIO AT THE TOP.

IS YOURS AN UNLIKELY STORY?

JEFF: YEAH.

I GUESS IT'S UNREMARKABLE IN SOME WAYS.

I'M JUST AN AVERAGE GUY OF AVERAGE INTELLECT AND AVERAGE ABILITIES WHO KIND OF GOT LUCKY.

PAMELA: LUCK AND A LOT OF PERSEVERANCE.

THE WIMPY KID SERIES IS ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL BOOKS OF ITS KIND.

KINNEY HAS SOLD MORE THAN 250 MILLION COPIES AND BEEN ON THE "NEW YORK TIMES'" BEST SELLER LIST FOR MORE THAN 800 WEEKS.

YOU HAVE SEEP GREG HEFLEY'S IMAGE AS TWO DIFFERENT BALLOONS IN THE MACY'S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE.

THERE HAVE BEEN WITCHY KID -- WIMPY KID MOVIES AND THE SERIES HAS BEEN PUBLISHED IN 74 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES.

AND SOMETIMES SOMETHING GETS LOST IN TRANSLATION.

NOT EVERY COUNTRY HAS A WORD FOR WIMPY.

JEFF: YEAH.

IN BRAZIL, THEY CALL IT GIARO WHICH DIARY OF A BANANA SO GREG HEFLEY IS SHAPED LIKE A BANANA.

PAMELA: I'VE HEARD HIM DESCRIBED AS A SMART ALECK SAD SACK.

HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE HIM?

JEFF: HE'S JUST AN IMPERFECT KID.

I THINK IN A WAY, GREG HEFLEY, HE'S THE COMEDIAN ON STAGE WHO'S TELLING YOU ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCES.

AND HIS FOIBLES, RIGHT?

HIS IMPERFECTIONS ARE VERY IMPORTANT AND VERY CENTRAL TO THE CHARACTER.

SO WHAT YOU GET AS AN AUDIENCE MEMBER IS A LAUGH BECAUSE YOU CAN RECOGNIZE YOURSELF.

>> JUST READING IT AND READING IT AND LIKE WOW, THIS IS INTERESTING.

I FIND A COUPLE OF FUNNY PARTS THAT I'M LAUGHING.

PAMELA: SIXTH GRADER ANTHONY GILL SAYS HE CAN RELATE TO THE CHARACTER OF GREG.

>> WELL, I DO A LOT OF CRAZY THINGS TO ANNOY SOME OF MY FRIENDS, MY BROTHERS, MY PARENTS.

PAMELA: AND KIDS ARE AMUSED BY THE AGONIZINGLY AWKWARD STORIES OF BEING A MIDDLE SCHOOLER.

>> FOR A SECOND, I THOUGHT EVERYTHING WAS GOING TO BE OK. THEN I IN THED SOMETHING DRIFTING -- THEN I NOTICED SOMETHING DRIFTING AWAY AND I REALIZED IT WAS MY BATHING SUIT.

>> GREG HEFLEY IS WEIRD.

PAMELA: MUCH.

WEIRD AND AMUSING MATERIAL COMES FROM KINNEY'S SIBLINGS.

HIS IS A STORY TELLER FAMILY.

KINNEY'S DAD ENCOURAGED THE HUMOR.

>> YEAH.

MY FATHER ACTUALLY STARTED EACH MORNING BY READING THE COPPICS AND THEN LEAVING THE NEWSPAPER OPEN TO THE COMICS PAGE.

IT WAS "THE WASHINGTON POST."

AND THOSE COMICS AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE, BILL WATERSON'S CALVIN AND HOBBS, CHARLES SCHULTZ'S PEA NUTS, BURKE BREATH HE HAD'S BLOOM COUNTY THOSE ARE THE COPPICS I WANTED TO EMULATE.

PAMELA: AND HE DID.

KENNY SAYS AS A CHILD HE WAS A KEEN OBSERVER OF PEOPLE AND LOVED DOODLING.

THERE IS A REAL REASON FOR HIS PREOCCUPATION WITH ART.

DISORDER.

SO I WAS ALWAYS DRAWING IN CLASS.

SO WHENEVER THE TEACHER WAS TALKING I WAS DRAWING AND THEY WOULD SOMETIMES READ THAT AS ME NOT PAYING ATTENTION.

BUT IT'S ACTUALLY HOW I PAID ATTENTION.

IF I WAS IN A MEETING RIGHT NOW, I WOULD DEFINITE BE DRAWING.

PAMELA: IS IT HARD TO DISCIPLINE YOURSELF TO SIT AND WRITE AND DRAW WHEN YOU DO HAVE A.D.D.?

JEFF: YEAH.

FOR SOME PEOPLE I THINK ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER AND EVEN OTHER CHALLENGES LIKE DYSLEXIA AND END UP BEING A BLESSING, A TOOL, A GIFT.

AND THAT'S HOW IT'S BEEN FOR ME.

IT'S DIFFICULT TO HARNESS THOSE CHALLENGES.

BUT I'VE BEEN VERY LUCKY BECAUSE HAVING ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER REALLY KEEPS ME NIMBLE.

IT MAKES IT SO THAT I CAN BOUNCE FROM ONE TOPIC TO THE NEXT.

PAMELA: THE TOPIC HE CONCENTRATED ON IN COLLEGE WAS COMICS.

JEFF: I HAD THIS CARTOON AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CALLED IGDOOF AND THE READERSHIP WAS 30,000 DAILY FOR THE PRINT PAPER.

AND THAT WAS A GREAT AUDIENCE FOR ME.

IN FACT, I SPENT MOST OF MY TIME IN COLLEGE WORKING ON MY COMIC AND NOT ON MY STUDIES UNFORTUNATELY.

PAMELA: FORTUNATELY, THOUGH, IGDOOF MORPHED INTO GREG BUT THE SUCCESS STORY DIDN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.

JEFF: I REALLY NEEDED EIGHT OR THIGH OR -- NINE OR 10 YEARS TO-WEEK AN -- TO BECOME AN EXPERT AT THIS ONE THING AND I NEEDED ALL THE TIME I SPENT DEVELOPING THIS.

BECAUSE WHEN I FINALLY HAD MY OPPORTUNITY, AND MET AN EDITOR WHO IS LOOKING FOR THIS KIND OF WORK, I WAS ACTUALLY READY FOR IT.

AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY DIFFERENT THAN SORT OF WHERE THINGS ARE TODAY WITH SOCIAL MEDIA IS THAT YOU'RE ENCOURAGED TO PUT UP YOUR FIRST THOUGHT, SHARE IT, GET FEEDBACK.

ITY RATE ON IT.

-- ITERATE ON IT.

THAT'S THE MODERN WAY BUT IT TAKES TIME TO GET GOOD AT SOMETHING.

♪ PAMELA: KINNEY IS ALSO GOOD AT VIDEO GAMES.

HE WORKED FOR A SOFTWARE COMPANY WHILE WRITING HIS FIRST BOOK AT NIGHT.

HE LAUNCHED POPTROPICA THE SAME YEAR HE PUBLISHED THE FIRST "DIARY OF A WIMPY KID."

A LOT OF PEOPLE COMPLAIN THAT KIDS SPEND TOO MUCH TIME ONLINE.

AND YET YOU HAVE CREATED AN ONLINE GAME AND WORLD.

SUBJECT THAT -- ISN'T THAT CONTRADICTORY?

JEFF: YEAH.

I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY INTERESTING BECAUSE ON THE ONE HAND, I'M LURING KIDS TO THE SCREENS.

ON THE OTHER HAND, I'M LURING THEM TO THE BOOK SHELVES.

YOU KNOW, IT DOES SEEM LIKE THERE'S A BIG DICHOTOMY THERE.

BUT WHAT THEY HAD IN COMMON WAS THAT THEY'RE BOTH WAYS OF TELLING STORIES.

PAMELA: KINNEY BELIEVES HIS STORYTELLING METHOD, LONG FORM COMICS, IS KEY TO WHAT MAKES THE DIRE -- MAKES "DIARY OF A WIMPY KID" A HIT.

JEFF: THE ART IS THE LANGUAGE OF COPPIC STRIPS.

-- COMIC STRIPS.

USUALLY A CHILDREN'S BOOK AN ILLUSTRATED CHILDREN'S BOOK YOU HAVE TEXT AND THEN A PICTURE AND TEXT AND A PICTURE AND THE PICTURE USUALLY DESCRIBES WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE TEXT.

IN THE WIMPY KID BOOKS, THE CARTOONS ACTUALLY FINISH THE THOUGHT OF THE TEXT.

PAMELA: KIBBY -- PAMELA: KINNEY SAYS HE'S NOT FEND WITH HIS MANY PROJECTS AND WANTS TO BRING A MODERN DAY TOWN SQUARE TO PLAINVILLE.

JEFF: ULTIMATELY, WE'RE HOPING TO MAJORLY REVITALIZE THE DOWNTOWN.

PAMELA: BRIAN KELLY, CHAIR OF PLAINVILLE SELECT BOARD, SAYS KINNEY'S INVESTMENT HAS ALREADY MADE A POSITIVE CHANGE IN THE SMALL TOWN.

>> YEAH.

OUR DOWNTOWN FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR YEARS, HAS BEEN ALMOST LIKE A TIME CAPSULE.

FOR INSTANCE, THE BEFORE UNLIKELY STORY WAS BUILT, IF YOU THOUGHT OF PLAINVILLE OR SAW A PICTURE OF PLAINVILLE, YOU SAW THE PLAINVILLE PHARMACY SIGN.

IT WAS AKIN TO THE WELCOME TO LAS VEGAS SIGN IN PLAINVILLE.

PAMELA: KELLY SAYS DOWNTOWN PLAINVILLE LOOKED LIKE IT WAS FROZEN IN THE 1950'S AND HOLLYWOOD SET ASIDE BY A MOVIE AT THIS PLAINFIELD DINER.

AND ADDS KENNY'S RESTORATION WORK PRESERVES THE TOWN'S CHARM.

>> IN OUR TOWN A SPOT THAT MEANS SO MUCH TO THE TOWN AND THIS WAS THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY FOR DECADES AND DECADES.

AND THEN IT WAS GONE.

AND SO TO HAVE SOMETHING THIS BEAUTIFUL BE PUT IN ITS PLACE IT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS PICKED UP FROM NEWPORT AND DROPPED HERE IN CENTER PLAINVILLE.

PAMELA: KINNEY SAYS PLAINVILLE WHERE HE HAS LIVED WITH HIS WIFE FOR A QUARTER CENTURY AND RAISED TWO SONS IS FRIENDLY, UNPRETENTIOUS, AND HE PLANS TO STAY FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER OF HIS LIFE.

JEFF: THERE'S REALLY A SENSE OF TOWN.

AND I HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH THAT IDEA.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE MOVE TO A SMALL TOWN LIKE THIS BECAUSE THEY WANT TO FEEL LIKE THEY'RE PART OF A SMALL COMMUNITY.

I THINK THAT MY WIFE AND I, WE REALIZE THAT WE WILL PROBABLY LIVE OUT OUR DAYS HERE.

THE BOOKSTORE IS REALLY GOING TO TIE US TO THIS AREA BECAUSE WHY WOULD WE EVER MOVE AWAY?

PAMELA: OUR SPECIAL THANKS TO ANTHONY GILL, EVAN MILLER, AND CAMERON SIMMER ALL SIXTH GRADERS AT THE B.H.

WOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN PLAINVILLE.

MICHELLE: FINALLY TONIGHT IN OUR CONTINUING SERIES WINDOW ON LOOK AT ONE OF RHODE ISLAND'S ICONIC MANSIONS, THE BREAKERS.

OUR TOUR GUIDE IS TRODY COX, C.E.O.

AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PRESERVATION SOCIETY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.

WHERE.

>> WHERE DID THE NAME BREAKERS COME FROM IF YOU LISTEN VERY CAREFULLY, YOU CAN HEAR THE OCEAN POUNDING THE ROCKS ALONG THIS COASTLINE.

SO THE BREAKERS.

WE ARE STANDING IN THE GREAT HALL OF THE BREAKERS.

AND THE BREAKERS WAS BUILT BY CORNELIUS VANDERBILT.

AND IT WAS BUILT IN 1892.

GREAT HALL IS SYMBOLIC, I THINK, OF THE STATEMENT THAT HE WAS TRYING TO MAKE WHEN THIS HOUSE WAS BUILT.

CORNELIUS VANDERBILT WAS PART OF THE VANDERBILT FAMILY THAT STARTED OUT IN SHIPPING AND THEN WENT ON TO BECOME TITANS WITHIN THE RAILROAD INDUSTRY.

THEY EXTENDED THE RAILROAD FROM NEW YORK ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND SO THIS BUILDING AND THIS PARTICULAR ROOM, THE GREAT HALL, I THINK MAKES A STATEMENT ABOUT THE WEALTH THAT THEY HAD ACCUMULATED AND THE FACT THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE WANTED EVERYBODY TO KNOW THAT THEY HAD ACCUMULATED THAT WEALTH.

THIS IS ELLIS VANDERBILT CORNELIUS' WIFE.

AND THEY WERE IN MANY WAYS EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD ENORMOUS WEALTH, THEY WERE VERY SIMPLE PEOPLE.

SHE AND HE WERE BOTH SUNDAY SCHOOLTEACHERS.

THAT'S WHAT THEY DID ON SUNDAY MORNINGS.

AND SO YES, THEY HAD AN ELEGANT LIFE BUT THEY WERE ALSO DOWN TO EARTH AND DOING THE BASIC THINGS.

THE VANDERBILT FAMILY LOST THE FIRST BREAKERS IN 1892.

A FIRE BROKE OUT IN THE OLD BREAKERS.

AND IT BURNED THE HOUSE DOWN VERY QUICKLY.

AND IT WAS SUCH A HUGE FIRE THAT IT COULD BE SEEN FROM BLOCK ISLAND.

IT WAS AT THAT TIME THAT MR. VANDERBILT DECIDED THAT HE WOULD BUILD A NEW HOUSE.

IT WOULD NOT BE WOOD LIKE THE OLD HOUSE WAS.

AND THIS IS WHAT HE CREATED.

DURING THE YEARS THE HOUSE WAS A HOUSE OF ENTERTAINMENT, SO IN 1962, WHEN PRESIDENT KENNEDY WAS HERE, AND HE DID SUMMER HERE IN NEWPORT WITH HIS WIFE, JACKIE, THE AMERICA'S CUP RACES WERE BEING HELD.

AND THERE WAS AN AMERICA'S CUP DINNER HELD IN THIS ROOM.

AND THE AMBASSADOR OF AUSTRALIA WAS THE GUEST OF HONOR.

AND THEY WERE SEATED IN FRONT OF THIS GRAND STAIRCASE.

>> THE AMBASSADOR SAID SO WELL, THEY RACE AGAINST EACH OTHER.

BUT THEY ALSO RACE WITH EACH OTHER AGAINST THE WIND AND THE SEA TO THE CREW OF THE GRETEL, AND THE CREW OF THE WELDON.

>> AND PRESIDENT KENNEDY GAVE A SPEECH THAT IS PHENOMENAL ABOUT HUMANS' CONNECTION TO THE SEA AND THE FACT THAT ALL OF US HAVE THE SAME PERCENTAGE OF SALT IN OUR BLOOD AS THERE IS IN THE OCEANS.

THIS IS THE ROOM IN WHICH THE FAMILY WOULD GATHER IN THE MORNING, AFTER HAVING EATEN, AND THEY WOULD DISCUSS THEIR DAY.

THE FIRST THING THAT I WANT TO POINT OUT IS THAT YOU SEE THOSE PANELS.

THEY LOOK LIKE SILVER, RIGHT?

WE HAD A CONSERVATOR SPEND THE SUMMER WITH US, AND WE LEARNED AT THAT POINT THAT THE PANELS, THE WALLS, ARE ACTUALLY OF PLATINUM.

SO THIS IS A PLATINUM ROOM.

MR. VANDERBILT FINISHING THE HOUSE IN 1895, AND THIS IS A MONUMENT TO ALL THAT HE ACCOMPLISHED AND THE ACHIEVEMENTS THAT HE HAD MADE.

AND YET HE BECAME SICK.

SO HE WAS NOT ABLE TO AND A VERY SAD STORY NOT ABLE TO ENJOY THE HOUSE PERHAPS IN THE WAY THAT HE AND HIS WIFE, ALICE, HAD ENVISIONED.

PAMELA: OUR THANKS TO TRUDY COX.

THAT'S OUR BROADCAST FOR THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M PAMELA WATTS.

MICHELLE: I'M MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL.

WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER EDITION OF "RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY."

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