Richard Scarry!

Welcome to a SPECIAL EDITION of the Piece of Advice Newsletter!

Good morning! Today we are taking a look into legendary children’s author, Richard Scarry! I was lucky enough to ask his awesome son who is also a established author, Huck Scarry, a few questions!

Few names in children’s literature are as instantly recognizable as Richard Scarry. Born in Boston in 1919, Scarry carved out a special place in the hearts of millions with his bustling, colorful worlds and charming animal characters. After serving in World War II, he found his way into illustration, and by the 1950s, his books began filling shelves everywhere. With titles like “Busy, Busy World”, “Cars and Trucks and Things That Go”, and “What Do People Do All Day?”, Scarry’s books turned everyday activities into fun-filled adventures, helping kids learn about their communities, routines, and even the importance of kindness and cooperation.

Scarry’s books were instantly recognizable thanks to his detailed illustrations and cheerful animal characters; like Lowly Worm, Huckle Cat, and Sergeant Murphy; each one full of personality and always up to something silly yet relatable. He had a gift for making learning feel effortless, using humor and playful storytelling to explore concepts from jobs to manners to how cities function. His imagined world of “Busytown” was a vibrant, well-organized universe where foxes ran fire departments and pigs piloted planes, giving kids a joyful way to understand the adult world.

Though Richard Scarry passed away in 1994, his legacy continues through his timeless books, which have sold over 100 million copies worldwide. His work has been translated into dozens of languages, and “Busytown” has come to life on TV screens through animated series like “The Busy World of Richard Scarry”, which introduced his stories to a whole new generation. His impact on early childhood literacy, visual storytelling, and imaginative world-building remains unmatched, and parents and teachers alike still rely on his books to engage young readers.

That legacy is now carried on by his son, Huck Scarry, an artist and author in his own right. Huck has lovingly continued the “Busytown” tradition, drawing in his father’s style and even creating new books and illustrations based on the beloved characters. He often shares stories about his father’s creative process; like how Lowly Worm was once a last-minute addition to a page that ended up stealing the spotlight. Through Huck’s work, Richard Scarry’s world keeps growing, staying just as busy, bright, and beloved as ever.

Huck Scarry:

Giancarlo: What is the most important thing about Mr. Scarry that most people don’t know?

Huck Scarry: My father was not a very good student at school, but he loved to draw. His mother enrolled him in art classes at the Boston Museum. During World War II, he served in the US Army in North Africa where he worked on publications for the troops. In 1949, he illustrated his first children's book, “Two Little Miners”.

Giancarlo: Do we know how he first came up with the idea for “Busytown”?

Huck Scarry: Richard created a large group of characters to illustrate the word entries in “Storybook Dictionary” (1966), later retitled, “Best Picture Dictionary Ever”. These funny characters served as inspiration for the inhabitants of “Busytown” in “What Do People Do All Day?” (1968).

Giancarlo: Are his books still selling strong and being well received to this day?

Huck Scarry: His books are as popular as ever, and are now read by 3 generations of readers. They have been translated into over 20 languages. We also now have a fun Instagram account called “Richardscarrylove".

If you want to learn more, you can try and find a copy of a biography entitled, “The Busy, Busy World of Richard Scarry”, by Walter Retan and Ole Risom, published by Harry N. Abrams Publishers, New York, 1997.

The book!: https://a.co/d/fvDlbhH

Thank you for reading! Have an amazing day and we will catch you again on Monday!

-Giancarlo