A post shared by Richard Scarry (@richardscarrysbusyworld)
Childrens books are an important part of growing up.
Scarry is perhaps most famous for hisBest Book Everseries which showcases the fictional world of Busytown.
Learn about who Scarry was and some of his best-known books out of his more than 250 titles.
Who was Richard Scarry?
Richard McClure Scarry was born on June 5, 1919, and grew up in Boston.
He was a voracious reader and an artist, but not a great overall student.
When it came time to go to college, he enrolled in Bostons Museum of Fine Art School.
(He would never finish his formal art education.)
He was later assigned to a radio repair school and was miserable as he went through basic training.
It eventually led Scarry into a more creative position with the Army.
He enrolled in Officer Candidate School and trained in Special Services.
The unit was dedicated to keeping up morale and entertaining the troops.
But before that would happen, he left the Army in 1946 and landed in New York City.
He worked briefly as an art director forVoguemagazine and an advertising agency before becoming a freelance illustrator in 1948.
Scarry died of a heart attack in 1994 at his home in Gstaad, Switzerland.
Characteristics of Richard Scarrys Books
The pages of Scarrys book are dominated by pictures.
They contain some words, but the drawings are packed with all sorts of detail and activities.
Scarry is seen as a 20th-centuryBeatrix Potter, an illustrator who created the universally belovedTale of Peter Rabbit.
Like Potter, he anthropomorphized animals and they both dressed them in human clothing.
If I show Father Pig in the same situation, nothing more is hurt than his dignity.
What Do People Do All Day?
Best Word Book Ever
TheBest Word Book Everis meant to help young readers expand their vocabulary.
It features over 700 words that label everything from the airport to the grocery store.
Be Careful, Mr. Frumble!
With subsequent print editions, subtle changes were made to reflect a more inclusive world.
In particular, gender roles were expanded.
The 1991 edition had both male and female characters contributing to home life and society at large.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Richard Scarry still alive?
No, he died of a heart attack in 1994.
What is Richard Scarry known for?
Richard Scarry was an author and illustrator of more than 250 children’s books.
He is known for his world of Busytown which includes a whole cast of animal characters.
