Richard Scarry author page

Richard Scarry biography

Richard Scarry was an American author and illustrator, best known for his children’s books featuring anthropomorphic animals. He studied at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. After serving in the US Army during the Second World War, Scarry began working in the publishing industry as a freelance illustrator.

Scarry’s first book, Great Big Car and Truck Book, was published in 1951. He gained widespread recognition with the publication of Best Word Book Ever in 1963. His works are characterised by detailed, busy illustrations and recurring characters such as Huckle Cat, Lowly Worm, and Sergeant Murphy. Scarry created more than 300 books, which have sold over 100 million copies worldwide and have been translated into dozens of languages.

His most notable series include Richard Scarry’s Busy Town, Richard Scarry’s Cars and Trucks and Things That Go, and Richard Scarry’s Best First Book Ever. In addition to books, his characters have appeared in animated television adaptations, including The Busy World of Richard Scarry.

Scarry’s publisher, Random House, and later Golden Books, have continued to keep his works in print. In 1976, he received the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis for his book Mein allerschönstes Wörterbuch (the German edition of Best Word Book Ever).

Richard Scarry’s books remain among the best-selling children’s titles globally, with Best Word Book Ever recognised as a classic in early childhood education.