American artist and writer, world's best-selling children's book author. Scarry wrote or illustrated over 300 books, selling over 300 million copies worldwide. Typical of Scarry's drawings is their emphasis on action and minute detail in depicting everyday activities. The accompanying text is usually limited to a description of the particular action taking place.

"Mrs. Bunny turned on the television to little bunny's favorite program.
The little bunny turned the sound away up loud and nearly frightened his mother out of her wits.
Oh naughty bunny."
(from Naughty Bunny, 1959)

Richard Scarry was born in Boston. His father owned a store, and the family lived in comfortable circumstances, even during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Scarry was raised in the atmosphere of love, care and respect, which is reflected in his books. From 1939 to 1942 he studied art at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts School. He served in the army as an art director, editor, and writer of information publications in North Africa and Italy.

After the war Scarry worked in New York as a free-lance illustrator. In 1948 he married Patricia Murphy. His first book, Two Little Miners, was published in the popular Little Golden Book series in 1949. It was followed by five other children's books, published by Simon and Schuster in the same year.

In the 1950s Scarry illustrated and wrote for Little Golden Books. Several of his books were written by Kathryn Jackson and Patsy Scarry. Gradually his animal characters started to behave more like real people, and the drawing became much looser in style. In 1959 he moved with his family from Ridgefield, Connecticut, to Westport.

Scarry made his breakthrough in 1963 with Richard Scarry's Best World Book Ever. The large-format book, with more than 1 400 objects identified with labels, sold seven million copies in twelve years. In 1965 Richard Scarry's Busy, Busy World appeared, a detailed work of drawings and thirty-three stories set in different parts of the world. However, the book did not achieve as much success as Richard Scarry's Storybook Dictionary, which was published the next year. He also illustrated several books written by J.D. Bevington. Other writers included Jane Werner, Mary Reed, Edith Osswald, Peggy Parish, Jean Selligman, Levine Milton, Edward Lear, Ole Risom, Barbara Shook Hazen.

After twenty years with Golden Books, Scarry decided to move to Ramdom House. Its children's book list already included Dr. Seuss, the de Brunhoff Babar books, Stan and Jan Berenstain with their Berenstai Bear books, and Walter Farley, author of the Black Stallion novels.

The Scarry family moved to Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1968. His books, with their animal chraracters in ordinary settings without special ethnic traits, attracted young readers all over the world, and were translated into several languages, including Finnish, Chinese, and Lithuanian. Scarry's characters, Mr. Frumble, Huckle Cat, Mr. Fixit, Lowly Worm, and others, live in Busytown which is populated by friendly and helpful residents. When Absent-Minded Mr. Rabbit gets his feet stuck in cement, all of his friends try to get him out. Although Busytown is more realistic than Lewis Carroll's Wonderland, Scarry's vehicles have occasionally surrealistic elements, including Mr Frumble's pickle car, a car shaped like a doughnut, and a toothbrush mobile. Scarry used repeatedly his formula in which his books did not have a plot but offered bits of information in various spheres of knowledge, on school activities, cars and trucks, counting, animals, professions, etc. "Wherever I go," he was fond of saying, "I'm watching. Even on vacation when I'm in an airport or a railroad station, I look around, snap pictures and find out how people do things. Someday it will all show up in a book." (from The Busy, Busy World of Richard Sacrry by Walter Retan and Ole Risom, 1997)

In 1972 Scarry bought a chalet in Gstaad, where he founded his studio. He also travelled widely with his wife in Africa and the Far East, visiting places depicted in his Busy, Busy World. During the 1980s Scarry's eyesight became worse, but despite the problem he finished in 1985 the drawing for his Biggest World Book Ever.

Richard Scarry died in his home in Gstaad on April 30, 1994. His son Richard has carried on the creative tradition. Scarry considered himself a fun-man disguised as an educator. "Everything has an educational value if you look for it. But it's the fun I want to get across." In the first book he illustrated for Artists and Writers, he painted in full color. By the time he created his first big book, Richard Scarry's Best World Book Ever, he had devised another method. He drew the lines with a pencil, and painted the blueboards in the colors, using a water-based paint. Scarry's favorite was Winsor & Newton Designers Colors. First he painted all the objects that were to be red, then the blue, and so on. It saved time and materials in preparation for printing.

For further information: The Busy, Busy World of Richard Scarry by Walter Retan and Ole Risom (1997); St. James Guide to Children's Writers, ed. by Sara Pendergast and Tom Pendergast (1999) - Note: One of the favorite books of Richard Scarry was Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn. He called his son Huck after the central chraracter. - Scarry also admired the works of Beatrix Potter, although Potter's style was more realistic than his. - Suomeksi Scarrylta on käännetty kymmeniä lastenkirjoja.

Selected works:

• MOUSE'S HOUSE by Kathryn and Byron Jackson, 1949 (illustration)
• THE BOSS OF THE BARNYARD by Joan Hubbard, 1949 (illustration)
• TWO LITTLE MINERS by Margaret Wise Brown and Edith Thacher Hurd, 1949 (illustration, the first Little Golden Book)
• LET'S GO FISHING by Kathryn and Byron Jackson, 1949 (illustration)
• DUCK AND HIS FRIENDS by Kathryn and Byron Jackson, 1949 (illustration)
• BRAVE COWBOY BILL by Kathryn and Byron Jackson, 1950 (illustration)
• THE ANIMALS MERRY CHRISTMAS by Kathryn Jackson, 1950 (illustration)
• LITTLE BENNY WANTED A PONY by Oliver Barrett, 1950 (illustration)
• HERE COMES THE PARADE by Kathryn Jackson, 1951 (illustration)
• THE GREAT BIG CAR AND TRUCK BOOK, 1951 (written and illustrated by J.S.)
• THE NEW GOLDEN ALMANAC by Kathryn Jackson, 1952 (illustration)
• THE ANIMALS OF FARMER JONES by Leah Gale, 1953 (illustration)
• DANNY BEAVER'S SECRET by Patricia Scarry, 1953 (illustration)
• THE PARTY PIG by Kathryn and Byron Jackson, 1954 (illustration)
• LITTLE INDIAN by Margaret Wise Brown, 1954 (illustration)
• PIERRE BEAR by Patricia Scarry, 1954 (illustration)
• RABBIT AND HIS FRIENDS, 1954
• THE BUNNY BOOK, 1955 by Patricia Scarry, 1955 (illustration)
• SMOKEY THE BEAR by Jane Werner, 1955 (illustration)
• THE GOLDEN BEDTIME BOOK by Kathryn Jackson
, 1955 (illustration)
• MY FIRST GOLDEN DICTIONARY by Mary Reed and Edith Osswald, 1956 (illustration)
• NURSERY TALES, 1958
• NAUGHTY BUNNY, 1959
• TINKER AND TANKER, 1960
• JUST FOR FUN by Patricia Scarry, 1960 (illustration)
• TINKER AND TANKER OUT WEST, 1961
• TINKER AND TANKER AND THEIR SPCE SHIP, 1961
• TINKER AND TANKER AND THE PIRATES, 1961
• THE HICKORY DICKORY CLOCK BOOK, 1961
• MY NURSERY TALE BOOK by Kathryn Jackson and Patsy Scarry, 1961 (illustration)
• MY GOLDEN BOOK OF MANNERS by Peggy Parish, 1962 (illustration)
• TOMMY VISITS THE DOCTOR by Jean Selligman and Levine Milton, 1962 (illustration)
• NONSENSE ALPHABET by Edward Lear, 1962 (illustration)
• MANNERS, 1962
• FABLES by Jean de la Fontaine , 1963 (illustration)
• I AM A BUNNY by Ole Risom, 1963 (illustration)
• WHAT ANIMALS DO, 1963
• A TINKER AND TANKER COLORING BOOK, 1963
• THE ROOSTER STRUTS, 1963
• RICHARD SCARRY'S BEST WORD BOOK EVER, 1963
• TINKER AND TANKER, KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE, 1963
• TINKER AND TANKER IN AFRICA, 1963
• BEST WORD BOOK EVER, 1963
• RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER by Barbara Shook Hazen, 1964 (illustration)
• POLITE ELEPHANT, 1964
• IS THIS THE HOUSE OF MISTRESS MOUSE?, 1964
• FEED THE HIPPO HIS ABC'S, 1964
• ANIMAL MOTHER GOOSE, 1964
• BEST NURSERY RHYMES EVER, 1964
• RCHARD SCARRY'S BUSY, BUSY WORLD, 1965
• TEENY TINY TALES, 1965
• THE SANTA CLAUS BOOK, 1965
• THE BUNNY BOOK, 1965
• BUSY BUSY WORLD, 1965
• THE GOLDEN BOOK OF 365 STORIES by J.D. Bevington, 1966 (illustration)
• PLANES, 1967
• TRAINS, 1967
• BOATS, 1967
• CARS, 1967
• RICHARD SCARRY'S STORYBOOK DICTIONARY, 1967
• EGG IN THE HOLE BOOK, 1967
• WHAT DO PEOPLE DO ALL DAY, 1968
• BEST STORYBOOK EVER, 1968
• THE EARLY BIRD, 1968
• WHAT ANIMALS DO, 1968
• RICHARD SCARRY'S GREAT BIG SCHOOLHOUSE, 1969
• THE GREAT PIE ROBBERY, 1969
• THE SUPERMARKET MYSTERY, 1969
• THE GREAT BIG SCHOOLHOUSE, 1969
• BEST MOTHER GOOSE EVER by J.D. Bevington, 1970 (illustration)
• GREAT BIG AIR BOOK, 1971
• BEST STORIES EVER, 1971
• ABC WORD BOOK, 1971
• LOOK AND LEARN LIBRARY, 1971 (4 vols.)
• HOP ABOARD, HERE WE GO!, 1972
• MOTHER GOOSE by J.D. Bevington, 1972 (illustration)
• FUNNIEST STORYBOOK EVER, 1972
• NICKY GOES TO THE DOCTOR, 1972
• RICHARD SCARRY'S BEST COUNTING BOOK EVER, 1973
• SILLY STORIES, 1973
• BABYKINS AND HIS FAMILY, 1973
• FIND YOUR ABC'S, 1973
• PLEASE AND THANK YOU BOOK, 1973
• CARS AND TRUCKS AND THINGS THAT GO, 1974
• BEST RAINY DAY BOOK EVER, 1974
• EUROPEAN WORD BOOK, 1974
• ANIMAL NURSERY TALES, 1975
• MY HOUSE by J.D. Bevington, 1975 (illustration)
• WITH THE ANIMALS by J.D. Bevington, 1975 (illustration, as MEET THE ANIMALS in 1982)
• ALL DAY LONG by J.D. Bevington, 1975 (illustration, as MY DAY in 1984)
• GREAT STEMBOAT MYSTERY, 1975
• BEST COUNTING BOOK EVER, 1975
• RICHARD SCARRY'S BUSIED PEOPLE EVER, 1976
• CHIPMUNK'S ABC by Roberta Miller, 1976 (illustration)
• FAVORITE STORYBOOK, 1976
• BUSY TOWN, BUSY PEOPLE, 1976
• STORYTIME, 1976
• BUSIEST PEOPLE EVER, 1976
• LOOK-LOOK BOOKS, 1976 (10 vols.)
• EARLY WORDS, 1976
• COLOR BOOK, 1976
• LAUGH AND LEARN LIBRARY, 1976 (4 vols.)
• PICTURE DICTIONARY, 1976
• TEENY TINY ABC, 1976
• LEARN TO COUNT, 1976
• LOWLY WORM STORY BOOK, 1977
• BUSY, BUSY WORD BOOK, 1977
• BEST MAKE-IT BOOK EVER, 1977
• BUSY-BUSY COUNTING BOOK, 1977
• RICHARD SCARRY'S PUNCH-OUT TOY BOOK, 1978
• POSTMAN PIG AND HIS BUSY NEIGHBORS, 1978
• TOY BOOK, 1978
• BEDTIME STORIES, 1978
• STORIES TO COLOR, 1978
• LITTLE WORD BOOK, 1978
• PUNCH-OUT TOY BOOK, 1978
• THINGS TO LEARN, 1978
• LITTLE ABC, 1978
• RICHARD SCARRY'S BEST FIRST BOOK EVER, 1979
• TINKER AND TANKER AND TALES OF PIRATES AND KNIGHTS, 1979
• TO MARKET, TO MARKET, 1979
• HOLIDAY BOOK, 1979
• WORK AND PLAY BOOK, 1979
• MIX AND MATCH STORYBOOK, 1979
• BEST FIRST BOOK EVER, 1979
• HACKLE'S BOOK, 1979
• BUSYTOWN POP-UP BOOK, 1979
• CAN YOU COUNT, 1979
• LOWLY WORM THINGS ON WHEELS, 1979
• RICHARD SCARRY'S PEASANT PIG AND THE TERRIBLE DRAGON, 1980
• CHRISTMAS MICE, 1981
• RICHARD SCARRY'S BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK EVER, 1981
• THE GINGERBREAD MAN, 1981 (illustration)
• LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD, 1981 (illustration)
• RICHARD SCARRY'S BUSY HOUSES, 1981
• BUSY HOUSES, 1981
• FOUR BUSY WORD BOOKS, 1982
• BUSYTOWN SHAPE BOOK, 1982
• STICKER BOOKS, 1982 (3 vols.)
• LOWLY WORM CARS AND TRUCKS BOOK, 1983
• OLD MOTHER HUBBARD, 1983 (illustration)
• THIS LITTLE PIG WENT TO MARKET, 1983 (illustration)
• ONE, TWO, BUCKLE MY SHOE, 1983 (illustration)
• LITTLE MISS MUFFET, 1983 (illustration)
• MY FIRST GOLDEN DICTIONARY, 1983 (illustration)
• RICHARD SCARRY'S LOWLY WORM BATH BOOK, 1984
• THE BEST MISTAKE EVER!, 1984
• BEST BUMPER BOOK EVER, 1984
• PIG WILL AND PIG WON'T, 1984
• BUSY FUN AND LEARN BOOK, 1984
• THE GOLDEN TREASURY OF FAIRY TALES, 1985 (illustration)
• RICHARD SCARRY'S BIGGEST WORD BOOK EVER! 1985
• MY FIRST WORD BOOK, 1986
• BIG AND LITTLE, 1986
• BEST WORKBOOKS EVER! (FUN WITH LETTERS), 1986 (4 vols.)
• BEST WORKBOOKS EVER! (FUN WITH NUMBERS), 1986 (3 vols.)
• MY FIRST WORD BOOK, 1986
• BEST MUSIC BOOK EVER, 1987
• THINGS THAT GO, 1987
• THINGS TO LOVE, 1987
• BUSY WORKERS, 1987
• RICHARD SCARRY'S LOWLY WORM'S SCHOOLBAG, 1987 (4 vols.)
• GETTING READY FOR SCHOOL, 1987 (4 vols.)
• GOING PLACES ON THE WATER, 1987 (4 vols.)
• SIMPLE SIMON AND OTHER RHYMES, 1988 (illustration)
• LITTLE MISS MUFFET AND OTHER RHYMES, 1988 (illustration)
• LEARNING HOW STICKER BOOK, 1988
• GIANT COLOURING BOOK, 1988
• BUSY BUSY STICKER BOOK, 1988
• BEST TIMES EVER, 1988
• ACTIVITY BOOK, 1988
• BEST BEDTIME BOOK EVER, 1988
• BEST READ AND LEARN BOOK EVER, 1988
• BIGGEST FIRST BOOK EVER, 1988
• BUSY BUSY WORLD BOOK, 1988
• DR. DOCTOR, 1988
• FARMER PATRICK PIG, 1988
• FRANCES FIX-IT, 1988
• HARRY AND LARRY THE FISHERMEN, 1988
• PLAY DAY, 1988
• SMOKEY THE FIREMAN, 1988
• SNIFF THE DETECTIVE, 1988
• SPLISH SPLASH SOUNDS, 1988
• ALL ABOUT CARS, 1989
• BEST FRIEND EVER, 1989
• BEST RIDE EVER, 1989
• BEST TWO-MINUTE STORIES EVER!, 1989
• MOTHER GOOSE SCRATCH AND SNIFF BOOK, 1989
• SCARRY'S BEST EVER, 1989
• TINKER AND TANKER STORYBOOK, 1989
• THE BEST HOUSE EVER by Kathryn Jackson, 1989 (illustration)
• WELCOME TO SCARRYTOWN, 1989
• BEST PUZZLE WORD BOOK EVER, 1989
• RICHARD SCARRY'S JUST RIGHT WORD BOOK, 1990
• CARS AND TRUCKS FROM A TO Z, 1990 (illustration)
• COUNTING BOOK, 1990
• BE CAREFUL, MR FRUMBLE, 1990
• BEST READ IT YOURSELF BOOK EVER, 1990
• BEST STORY BOOK EVER, 1991
• ABC'S, 1991
• WATCH YOUR STEP, MR. RABBIT!, 1991
• BEST YEAR EVER, 1991
• THE CAT FAMILYTAKES A TRIP, 1991
• THE CAT FAMILY'S BUSY DAY, 1991
• MR. FRUMBLE'S WORST DAY EVER, 1991
• SERGEANT MURPHY'S BUSIEST DAY EVER!, 1992
• BEST FAIRYTALES EVER, 1992
• BEST LITTLE WORD BOOK EVER, 1992
• BIGGEST POP-UP BOOK EVER!, 1992
• BANANAS GORILLA, 1992
• HUCKLE CAT'S BUSIEST DAY EVER, 1992
• MR. FIX-IT: RICHARD SCARRY'S SMALLEST POP-UP BOOK EVER!, 1992
• MR. FRUMBLE: RICHARD SCARRY'S SMALLEST POP-UP BOOK EVER!, 1992
• BIGGEST MAKE-IT BOOK EVER, 1993
• COLORS, 1993
• WORD BOOK WITH HUCKLE CAT AND LOWLY WORM, 1993
• FIRST WORDS, 1993
• LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD, 1993
• THE LITTLE RED HEN, 1993
• THE THREE BEARS, 1993
• THE THREE LITTLE PIGS, 1993
• STORY BOOK, 1993
• PIE RATS AHOY!, 1994