American artist and writer, best-selling children's book author. Richard Scarry wrote or illustrated over 300 books during his life time. 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.

The little bunny didn't mean to be naughty
But he didn't try very hard to be good.
He bothered his father at breakfast.
He spilled his cereal.
(Naughty Bunny by Richard Scarry, Golden Press, 1959)

Richard Scarry was born in Boston, Massachussetts. His father owned a store, and the family lived in comfortable circumstances, even during the Great Depression of the 1930s. His family was close-knit ‒ the atmosphere of happiness, love and gemütlichkeit also reflected from his books.

From early age Scarry was interested in fine arts. At school Scarry was not a good student; his father believed that he would never achieve success. After graduating from high school, Scarry entered a business college, but then dropped out. From 1939 to 1942 he studied art at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts School. Before receiving his college diploma, Scarry was drafted in the Army. He served as an art director, editor, and writer of information publications in the Morale Services Section of Allied Forces HQ in North Africa and Italy.

When the war ended, Scarry went to New York, where he worked as a free-lance illustrator. In 1948 he married Patricia Murphy, a writer of children's textbooks. His first book, Two Little Miners (1949), was published in the popular Little Golden Book series. 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 works 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. Animals are referred to as "he" or "she" rather than it. Even inanimate objects can have feelings: a frightened parking meter looks at Dingo Dog: "Did you see that? Dingo Dog has knocked down almost all the parking meters." (Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks and Things That Go, 1974, p. 7)

In 1959 Scarry moved with his family from Ridgefield, Connecticut, to Westport. His breakthrough Scarry made in 1963 with his Best World Book Ever. This large-format book, with more than 1 400 objects identified with labels, sold seven million copies in twelve years.

Many of Scarry's books show different types of occupations, along with the uniforms, tools and vehicles associated with them. The sociologist J. L. Martin has remarked, that "The odd thing about a book entitled 'What Do People Do All Day' is that there are no people, only animals." ('What do animals do all day?' by John Levi Martin, Poetics 27, 2000, pp. 204-205)

At one point of his career, Scarry found himself as a target of feminist criticism for his portrayal of female characters mostly in domestic roles. When Scarry published an updated edition of The Best Word Book Ever in 1991, he made some changes regarding gender roles and ethnic and religious minorities. Thus there is "Father," who helps in cooking, a reference to Hanukkah, women (or female bears in  the book) do jobs that traditionally had been maledominated, "pretty stewardess" is now "flight attendant", and so on.

Busy, Busy World (1965) was a detailed work of drawings and thirty-three stories set in different parts of the world. However, this work 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 Random 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. Because of characters like Manuel of Mexico and Angus the Scottish bagpiper from Busy, Busy World, Scarry was accused of promoting stereotypes. When his books were reprinted, Scarry happily made revisitions to his works, which had been criticized for being "behind the times."

Scarry's books, with their anthropomorphic animals in ordinary settings without special ethnic traits, have attracted young readers all over the world, and have been translated into dozens languages, including Finnish, Chinese, and Lithuanian. Mr. Frumble, a bumbling pig, Huckle Cat, who started out life as a bear, Mr. Fixit, a handy repairman, Lowly Worm, and others, live in Busytown which is populated by well behaving and helpful residents. When Absent-Minded Mr. Rabbit gets his feet stuck in cement, all of his friends try to get him out. Scarry's son Huck has said that Mr. Frumble contains a little bit of the author himself. In Be Careful, Mr. Frumble! (1990), Mr. Frumble chases his hat, blown away by the wind, and causes many near-disasters. The milieu is Swiss.

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. The city itself is a haven of harmonious living, where everyone, in the free market economy, has a productive and unique job. A house can catch fire in Busytown, but nothing like an economic depression could happen there and disturb the community's peace. In the two-page illustration 'A Castle in Denmark' Scarry gave "some rules that you must obey if you live in a castle or even if you live in a house." One of them was: "Don't be naughty. Naughty people must sit in the dungeon." (Busy, Busy World, 1965, p. 16)

In Naughty Bunny father reads "Daily Carriot". A headline says: "Tortoise wins race." Scarry's bunnies don't discuss politics, but one story in Busy, Busy World tells of Dr. Krunchchew of Russia – the name obviously refers to Nikita Khrushchev, the leader of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964.

"There are all kinds of writers. The best writers write children's books."
"Libraries lend people books from library. The best librarians are children's books librarians."
(Richard Scarry's Busy, Busy Town, Golden Books, 1994)

Unlike other children's writers of his day, Scarry preferred formula in which the stories didn't have a plot. Instead, his books offered bits of information in various spheres of knowledge, on school activities, cars and trucks, counting, animals, professions, etc. "Wherever I go," he said, "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." (The Busy, Busy World of Richard Sacrry by Walter Retan and Ole Risom, 1997)

The Scarry family moved to Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1968, mainly because Scarry loved to ski. In 1972 he 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 the 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 of hear attack in Gstaad, Switzerland, on April 30, 1994. His son Huck, who had helped his father colouring up his Busytown books, has carried on the creative tradition. "My father spent lots of time with me," he has recalled, "and we did many things together, be it sailing, skiing, or even sharing a coin collection. Later, I sometimes gave my father a hand, colouring his funny illustrations." ('His Father's Son -- Huck Scarry on His Family's Past, Present & Future' by Alexis Munier, GSTAADLIFE, 10 September, 2015)

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." (The Busy, Busy World of Richard Sacrry by Walter Retan and Ole Risom, 1997, p. 130) 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: 'Representation of animals in Scarry’s children’s books: An Eco linguistic analysis' by K. S. Fashal & S.M.K. Al Shamari, in International Journal of Health Sciences, 6(S7) (2022);  Richard Scarry: A Biography by Sidot Jean Avignon (2012); 'What do animals do all day?: The division of labor, class bodies, and totemic thinking in the popular imagination' by John Levi Martin, in Poetics 27 (2000);  The Busy, Busy World of Richard Scarry by Walter Retan and Ole Risom (1997); St. James Guide to Children's Writers, edited 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 / Kathryn and Byron Jackson, 1949 (illustration)
• The Boss of the Barnyard / Joan Hubbard, 1949 (illustration)
• Two Little Miners / Margaret Wise Brown and Edith Thacher Hurd, 1949 (illustration, the first Little Golden Book)
• Let's Go Fishing / Kathryn and Byron Jackson, 1949 (illustration)
• Duck and His Friends / Kathryn and Byron Jackson, 1949 (illustration) - Atte Ankka ja hänen ystävänsä (suom. Sirkka Nuormaa, 1952)   
• Brave Cowboy Bill / Kathryn and Byron Jackson, 1950 (illustration)
  - Kaikkien aikojen Bill  (teksti: Marjatta Kurenniemi, 1973)
• The Animals Merry Christmas / Kathryn Jackson, 1950 (illustration)
  - Eläinten joulu (suomennos: Marjatta Kurenniemi, 1970)
• Little Benny Wanted a Pony / Oliver Barrett, 1950 (illustration)
• Here Comes the Parade / Kathryn Jackson, 1951 (illustration)
• The Great Big Car and Truck Book 1951 (written and illustrated by J.S.)
• The New Golden Almanac / Kathryn Jackson, 1952 (illustration)
• The Animals of Farmer Jones / Leah Gale, 1953 (illustration)
  - Mattilan isännän karjatarha (suom. Helena Anhava, 1960)
• Danny Beaver's Secret / Patricia Scarry, 1953 (illustration)
  - Matti Majavan salaisuus (teksti: Marjatta Kurenniemi, 1955)
• The Party Pig / Kathryn and Byron Jackson, 1954 (illustration)
  - Possun hauskat vieraat (suom. Tarleena Tuori, 1976)
• Little Indian / Margaret Wise Brown, 1954 (illustration)
  - Suuri intiaani ja pieni intiaani (suom. Marjatta Kurenniemi, 1962)
• Pierre Bear /  Patricia Scarry, 1954 (illustration)
• Rabbit and His Friends, 1954
  - Nikke Nokkaeläin (suom. Marjatta Vilkamaa, 1975)
• The Bunny Book / Patricia Scarry, 1955 (illustration)
  - Pikku Pelle Puputti (suom. Marjatta Kurenniemi, 1957)
• Smokey the Bear / Jane Werner, 1955 (illustration)
  - Nalle Nokikämmen (suom.: Marjatta Kurenniemi, 1964)
• The Golden Bedtime Book / Kathryn Jackson , 1955 (illustration)
• My First Golden Dictionary / Mary Reed and Edith Osswald, 1956 (illustration)
• Nursery Tales, 1958
• Naughty Bunny, 1959
  - Kani kuriton  (suom. Helena Anhava, 1961)
• The Adventures of Tinker and Tanker, 1960
  - Jussi ja Juuso seikkailevat (suom. Pirjo-Iiris Manninen, 1973)
• Just for Fun / Patricia Scarry, 1960 (illustration)
• Tinker and Tanker Out West, 1961
  - Jussi ja Juuso Villissä Lännessä (suom. Pirjo-Iiris Manninen, 1973)
• Tinker and Tanker and Their Space Ship, 1961
  - Jussi ja Juuso avaruusmatkalla (suom. Pirjo-Iiris Manninen, 1973)
• Tinker and Tanker and Their Pirates, 1961
• Good Night, Little Bear / Patsy Scarry, 1961 (illust. Richard Scarry)
  - Hyvää yötä, Nalle Kalle (2. p., suom. Marjatta Kurenniemi, 1975)
• The Hickory Dickory Clock Book, 1961
• My Nursery Tale Book / Kathryn Jackson and Patsy Scarry, 1961 (illustration)
• My Golden Book of Manners / Peggy Parish, 1962 (illustration)
• Tommy Visits the Doctor / Jean Selligman and Levine Milton, 1962 (illustration)
  - Pekka ja Pupu lääkärissä (suom. Marjatta Kurenniemi, 1975)
• Nonsense Alphabet / Edward Lear, 1962 (illustration)
• Manners, 1962
• Fables / Jean de la Fontaine, 1963 (illustration)
  - Eläinsatuja La Fontainen mukaan (suom. Maria Laukka, 1965)
• I Am a Bunny / Ole Risom, 1963 (illustration)
• What Animals Do, 1963
• A Tinker and Tanker Coloring Book, 1963
• The Rooster Struts, 1963
• Richard Scarry's Best Story Book Ever, 1963
• Tinker and Tanker, Knights of the Round Table, 1963
  - Pyöreän Pöydän ritarit Jussi ja Juuso (suom. Pirjo-Iiris Manninen, 1973)
• Tinker and Tanker in Africa, 1963
• The Best Word Book Ever, 1963
  - Iloinen sanakirja (suom. Irma Putkonen, 1973) / Uusi iloinen sanakirja (suom. Irma Putkonen ja Esa Mela, 1990)
• Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer / Barbara Shook Hazen, 1964 (illustration)
• Polite Elephant, 1964
  - Kohtelias elefantti (suomal. teksti: Marjatta Kurenniemi, 1969)
• Is This the House of Mistress Mouse?, 1964
• Feed the Hippo His ABC's, 1964
• Animal Mother Goose, 1964
• Best Nursery Rhymes Ever, 1964
• Richard Scarry's Busy, Busy World, 1965
  - Hauska, hauska maailma (teksti: Marjatta Kurenniemi, 1967)
• Teeny Tiny Tales, 1965
  - Pikku pikku jutut: 11 värikästä kertomusta (suom. Riitta Mäyrälä, 1975)
• The Santa Claus Book, 1965
• The Bunny Book, 1965
• The Golden Book 365 Stories / J.D. Bevington, 1966 (illustration)
• Planes, 1967
  - Kaiken maailman lentokoneita (suom. K. I. Wallius, 1972)
• Trains, 1967
  - Kaiken maailman junia (suom. K. I. Wallius, 1972)
• Boats, 1967
  - Kaiken maailman laivoja (suom. K. I. Wallius, 1972)
• Cars, 1967
  - Kaiken maailman autoja (suom. K. I. Wallius, 1972)
• Richard Scarry's Storybook Dictionary, 1967
  - Ensimmäinen englannin sanakirjani (suomeksi toim. Anja Franssila, 1972)
• Egg in the Hole Book, 1967
• What Do People Do All Day, 1968
  - Mitä ihmiset tekevät (suomal. teksti: Marjatta Kurenniemi, 1969)
• Best Storybook Ever, 1968
  - Saturalli  (suomennos: Marjatta Kurenniemi, Helena Anhava & Sirkka Nuormaa, 1971)
• The Early Bird, 1968
• What Animals Do, 1968
• Richard Scarry's Great Big Schoolhouse, 1969
  - Meidän koulu (suom. Marjatta Soinio, 1972)
• The Great Pie Robbery, 1969
  - Suuri piirakkaryöstö (suom. Marjatta Kurenniemi, 1970)
• The Supermarket Mystery, 1969
  - Valintamyymälän arvoitus (suom. Marjatta Kurenniemi, 1970)
• The Great Big Schoolhouse, 1969
• Best Mother Goose Ever / J.D. Bevington, 1970 (illustration)
• Great Big Air Book, 1971
  - Iloinen ilmakirja (suom. Kaarina Helakisa, 1973)
• Best Stories Ever, 1971
• ABC Word Book, 1971
  - ABC kirja (suomenk. teksti: Mervi Miettinen, 1974)
• Look and Learn Library, 1971 (4 vols.)
• Things to Know, 1971
  - Hessu menee kouluun (suom. Panu Pekkanen, 1976) / Opitaan yhdessä (suomennos: Tuula Kuoppala, 1992)
• Hop Aboard, Here We Go!, 1972
• Mother Goose / J.D. Bevington, 1972 (illustration)
• Funniest Storybook Ever, 1972
  - Hassu kaupunki (suom. Pirjo-Iiris Manninen, 1974)
• Nicky Goes to the Doctor, 1972
  - Jussi Jänönen lääkärissä (suom. Outi Nurmi, 1973)
• Richard Scarry's Best Counting Book Ever, 1973
• Silly Stories, 1973
  - Hupsua väkeä (suom. Marjatta Vilkamaa, 1975)
• Babykins and His Family, 1973
  - Kissalan perhe (suom. Raija Mattila, 1975)
• Find Your ABC's, 1973
• Please and Thank You Book, 1973
• Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks and Things That Go, 1974
  - Iloinen autokirja (suom. Raija Mattila, 1975)
• Best Rainy Day Book Ever, 1974
  - Iloinen askartelukirja (suom. Aino Kervinen, 1977)
• European Word Book, 1974
• Animal Nursery Tales, 1975
  - Iloinen satukirja (suom. Raija Mattila, 1976)
• My House / J.D. Bevington, 1975 (illustration)
  - Kotona (suom. teksti: Raija Mattila, 1976)
• With the Animals / J.D. Bevington, 1975 (illustration, as Meet the Animals, 1982)
• All Day Long / J.D. Bevington, 1975 (illustration, as My Day, 1984)
  - Sellaista sattuu (suom. teksti: Mervi Miettinen, 1976)
• Great Steamboat Mystery, 1975
• My Best Counting Book Ever, 1975
  - Ville laskee sataan (suom. Marjatta Soinio, 1977)
• Richard Scarry's Busiest People Ever, 1976
  - Ahkeruus on ilomme (suom. Raija Mattila, 1977)
• Chipmunk's ABC / Roberta Miller, 1976 (illustration)
• Favorite Storybook, 1976
• Busy Town, Busy People, 1976
  - Touhulassa tapahtuu (suom. Panu Pekkanen, 1976)
• Storytime, 1976
  - Kesäretki (suom. Panu Pekkanen, 1976)
• Busiest People Ever, 1976
• Look-Look Books, 1976 (10 vols.)
• On Vacation, 1976
  - Tule lomalle (suom. teksti: Mervi Miettinen, 1976)
• At Work, 1976
  - Tehdään työtä (suom. teksti: Mervi Miettinen, 1976)
• On the Farm, 1976
  - Retki maalle (suom. teksti: Mervi Miettinen, 1976)
• Early Words, 1976
  - Päivä Pikku Pupun seurassa (suom. Berit Boström, 1978)
• Richard Scarry's Color Book, 1976
  - Nasu maalari opettaa sinulle värit (suom. Berit Boström, 1978)
• Laugh and Learn Library, 1976 (4 vols.)
• About Animals, 1976
  - Iloisia eläimiä (suom. teksti: Mervi Miettinen, 1976)
• Richard Scarry's Little ABC, 1976
  - Opitaan yhdessä sanoja (suom. Panu Pekkanen, 1976)
• Picture Dictionary, 1976
• Teeny Tiny ABC, 1976
• Learn To Count, 1976
• Lowly Worm Story Book, 1977
• Busy, Busy Word Book, 1977
  - Touhulan sanakirja (suom. Panu Pekkanen, 1978)
• Best Make-It Book Ever, 1977
  - Mato Matalan puuhakirja (suom. Aino Kervinen, 1978)
• Busy-Busy Counting Book, 1977
  - Opitaan yhdessä lukuja (suom. Panu Pekkanen, 1978)
• Mr Fixit and Other Stories, 1977
  - Niilo Näppärä ja muita juttuja (suom. Panu Pekkanen, 1978)
• Richard Scarry's Punch-Out Toy Book, 1978
• Postman Pig and His Busy Neighbors, 1978
• Toy Book, 1978
• Richard Scarry's Little Bedtime Book, 1978
  - Pieni iltakirja (suom. Panu Pekkanen, 1978)
• Bedtime Stories, 1978
• Stories to Color, 1978
• Little Word Book, 1978
• Punch-Out Toy Book, 1978
• Things to Learn, 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
  - Iloinen esikoulu: Kissalan Hessu ja Mato Matala... (suom. Raija Mattila, 1981)
• 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
  - Kaikkein paras joulukirja (suom. Raija Mattila, 1982)
• The Gingerbread Man, 1981 (illustration)
• Little Red Riding Hood, 1981 (illustration)
• Richard Scarry's Busy Houses, 1981
• Four Busy Word Books, 1982
• Busytown Shape Book, 1982
• Sticler 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
• Richard Scarry's The Best Mistake Ever! and Other Stories, 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
• Richard Scarry's Storybook Dictionary: A Giant Golden Book, 1985
• My First Word Book, 1986
• Big and Little: A Book of Opposites, 1986
  - Suurensuuri ja pienenpieni: vastakohtien kirja (suomentanut Kaarina Helakisa, 1990)
• 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
  - Vekkuli vauhtikirja (suomentanut Kaarina Helakisa, 1990)
• Things to Love, 1987
  - Tästä minä pidän (suomentanut Kaarina Helakisa, 1990)
• Busy Workers, 1987
  - Iloiset ahertajat (suomentanut Kaarina Helakisa, 1990)
• 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
  - Hauskat vuodenajat  (suomentanut Kaarina Helakisa, 1990)
• Activity Book, 1988
• Best Bedtime Book Ever, 1988
• Best Read and Learn Book Ever, 1988
• Biggest First Book Ever, 1988
  - Pienten paras kuvakirja (suomentanut Sanna Penttilä, 1990)
• Busy Busy World Book, 1988
• Dr. Doctor, 1988
  - Tohtori Rohto (suom. Kaarina Helakisa, 1989)
• Farmer Patrick Pig, 1988
  - Pienviljelijä Putte Possula (suom. Kaarina Helakisa, 1989)
• Frances Fix-It, 1988
  - Sorja Korjailija (suom. Kaarina Helakisa, 1989)
• Harry and Larry the Fishermen, 1988
  - Masi ja Pasi, kaksi kalamiestä (suom. Kaarina Helakisa, 1989)
• Play Day, 1988
• Smokey the Fireman, 1988
  - Palomies Savunen (suom. Kaarina Helakisa, 1989)
• Sniff the Detective, 1988
  - Santtu salapoliisi (suom. Kaarina Helakisa, 1989)
• Splish and Splash Sounds, 1988
  - Lystikkäitä ääniä (suomentanut Kaarina Helakisa, 1990)
• 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 / Kathryn Jackson, 1989 (illustration)
• Welcome to Scarrytown, 1989
• Best Puzzle Word Book Ever, 1989
• Richard Scarry's Just Right Word Book, 1990
  - Ihan oikeat nimet (suomennos: Anu Salin, 1991)
• Cars and Trucks From A To Z, 1990 (illustration)
• Counting Book, 1990
• Richard Scarry's 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 Busy Year Ever, 1991
  - Touhulan lasten riemukas vuosi (suomentanut Esa Mela, 1993)
• The Cat Family Takes a Trip, 1991
  - Kissalan perhe matkalla (suomennos: Tuula Kuoppala, 1991)
• The Cat Family's Busy Day, 1991
  - Kissalan perheen kiireinen päivä (suomennos: Tuula Kuoppala, 1991)
• Mr. Frumbles Worst Day Ever, 1991
  - Hupsista, herra Köpelö! (suomentanut Laila Rauhamaa, 1991)
• Sergeant Murphy's Busiest Day Ever!, 1992
  - Konstaapeli Hallikaisen kiireinen päivä (suomennos: Mikko Nykänen, 1994)
• Best Fairytales Ever, 1992
• Best Little Word Book Ever, 1992
• Biggest Pop-Up Book Ever!, 1992
• Bananas Gorilla, 1992
  - Banaani-Toope: pikkuriikkinen näyttämökirja (suomentanut Annu Nykänen, 1992)
• Huckle Cat's Busiest Day Ever, 1992
  - Katti Tassulan kiireinen päivä (suomentanut Sanna Penttilä, 1992)
• Mr. Fix-It: Richard Scarry's Smallest Pop-Up Book Ever!, 1992
  - Tatu Vasara: pikkuriikkinen näyttämökirja (suomentanut Annu Nykänen, 1992)
• Mr. Frumble: Richard Scarry's Smallest Pop-Up Book Ever!, 1992
  - Armas Karjula: pikkuriikkinen näyttämökirja (suomentanut Annu Nykänen, 1992)
• The Busiest Firefighters Ever, 1993
  - Palokunnan tulipalokiireet (suomentanut Kaarina Helakisa, 1994)
• Biggest Make-It Book Ever, 1993
• Colors, 1993
  - Richard Scarryn värikirja (suomentanut Laila Rauhamaa, 1996)
• 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
• Mr. Frumble's Coffee Shop Disaster, 1993
  - Kommelluksia kahvilassa (suomentanut Kaarina Helakisa, 1994)
• Floating Bananas, 1993
  - Kelluvat banaanit (suomentanut Kaarina Helakisa, 1994)
• Richard Scarry's Busy, Busy Town, 1994
  
• Pie Rats Ahoy!, 1994
• The Snowstorm Surprise, 1994
  - Pyryinen yllätys (suomentanut Kaarina Helakisa, 1994)
• The Sleeping Car Adventure, 1994
  - Makuuvaunuseikkailu (suomentanut Kaarina Helakisa, 1994)
• The Biggest Catch Ever, 1994
  - Kaikkien aikojen saalis (suomentanut Kaarina Helakisa, 1994)
•  The Adventures of Lowly Worm, 1995
  - Täyttä vauhtia! Mato Matala (suom. 1994)
• Richard Scarry's Longest Book Ever!, 1995
  - Pitkän pitkä juna (suomentanut Minna Saksala, 1995)
• This Is Me, 1995
  - Tässä minä olen (suomentanut Laila Rauhamaa, 1996)
• Richard Scarry's Shapes and Opposites, 1995
  - Muotoja ja vastakohtia (suomentanut Laila Rauhamaa, 1996)
• Noisiest Day Ever!, 1996
  - Maailman meluisin päivä (suomennos: Marja Alopaeus, 1996)
• Richard Scarry's Pop-Up Numbers, 1996
  - Ville Pupunen laskee (suomentanut Laila Rauhamaa, 1996)
• Richard Scarry's Pop-Up Colors, 1996
  - Putte Sutinen maalaa (suomentanut Laila Rauhamaa, 1996)
• Richard Scarry’s Pop-Up Time, 1997 (designed by Jim Deesing; paper engineered by Bruce Reifel)  
• Richard Scarry’s Pop-Up Shapes, 1998 (paper engineering by Dennis K. Meyer and José R. Seminario)
• Richard Scarry’s Pop-Up Opposites, 1998 (paper engineered by Rives and José R. Seminario)
• Richard Scarry’s Iciest Day Ever!, 1998 (designed by Jim Deesing)
• Richard Scarry’s Best History of the World Ever!, 1999 (designed and produced by Les Livres du Dragon d’Or.)
• Richard Scarry’s First Little Learners Treasury, 2000
• Richard Scarry’s Longest Counting Parade Ever!, 2001
• Mr. Fixit’s Mixed-up Christmas: A Pop-Up Book with Flaps and Pull-Tabs on All Sides!, 2001 (designed by Jim Deesing; paper engineered by Dennis K. Meyer)
• The Best Mistake Ever! and Other Stories, 2003
• Richard Scarry’s Goldbug & Co., 2004
• Richard Scarry’s The Great Pie Robbery and Other Mysteries, 2008
• Little Golden Book Favorites, 2008
• Richard Scarry’s Best Little Books Ever, 2011 (4 vols.) 
• Richard Scarry’s ABC Word Book, 2011  
• Richard Scarry’s Christmas Tales, 2011 (4 vols.)
• Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks and Things That Go, 2014
• The Best Lowly Worm Book Ever, 2014
  
• Richard Scarry's Busytown Treasury, 2016
  
• Richard Scarry's Best Treasury Ever, 2017
  
• Richard Scarry's Vrooming, Zooming Stories, 2017
• I Am a Bunny by Ole Risom = Soy un conejito, 2020 (bilingual edition; writtren by Ole Risom, illustrated by Richard Scarry; translated by Teresa Mlawer)
• Richard Scarry's 100 first words = Las primeras 100 palabras de Richard Scarry, 2022 (bilingueal edition)