This month, book fanatics around the world are celebrating what would have been the 100th birthday of the beloved children’s book author Richard Scarry. The history of children’s picture books would not have been the same without some of the most beloved anthropological characters known to young readers: Huckle, Lowly Worm, Mr. Frumble and Mr. Fix-it.

On the 5th of June 1919, Richard McClure Scarry was born in Boston in Massachusetts. After school, he attended business college, but decided that his heart lay elsewhere: art. He studied art at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and originally started out as an illustrator for authors and magazines. In 1949, he debuted as an author in own right with his book Mouse’s House. This landed him a contract with the publishers Golden Books and lead to dozens more books authored and illustrated by himself. The book that is usually thought of as placing Scarry on the map of children’s authors is Best Word Book Ever that was released in 1964.

In commemoration of the 100th celebration of Richard Scarry’s birth, here are some intersting facts about his busy books that you might not have known!

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