Scarry’s career as an author and illustrator of children’s books picked up in the 1950’s when Little Golden Books began to publish his work. He began by illustrating for other well known children’s authors, like Margaret Wise Brown’s “Two Little Miners”, and his wife Patsy’s, “The Bunny Book”. His first book, both written and illustrated by him, published in 1951, was “The Great Big Car and Truck Book”.

However, it was in 1963 that Scarry’s career really reached its peak with the publishing of “Richard Scarry’s Best Word Book Ever”, that became his first best-seller. This now iconic book features over 1400 items for children to gain knowledge from and even teaches crucial values like sharing and helping. Filled with anthropomorphic animals (animals that have human-like qualities) such as bears, cats, rabbits and numerous other animals, “Richard Scarry’s Best Word Book Ever” manages to amuse children at the same time as teaching them things like numbers and words. His goal with the book, as it was with his numerous future publications, was for kids and parents alike to find something new with each reading.