Random House Expands Richard Scarry World

Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, has announced it is gearing up to expand Richard Scarry’s iconic and beloved global franchise with new branded merchandise, new titles, and a fiftieth-anniversary celebration for the iconic bestseller Cars and Trucks and Things That Go in 2024.

Random House Children’s Books has signed a roster of licensing partners across apparel, accessories, figurines, plush, sleepwear, games, puzzles, and stationery categories to create merchandise that contemporizes the Richard Scarry brand while maintaining its nostalgic value. 

Newly signed licensing partners include Bioworld for apparel and accessories, Clarkson Potter for stationery and baby books, Small Planet (Japan) for apparel, accessories, and home goods, and Uniqlo for baby onesies as part of their global picture book collection program. The products included in the picture book program are currently available in Asia and are expected to hit US stores this fall.

Additionally, Super 7 will be launching supersize vinyl figurines in March 2023, and Hatley will be launching its first line of raincoats and umbrellas and its second line of Richard Scarry sleepwear for Fall 2022. These products will be available at an array of leading brick-and-mortar and online retailers, including Amazon, Kohl’s, Target, Barnes & Noble.

“Richard Scarry is a globally loved and evergreen literary brand with incredible nostalgic value,” said Rachel Bader, director of licensing, Random House Children’s Books. “Enjoyed by three generations of readers, parents all over the world love how Richard Scarry’s books take place in a community setting where young children can learn how the world works while they discover new words and explore independent thinking. We are delighted to have imaginative and unique new products from best-in-class partners hitting retail shelves over the next twelve months as we approach the fiftieth-anniversary celebration of Cars and Trucks and Things That Go.”

These new partners join existing licensees, including Yottoy (plush), University Games (games and puzzles), Out of Print (T-shirts, totes, socks), and Workman Press (calendars).

Additionally, new publishing will complement the consumer products program, including Cars and Trucks from 1 to 10, a twenty-two-page board book (on sale May 2, 2023), and Sounds of Busytown, a fourteen-page novelty sound book (on sale September 5, 2023). The new books and products will enjoy shelf space alongside a series of re-released Richard Scarry picture book mysteries in 2023, including The Great Steamboat Mystery and The Supermarket Mystery (both on sale March 28, 2023) and The Great Pie Robbery (on sale September 5, 2023). 

In 2024, Random House Children’s Books will celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the cherished Cars and Trucks and Things That Go picture book, which features the Pig family as they head to the beach and encounter every vehicle known . . . and unknown, including such favorites as the pumpkin car and the broom-o-cycle. With literally hundreds of things to discover, children will spend hours trying to find Goldbug on every spread! New publishing and reissues will be announced in 2024.

Richard Scarry is one of the world’s best-loved children’s book authors and illustrators of all time, with over 300 titles published and more than 160 million copies sold worldwide! Scarry has helped children develop a lifelong love of reading by bringing his action-packed and playful world to life for preschoolers. With whimsical characters and silly vehicles, Scarry’s illustrations teach kids about the concept and importance of community in a safe, fun, and inclusive way. 

Born in Boston, Scarry started his career illustrating Golden Books, including bestselling titles like I Am a Bunny and Rooster Struts. He is best-known for his large-format Busytown book series, which takes place primarily in the fictional world of Busytown and is populated by a cast of anthropomorphized characters like Lowly Worm, Sally and Huckle Cat, Bananas Gorilla, and many more.

Scarry won a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Illustrators in 2012.