By Allison Watkinson
TLL Reporter
Random House Children’s Books is expanding Richard Scarry’s global franchise with branded merchandise, new titles, and a 50th-anniversary celebration.
Richard Scarry is one of the world’s most popular children’s book authors and illustrators of all time, with over 300 titles published and more than 160 million copies sold worldwide. Scarry won a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Illustrators in 2012.
Scarry is well known for his large-format Busytown book series, which takes place in the fictional world of Busytown and features characters like Lowly Worm, Sally and Huckle Cat, Bananas Gorilla, and more.
Random House has signed a large roster of licensing partners across the categories of apparel, accessories, figurines, plush, sleepwear, games, and stationery to create merchandise for the Richard Scarry brand.
Newly-signed licensing partners include Bioworld for apparel and accessories, Clarkson Potter for stationery and baby books, Small Planet 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 licensing program are currently available in Asia and are expected to hit US stores this fall.
Additionally, Super 7 will be launching a collection of vinyl figurines in Spring 2023, and Hatley will be launching a line of rain gear and its second line of Richard Scarry sleepwear for Fall 2022.
These products will be available at several brick-and-mortar and online retailers, including Amazon, Kohl’s, Target, and Barnes & Noble.
“Richard Scarry is a globally loved and evergreen literary brand with incredible nostalgic value,” said Rachel Bader, Director of Licensing at 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,” Bader added.
These new partners join existing licensees, including Yottoy for plush, University Games for games and puzzles, Out of Print for t-shirts, totes, and socks, and Workman Press for calendars.
The Richard Scarry brand will also be expanding its publishing with new books such as Cars and Trucks from 1 to 10 and Sounds of Busytown. The new books and products will be featured alongside a series of classic re-released Richard Scarry picture book mysteries.
In 2024, Random House Children’s Books will celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the massively popular Richard Scarry Cars and Trucks and Things That Go picture book.
Random House Children’s Books is the world’s largest English-language children’s book publisher. Random House Children’s Books is a division of Penguin Random House LLC.