With more than 100 books to his credit, the late Richard Scarry – assisted by Lowly Worm, Huckle Cat, and other amiable anthropomorphic characters – introduced generations of young readers to basic concepts, nursery rhymes, and the buoyant world of Busytown. This year marks the 50th anniversary of his Big Golden Book Richard Scarry’s Best Word Book Ever, which has sold more than 4.5 million copies in the U.S. alone. Random House Children’s Books is commemorating the occasion with a new edition of the book, due on July 23. Its release launches the publisher’s rebranding program of Richard Scarry backlist titles, which will be reissued with new, uniform covers.
Three additional rebranded books also go on sale that day: board books Richard Scarry: Mr. Paint Pig’s ABCs and Richard Scarry’s Best Little Board Book Ever; and Richard Scarry’s Busy, Busy, Town!, a Big Golden Book. The publishing program is spearheaded by Heidi Kilgras, editorial director at RHCB, who has been with the house for 17 years. She explained that Best Word Book Ever’s 50th anniversary serves as “a great jumping-off point to rebrand Richard Scarry’s books.”
To keep the new editions as true to the original books as possible, Richard Scarry’s original artwork is being scanned for the rebranded books. Kilgras estimated that the rebranding program will encompass upwards of 35 titles, with four to six books scheduled for each season, through at least spring 2016. Among the releases are a handful of titles that also commemorate anniversaries. Due out in 2014 and 2015 are Richard Scarry’s Cars and Trucks and Things That Go (40th anniversary); Richard Scarry’s Best Mother Goose Book Ever, I am a Bunny, and Chipmunk’s ABC (all 50th anniversaries and The Gingerbread Man (60th anniversary).
No comments:
Post a Comment