For a man who's artistic skills began with copying his mom's handwriting to get out of class and sketching nude women, Richard Scarry came a long way to become one of the world's most loved children's book illustrators and authors. And the world has come a long way beside him.
See more side-by-side comparisons here.
As his books have been printed and reprinted, more and more pieces have been updated to capture the changes in our culture and attitudes. Less sexism. Less racism.
In old versions of his books, the doctors/astronauts/firefighters/cops/constructions workers were always men. Women only come into play as moms, nurses, and teachers.
In a time before Huckle's mom could buy her own damn dress.
Your dad has been altering the genders as we have been reading the books all along. You might say his reading makes them super-feminist. But a new one we got from the library is catching up.
Land alive - I do believe it's a female dentist!
But I must admit, one of my favorites as a kid was "Pierre Bear" about an Alaskan bear who bought his wife during a trip to town.
There was a bit about the whole family wearing matching coats that got me every time.
It is out of print, and out of style - just like misogyny. Ahhhh. Maybe we should celebrate with some matching coats.
xoxo,
Mama
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