Customer Reviews

Richard Scarry's Busy, Busy World

5 star:		(49)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This was my favorite Scarry book of all time. My father was a pilot and every time after he went to work, my Mom and I would open this book and read the story that focused on the countries on his itinerary. It was my first exposure to other cultures and was done so in a way that was educational, but not overly pedantic. My 30 plus year old copy is so worn out, so I was thrilled when I found a copy on the internet. Unfortunately, it was the 1990 reprint.
Those of you who remember this book fondly from childhood and are seeking a copy should make sure to GET ANY COPY PRINTED BEFORE 1975. The "politically correct mania" that started in the 1970's resulted in some of the stories being pulled from the modern reprint editions. Patrick Pig's (Ireland) story was pulled because of a reference to the Irish Republican Army's slogan, and some of the stories focusing on the Middle East regions were also pulled.
Although from a modern viewpoint the decpictions are largely stereotpical, (a Venetian gondolier with the striped shirt and straw hat, a panda representing Hong Kong) if these stereotypes don't bother you, the by all means, share this book with your children. And Random House, please reprint this book.

I just gave my grandson "Cars and Trucks and Things That Go," a book that all 4 of my children adored, and he adores it too. Thought I'd give him Busy Busy World next, another all-time, all-kid favorite, but NO! it's out of print. Lots of books that the 20-somethings loved have gone out of print and it's too, too bad. Bring this one back, and all the others, in their original large formats. I noticed that Cars and Trucks... has actually been reprinted in a slightly reduced format with colors less sharp, probably because cheap-o Golden Books now owns it. But even in inferior copy, Busy Busy World deserves to live on.

I'm 34, and I still remember the boa around the plane, and Fatima and Sven Svenson's barn and Sven Svenson's cow, and I'm going to cry because it's out of print and I can't buy one for my soon-to-be niece!

I have my original book from when I was two, but the spine is split and there's masking tape wrapped around both glossy hardcovers to keep them on -- it was read by me and my younger brother so much! It is hands-down my favorite book from when I was a young child, and it is a CRIME that this book is not in print!!! A CRIME! A CRIME! A CRIME!

There is no rational explanation why this book should be out of print. In a world in which every sordid detail about Madonna, Dennis Rodman, and some wrestler named "Mankind?" is easily available, why is it so hard to get a copy of the best childrens' picture book ever written? I was given this book in the late 1960's and more than any other event in my life it gave me a desire to see the world. At the age of four I was able to find every country this book mentioned in my World Atlas. As an adult I have now been to most of these countries and yet it is still Richard Scarry's version that comes to mind. I would love to obtain a copy for my daughter since mine is falling apart at the seams.

This was one of my favorite books as a child. The ever popular Richard Scarry wrote many wonderful stories about foreign lands and home all the way from Pip Pip goes to London to Nurse Matilda of Australia. Almost all of the stories are about occupations people have whereever their home is. The famous Richard Scarry Drawings may remind you of the Where's Waldo? Illustrations. I would love to buy a copy of this book for a child. I am sorry that it is out of print. I hope that the publishing company continues to make it available.

This was my alltime favorite book as a child. WHY is it out of print? I lost my original copy, but luckily was able to find a replacement at a used book sale. Now a good friend of mine is the mother of 2 children 2 1/2 and 1 and this is the perfect gift for children that age. I'm going to try to find a used copy for them, but I doubt that I will be successful. As wonderful a book this is, most of them are probably falling apart from so much reading. I am definitely with the gazillion other people who want this book back in print. If you are too, I suggest, you print all the customer reviews, and send them to Golden Books publishing company.

I, like other reviewers, have had this book since I was very small. It was one of my favorite books as a child. Now, my four year old son loves it. Since I dug it out of storage a few weeks ago, we have been reading a few stories every night at bedtime. His favorites are Ukulele Louie, South American Carnival, and Pierre the Paris Policeman. I came online to order a new copy because the cover is beginning to come off of mine. Alas, it is out of print! Please bring this classic book back!

Of all the Richard Scarry books we grew up with, why would this one be out of print? My son and I have been relying on my family's old, taped-up copy, but several pages are missing. (The story about Sergeant Yukon of Canada ends with Smudge the chimney sweep rescuing Frau Wascherwommen's little boy Hans...) Still, it's our very favorite book, and for my son, it's an obsession. My sister-in-law was very impressed when my not-quite-2-year-old said "Israel" and pointed to the right place on the world map! I want to get complete copies for my son and my nephew, but I can't afford the collector's prices. I hope an enlightened publisher brings this book back into print someday!

This book brings back fantastic childhood memories. It gave me a love for learning all about the world at the age of seven, and led me to learn more and more about the countries of the world.

It will enable your children to learn about the world with the help of all the wonderful animal characters, and all the wonderful stories.
They will travel in heir minds from New York to the Netherlands, India to
Israel London to Tokyo and Australia to Austria.
It shows your children the folksy and peaceful side of these lands, and will install a wonderful healthy respect for other nations, as well as their own.

I strongly suggest the publishers get it back into print , and soon.

I sat down to order this book from Amazon for my 3 kids after taping my copy from Christmas 1973 together (again). I was absolutely shocked to find out that my favorite childhood book, which inspired me to travel and learn about other lands and cultures, was...out of print!!! I was even further shocked to find that there were a lot of people in the world who feel the same way as I do, finding themselves missing a hard copy of the talent and imagination of one of the greatest children's writers of our time. I do hope that this book will go back into print. Some of the images and ideas presented in this little book will stay with me forever.