An excerpt from Every Little Thing: how small acts of kindness make a big impact, by Janice Landy

… If you are of a certain age, have children or grandchildren, teach youth, work in a library or have kids present in your life, you may recognize the name “Lowly.” He is a fictional, hand-drawn character, created by one of the world’s most beloved and best-selling children’s authors of all time, the late Richard Scarry. Scarry was born in the United States and later moved to Switzerland. He died in1994 at the age of seventy-four of a heart attack following complications from a cancer diagnosis. Scarry created more than three hundred children’s books which have sold more than one hundred million copies. They have been published in over twenty languages. Lowly Worm is one of Scarry’s most cherished characters. Some readers would argue that Lowly is the most popular resident in the make-believe world of “Busytown” featured in many of his books. …

… Scarry, a creative genius, has inspired millions with his world and creations, including me. His only child, Huck Scarry, is also a successful illustrator and author who continues his father’s work and legacy. Huck spoke with me, via Zoom, from his home in Gstaad, Switzerland. I consider this rare interview to be a personal coup in my journalism career. …

… On December 16, 2023, I found Huck seated at home. He had poured himself a glass of red wine and was dressed fashionably, wearing funky glasses and a bowtie. Huck was well-mannered, polite and eloquent. For the record, he may be the politest person I have ever interviewed. He also frequently chuckled and smiled throughout our discussion.

An antique clock hung on the wall directly behind Huck. It intrigued me and seemed like a natural icebreaker that made sense in the moment because the tiniest of details clearly mattered to him, as they had for his father and my father. Huck said the timepiece was from the eighteenth century and was actually the inside of a grandfather clock.

“It was fixed by a clock maker before I bought it,” Huck said.

“It gives perfect time. It has a rather loud chime which my family doesn’t like so much [chuckles]. I’m afraid he often just sleeps,” likening the inanimate object to a resting being.

Huck spoke lovingly and reverently about his father.

“He is an icon of an illustrator and author, and he was able to draw anything. He could explain things very easily through his drawings. He also put a lot of humour and fun into his work. His drawings have a great deal of charm to them. I also admire, very much, his sense of design, the way he lays out his books, his sense of colour. It’s very harmonious. There’s a British designer whose name is Paul Smith. He has said his favourite book is Cars and Trucks and Things That Go. I can see the parallels. Smith does these wonderful stripes of colours. I can see, in Cars and Trucks and Things That Go, what must appeal to him is this variety and well-balanced amount of colours.” …

JL: “As we grow older, we realize the small things [in life] really are the big things. Relate that to your father’s work. So, for me, this lowly little worm has had this major impact.”

HS: “Particularly to Lowly, my father thought it would be fun in his book, What Do People Do All Day? … to put in a little character for the children to look for in each spread. He thought of something small, and he said, ‘The smallest thing I can think of is a worm.’ [chuckles] He named him Lowly because the worm is the lowliest of little animals. He’s living inside the earth.”

After our interview, I ordered a hardcover copy of What Do People Do All Day? as part of my research and to keep as a memento of this interview. In it, Scarry introduces readers to the many professions and residents of Busytown, including Nurse Nelly, Bugdozer, Sawdust the Carpenter, Zip the Postman and Farmer Alfalfa, among others. In that book and others, Scarry also labels each building in Busytown so children also learn about various jobs. Among places to visit are Town Hall, Detective Agency, The Remarkable Bookshop, Fire House and Bank. In the windows of each respective building, Scarry draws his Busytown residents engaged in their business. Scarry had done this so that readers of all ages might relate to one ormore of the characters and their professions.

The book’s opening sets the tone and the message: “We all live in Busytown and we are all workers. We work hard so that there will be enough food and houses and clothing for our families. Children are workers, too. Many children are helper workers. Are you a helper?” ■