Parents' Guide to

The Busy World of Richard Scarry

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 3+

Friendly book characters teach kids about cooperation.

The Busy World of Richard Scarry Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

age 3+

Based on 4 parent reviews

age 4+

This title has:

Great messages
age 3+

Enjoyable for Kids AND Adults

I found this show on Tubi while trying to find something new for my little to watch. I missed watching this show when I was a kid, so I decide to watch it with him--we were both hooked since the first episode! This show has SUBSTANCE. The Busy World of Richard Scarry has great story lines and messages for kids presented through interesting characters. The show also has great songs and a fun introduction to other countries as well as periods in history. It's opened up a lot of discussion for my son, he's learned so much. The show has some era-based things from when it was first aired (The Cat Family owns a record player), but this also has enabled more learning for my son. The art style is beautiful, the animation is smooth, and the voice acting is fantastic. In comparing it to Hurray for Huckle (Busytown Mysteries), The Busy World of Richard Scarry blows the new show out of the water (which could not keep my attention and my son only watched half of an episode). I highly recommend The Busy World of Richard Scarry for any family!

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4):
Kids say (3):

If you're familiar with Richard Scarry's books, then you'll have a good sense about why they adapt so well to TV. His linear animation style translates flawlessly to the screen, which makes it easy for young fans of the books to jump right into the stories. The episodes center on issues that are relevant to kids' lives, like forgetting a responsibility or being scared by a strange noise in the house. Even at seven minutes long, each story is well developed and resolved in a way that underscores the characters' cooperation and resourcefulness.

There's nothing in the content of The Busy World of Richard Scarry that should keep preschoolers from tuning in, and the show's inclusion of basic world geography through the characters' travels, as well as the musical interstitials that teach about issues like personal safety and how things work ensure they leave with a little morsel of knowledge as well.

TV Details

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