Remy Charlip

His most successful book, “Fortunately” (1964), is about a boy’s journey to happiness through a series of mishaps — he is fortunately invited to a party, which unfortunately is scheduled far away; fortunately given an airplane, which unfortunately crashes, hurling him fortunately toward a haystack, which unfortunately has an upside-down pitchfork sticking out of it, and so on. It is perennially popular with toddlers.

The book was in print continuously for more than 30 years. Mr. Charlip called it “a rambunctious dance” through space, about a boy “flying, falling in space, diving in water, swimming, running, digging” to reach a destination despite all obstacles.

“I really don’t know where it all comes from,” Mr. Charlip said in the Library of Congress interview. “I’m in another world — and I’m very lucky.”
-NYT

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