Ole C. Risom; Publisher of Children’s Books, Author of ‘I Am a Bunny’

Ole C. Risom, 80, an influential publisher of mass market books for children. Risom was vice president and art director of Golden Books Western Press from 1952 to 1972 and then vice president and associate publisher of the juvenile division of Random House from 1972 to 1990. Risom specialized in publishing for preschool children, including alphabet, counting and Mother Goose books that incorporated the work of talented artists, but were inexpensively produced. At Golden Books he worked on many new formats, including book adaptations of such Disney films as “The Jungle Book” and “Cinderella.” At Random House he developed formats including Picturebacks, the first original trade paperback line; Chunky Books; and Bathtime Books. Over the years he worked closely with artist and illustrator Richard Scarry. They collaborated on “I Am a Bunny,” which Risom wrote and Scarry illustrated. First published in 1963, the book is still in print. Born in Copenhagen, Risom learned the publishing business at Bonniers, the Swedish publishing house, before coming to the United States in 1940. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. On Aug. 20 of cancer in Manhasset, N.Y.