In a special tenth-anniversary edition, the challenge continues as Waldo is in a new place in every scene, with new characters to hunt for.
The reader follows Waldo as he hikes around the world and must try to find him in the illustrations of some of the crowded places he visits.
An oversized picture book with hoards of people milling around on each page amidst this humanity readers must try to spot Waldo, identifiable by his clothing and hiking paraphernalia, in a game of concentration. It's difficult to find him in the middle of a crowd because he does not stick out head and shoulders above the teeming masses of pedestrians, beach-goers or vacationers. He's hiking his way across the world, and sees mermaids in canals, cows escaping from train cars, a helicopter chopping down flagpoles, a mummy's baby in a museum, a capsized desert island, a hat-eating giraffe and a glove attacking a man; he tells all in postcards, considerately short and friendly. Toward the end, Waldo has lost everything but his hat, and readers are expected to find those objects, too, in this amusing game of concentration amidst a sea of distractions. Waldo cuts through a maze of people and participates in numerous activities, but, unlike readers, seems to know where he is going. The pictures are astonishing in variety, detail and humor, and the pages are filled with so many people that readers will marvel at the artist's patience.
More Reviews and RecommendationsMartin Handford began his career as a freelance illustrator specializing in drawing crowd scenes for numerous clients. The turning point came when
he was asked to create a book showcasing his singular talent, and the character Waldo was born. "I can’t tell you how pleased I am that Waldo has taken on a life of his own," says the man behind the Waldo books. "I’d like to inspire children - to open their minds, to explore more subjects, and to just be aware of what’s going on around them. I’d like them to see wonder in places that might not have occurred to them."
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November 06, 2003: A great book for everybody! Fun and entertaining.