Martin Handford - Children's Author

Martin Handford published his first Where's Wally? book in 1987. 25 years later, his books have become a multi-million-selling, global success. Martin spent much of his childhood watching cinema epics and playing with toy soldiers which inspired him to draw scenes teeming with characters and action. At Art College he learned the craft of illustration developing a vibrantly colourful style which lost little when printed. As a freelance illustrator his witty, engaging images proved popular with numerous clients but his narrative strength came to the fore when Sebastian Walker offered him the opportunity to pour his imagination into a book. Now dedicated to Wally, Martin gathers his inspiration from a huge variety of sources including films; visiting museums and art galleries; reading comics and books; and collecting ephemera and trivia. He continues to be fascinated by crowds: their vibrancy, pattern, and range of detail and humour provide him with limitless source material: "I love their movement and energy." He is also constantly on the look-out for puns and wordplay to use in his pictures. Gradually, from all of this meticulous research, astonishing craft and patience his unique scenes are created. A picture takes Martin many months to draw, with Wally added "when I come to what I feel is a good place to hide him," he explains.

Some Where's Wally? Facts:

Where’s Wally? is a publishing phenomenon! Over 56 million copies have been sold worldwide encompassing more than 30 languages in 38 countries.

Where’s Wally? held the record for the fastest selling children’s book of all time (until Harry Potter).

Where’s Wally? has been Number 1 on the New York Times Bestsellers List three times.

Across the globe, Wally has different names. In the United states Where’s Wally? is Where’s Waldo? and in France, Où Est Charlie?

5.6 million iPhone and iPad Where’s Wally? apps have been sold.

Wally has 3.9 million ‘Likes’ on Facebook.

Wally has reached celebrity status! He has appeared in the primetime American TV shows Frasier, The Simpsons and Friends; on the 1000th anniversary cover of Rolling Stone magazine as a cultural icon of the last 40 years; and on Google Earth.

Fans love to dress up as Wally. The official Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of people dressed as Wally? was set by Street Performance World Championship in June 2011: 3,872 people took to the streets of Dublin, Ireland, in a sea of red and white stripes.

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Featured Books, with extracts by Martin Handford

Where's Wally? The Incredible Paper Chase
Martin Handford
The search for Wally, his friends and their lost things continues! In this title, as Wally travels through more amazing worlds he drops a tiny piece of paper for you to find in every scene. It lets you find them...
Featured in: 5+ readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 14/03/2013
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Where's Wally? Santa Spectacular - Sticker Book
Martin Handford
This Santa themed sticker activity book features 24 pages of wintry sticker-based activities (spot the differences, jigsaws, games, mazes, searches and more) and six sticker sheets bursting with hundreds of stickers to complete them.  With new art from Martin Handford...
Featured in: 5+ readers | 7+ readers | 9+ readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 04/10/2012
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Where's Wally?
Martin Handford
This is the 25th anniversary edition of the original classic picture book which kick-started the worldwide Where's Wally? phenomenon.  It's a picture book that lets you search for Wally and his friends fiendishly hidden in every intricately-detailed scene. You can...
Featured in: 7+ readers | 9+ readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 06/09/2012
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Where's Wally? The Search for the Lost Things
Martin Handford
April 2012 Book of the Month. Best-selling Wally celebrates 25 years of searching! Now he is back in a wonderful new book. This time it’s not Wally who has to be found. He and his friends need help to track down...
Featured in: 5+ readers | Books of the Month
Format: Paperback - Released: 05/04/2012
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Where's Wally? The Phenomenal Postcard Book Two
Martin Handford
Following the popularity of the Where's Wally? Phenomenal Postcard Book, this second postcard book contains 30 extraordinary scenes in which to search for Wally and his friends. It's a new selection compiled from each of the seven classic titles so...
Featured in: 5+ readers | 7+ readers
Format: Postcard book or pack - Released: 01/03/2012
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