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Where's Waldo? #4
Where's Waldo? In Hollywood
Hey, Waldo fans! Sharpen your eyes and your wits, because Waldo is taking you on a whole new star-studded adventure. That's right, you're going to Hollywood! Follow Waldo—if you can find him—through a cast of thousands on the bustling streets of the great movie classics. Is he there in the chorus line of that musical in production, or up on the ramparts of that epic war film? Or is our elusive, bespectacled hero right in the middle of the swashbuckling escapades of the Three Musketeers? Waldo and all his lost objects are harder to find than ever in this hilarious new challenge for eager Waldo-hunters everywhere!
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
10 people are currently reading
373 people want to read
About the author
Martin Handford
457 books107 followersMartin Handford, the man behind the mind-boggling Waldo books, began his career as a freelance illustrator specializing in drawing crowd scenes. The turning point came when he was asked to create a book showcasing his impressive talent, and the character Waldo was born—originally to provide a link between each scene. "I can't tell you how pleased I am that Waldo has taken on a life of his own," Martin Handford says. "I'd like to inspire children to open their minds to explore subjects more, to be aware of what's going on around them. I'd like them to see wonder in places that may not have occurred to them." Martin Handford lives in England.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 77 reviews
August 30, 2016
I normally don't partake in reviewing comics or books that I've read as a child. They belong to my childhood, and any grown-up associations I'd make with them would possibly ruin the whole thing. I'd also rate all of them five stars just out of sheer nostalgia, making it an utterly useless contribution to the Goodreads community. "Let's add all those Tintins to our to-read piles because Mr. Nostalgia over here got all excited", said no-one ever. Not even ironically, you guys are way too nice for that.
But I do want to make one exception here for my dear friend Waldo (who as a child I knew better as Wally, but really, they're the same guy). Where's Waldo? holds a place in my heart special enough to make me want to expound on the five stars brightly shining on his warm, woolen hat.
For a lack of brothers and sisters to play with and there being no children in the neighborhood I grew up in, I was left to my own devices when it came to spending my time during holidays. This ranged from having imaginary sword fights, getting three or four different puzzles and mixing all the pieces in a box and trying to solve them, playing Game of the Goose against my three other selves, playing soccer games in the garden, first against my dog, who got too good at the game after a while and got prone to confiscating the ball for his own little games, so later I just dribbled the ball between the trees and fallen leaves who were really Brazilian star players in my head. Aside from all these slightly psychotic activities, there were comics and this guy over here, Waldo.
Hours and hours I have spent gazing at the vast and detailed pictures that Martin Handford crafted. Weeks, no, months I have spent in his worlds. At first, it was just a point of finding Waldo and getting to the next page. Then, it became finding his friends, books, kitchenware, scrolls, cameras, bones and dog tails as well. And then, it became finding all those extra assignments handed out in the back of the book. And then, at the point where I knew all the objects' and persons' locations by heart, it became simply a matter of "reading" these books. There's very little text, but each flip of the page shows you an entire world of little stories. To get an idea of how this can be done (rather dramatically) check out this video, with Werner Herzog (or someone sounding like him, the jury is still out on that) sharing his philosophical meanderings. Mine weren't as deep as those by dear Werner, but they made days fly by nonetheless.
It's been a long time since I've revisited these pages but I bet I'd still remember where most of the stuff is to be found. I know the environments in these books better than I know some places I actually visited. Having spent so much time with these books may even have something to do with having grown up looking like the guy. They definitely could be responsible for my bad eyesight: these pictures held such a power over me they practically seeped the vision out of my eyes. Well-lit places are recommended when enjoying these.
Waldo has taken me many places: through time, through books, through fantasy worlds of monsters and witches and living fruit and giant bakeries and movie sets and at the end of every book, the supremely challenging Waldo worlds where everyone and everything is wearing the jeans and stripes proudly. It taught me about myself too. When getting exasperated on not finding him, I skipped to the next page anyway, in essence cheating! The bad feeling I got as a result showed me I was a good person. That's right! I am.
Even though I loved the entire series, I picked Where is Waldo in Hollywood to review because it was my favorite. It introduced all the extra stuff, like finding little objects and spotting random characters from each scene, following Waldo through the pages. I got my hands on this one at a time I could appreciate the humor in many of the drawings. It's also the time where Martin Handford perfected his style, being able to introduce even more detail in all of the pictures and make the crowds, busy with hundreds of tiny activities, even more impressive.
The main source of humor is puns, references to popular culture and slapstick. The puns and references mostly went over my head in early stages, mostly because most of them are English puns and idioms translated into pictures taking them literally, and discovering them later on as my English improved was a true joy. A joy I'd recommend to all of you, and your kids. These books are kind of everything: a game, stories, history lessons, jokes, art. A pleasure for the young and the used to be young.
This isn't just some 5 star nostalgia review. Get these. Now. Or I'll find you. I've had plenty of practice.
But I do want to make one exception here for my dear friend Waldo (who as a child I knew better as Wally, but really, they're the same guy). Where's Waldo? holds a place in my heart special enough to make me want to expound on the five stars brightly shining on his warm, woolen hat.
For a lack of brothers and sisters to play with and there being no children in the neighborhood I grew up in, I was left to my own devices when it came to spending my time during holidays. This ranged from having imaginary sword fights, getting three or four different puzzles and mixing all the pieces in a box and trying to solve them, playing Game of the Goose against my three other selves, playing soccer games in the garden, first against my dog, who got too good at the game after a while and got prone to confiscating the ball for his own little games, so later I just dribbled the ball between the trees and fallen leaves who were really Brazilian star players in my head. Aside from all these slightly psychotic activities, there were comics and this guy over here, Waldo.
Hours and hours I have spent gazing at the vast and detailed pictures that Martin Handford crafted. Weeks, no, months I have spent in his worlds. At first, it was just a point of finding Waldo and getting to the next page. Then, it became finding his friends, books, kitchenware, scrolls, cameras, bones and dog tails as well. And then, it became finding all those extra assignments handed out in the back of the book. And then, at the point where I knew all the objects' and persons' locations by heart, it became simply a matter of "reading" these books. There's very little text, but each flip of the page shows you an entire world of little stories. To get an idea of how this can be done (rather dramatically) check out this video, with Werner Herzog (or someone sounding like him, the jury is still out on that) sharing his philosophical meanderings. Mine weren't as deep as those by dear Werner, but they made days fly by nonetheless.
It's been a long time since I've revisited these pages but I bet I'd still remember where most of the stuff is to be found. I know the environments in these books better than I know some places I actually visited. Having spent so much time with these books may even have something to do with having grown up looking like the guy. They definitely could be responsible for my bad eyesight: these pictures held such a power over me they practically seeped the vision out of my eyes. Well-lit places are recommended when enjoying these.
Waldo has taken me many places: through time, through books, through fantasy worlds of monsters and witches and living fruit and giant bakeries and movie sets and at the end of every book, the supremely challenging Waldo worlds where everyone and everything is wearing the jeans and stripes proudly. It taught me about myself too. When getting exasperated on not finding him, I skipped to the next page anyway, in essence cheating! The bad feeling I got as a result showed me I was a good person. That's right! I am.
Even though I loved the entire series, I picked Where is Waldo in Hollywood to review because it was my favorite. It introduced all the extra stuff, like finding little objects and spotting random characters from each scene, following Waldo through the pages. I got my hands on this one at a time I could appreciate the humor in many of the drawings. It's also the time where Martin Handford perfected his style, being able to introduce even more detail in all of the pictures and make the crowds, busy with hundreds of tiny activities, even more impressive.
The main source of humor is puns, references to popular culture and slapstick. The puns and references mostly went over my head in early stages, mostly because most of them are English puns and idioms translated into pictures taking them literally, and discovering them later on as my English improved was a true joy. A joy I'd recommend to all of you, and your kids. These books are kind of everything: a game, stories, history lessons, jokes, art. A pleasure for the young and the used to be young.
This isn't just some 5 star nostalgia review. Get these. Now. Or I'll find you. I've had plenty of practice.
September 30, 2022
couldn’t find him
March 6, 2025
The last one is very hard it took me days to finish almost one month
December 2, 2015
Este era el mejor :D (Así es, estoy tan al pedo que me puse a agregar libros que leí cuando era un pendejo)
August 15, 2020
Where's Wally are great books.
September 6, 2023
The ultimate Where's Waldo adventure through Hollywood. Don't be dumb and circle things like my childhood friend did.
March 29, 2024
I still love it but its my least favorite of the seven
August 21, 2017
Of all the "Where's Waldo" books, I found this one to be the most challenging and difficult to find Waldo, which made it that much more enjoyable.
December 5, 2019
We sail, in this life, on a barge of the dead, further, then closer, swaying in time as we near that undiscovered country.
We walk, in this life, in a field of corn, our hands outstretched, legs dancing, drenched by sunlight but searching somehow still.
We fly, in this life, over fields like postage stamps, homes and lives we will never know, entire worlds we miss, zeitgeists for whom we will never be a part.
We muse, in this life, on so much of insignificance, even involuntarily our thoughts return to the gates of ivory.
We sing, in this life, songs of hope and woe, sending them up to gods above, gods we have long forgotten, who cling to our vestigial memories like our fear of the darkness and craving for the light.
We search, in this life, for Wally, through silents and talkies, fictitious wars, celluloid bloodsports, the manufactured reality of the film set, like promises written upon water, until at last we find him, never knowing if we can trust his unerring gaze, but sure in our hearts that we have staved off our fears... for the moment at least.
We walk, in this life, in a field of corn, our hands outstretched, legs dancing, drenched by sunlight but searching somehow still.
We fly, in this life, over fields like postage stamps, homes and lives we will never know, entire worlds we miss, zeitgeists for whom we will never be a part.
We muse, in this life, on so much of insignificance, even involuntarily our thoughts return to the gates of ivory.
We sing, in this life, songs of hope and woe, sending them up to gods above, gods we have long forgotten, who cling to our vestigial memories like our fear of the darkness and craving for the light.
We search, in this life, for Wally, through silents and talkies, fictitious wars, celluloid bloodsports, the manufactured reality of the film set, like promises written upon water, until at last we find him, never knowing if we can trust his unerring gaze, but sure in our hearts that we have staved off our fears... for the moment at least.
December 31, 2013
This is evidence that Waldo started the Celebrity photobombing craze. This guy has used his Cold War spy skills to sneak onto sets of in-progress Hollywood films. Greatest. Spy. Ever.
...except for the fact that I found him like... right away.
...except for the fact that I found him like... right away.
December 8, 2008
The art as well as the amount of things to search for really gets cranked up a notch in this one earning it a superior star-system rating over its predecessors.
July 4, 2016
Loved looking at these as a kid! Still do!
December 19, 2024
This classic series was very popular in my childhood. They were hard to find at the library and at the bookstores since they were so popular, with a good reason.
In the Norwegian editions Waldo is named Willy and on each double page there is a new setting and a story and your job is to find him. Sometimes your job is to find other characters as well. The pages are colorful and messy, which is the point to make it hard to find him.
I managed to find him and it wasn't always easy and when you find him it is like he has always been there. Right in front of you. His face and clothes are iconic and familiar. I also like there is a bit of a background story to each setting.
At the back of the book, there is a register of things and other characters you can try to find if you want something more advanced. I love books like this and still do and it would be fun to look in similar books where you have to find a character in a crowd or something. I might have too much free time but I love books like Where's Waldo? and find hidden objects games now and then. Sometimes it is important to stay focused and learn to notice things.
In the Norwegian editions Waldo is named Willy and on each double page there is a new setting and a story and your job is to find him. Sometimes your job is to find other characters as well. The pages are colorful and messy, which is the point to make it hard to find him.
I managed to find him and it wasn't always easy and when you find him it is like he has always been there. Right in front of you. His face and clothes are iconic and familiar. I also like there is a bit of a background story to each setting.
At the back of the book, there is a register of things and other characters you can try to find if you want something more advanced. I love books like this and still do and it would be fun to look in similar books where you have to find a character in a crowd or something. I might have too much free time but I love books like Where's Waldo? and find hidden objects games now and then. Sometimes it is important to stay focused and learn to notice things.
June 10, 2024
Everyone asked where is Waldo? But did you ever stop to ask, how is waldo? he's hiding from something. Is he ok? Maybe he's depressed from his recent divorce, or his dog ran off. Idk man
You all think this is a game, but how would you feel if no one found you.
You all think this is a game, but how would you feel if no one found you.
April 28, 2024
One of the hardest books I have read all year.
Can’t wait to continue the series!
Can’t wait to continue the series!
October 20, 2020
One of the better Waldo books. You know how it was annoying when you would have trick Waldo's where it was almost Waldo? This one doesn't resort to those kinds of tricks. It's just Waldo, hanging out in movie sets. And there is only one person who really even looks like Waldo. My niece loves these books. So it will be fun to hand her another one.
January 4, 2013
This is Waldo's peak. Every scene jammed to the brim with characters, sometimes literally covering each other (and in Waldo's case, all but his sock!). This book finally address the fact that finding Waldo is not the most enjoyable feature on display by adding friends and a dog for readers to track down. All in all, another great Waldo book.
September 12, 2008
I loved these books whenever I was in Elementary school.
It kept me busy and made me use my noggin.
So if you're trying to work and your kids on getting on your nerves, plop them on the couch with one of these. =D
It kept me busy and made me use my noggin.
So if you're trying to work and your kids on getting on your nerves, plop them on the couch with one of these. =D
June 12, 2007
These kept me occupied for hours. upon hours. upon hours. seriously.
August 22, 2007
I love reading this when i can't sleep. A childhood tradition.
September 19, 2007
Fun book - lucky my eyesight is good even though it comes with a magnifying piece of plastic.
January 29, 2012
Waldo in Hollywood? I need to find that guy.
February 28, 2008
not the best, but still great to try to find waldo...there is the one where he's at the movie monster party, and that is one of the best waldos ever....
September 28, 2008
Such a tricky fellow.
March 26, 2009
not as good as the trilogy but still brilliant beyond words for me.
April 29, 2009
i didn't realise that this had a different name in America, Where's Waldo? and in australia it's Where's Wally? you learn something new everyday.
June 7, 2009
I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!
waldo, you did it again!
gosh if it wasint for that cane of yours i would of never found you on page 7.
waldo, you did it again!
gosh if it wasint for that cane of yours i would of never found you on page 7.
January 3, 2010
Visually stimulating and a fan of wally.
July 20, 2010
This one seems a bit harder than the rest. Which is a good thing.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 77 reviews