Worldwide Hike

Chaos reigns in this jam-packed town square, where hundreds of tiny people go about their business among shops, market stalls, honking cars, and a splashing fountain. The image belongs to the beloved Where's Wally series, called Where's Waldo in North America, dreamed up by British artist Martin Handford. Since the first book arrived in 1987, readers young and old have squinted their way through crowds like this one, all hunting for a single man in a red and white striped shirt and matching bobble hat. This particular scene, called Worldwide Hike, sets him loose in a bustling little town where everyone seems caught mid-adventure.

Off to the left sits Wally's cheerful handwritten letter, where he introduces himself and lists the gear he lugs around on his travels, including a walking stick, a kettle, and a mallet. He also dares you to track down his friends and a whole roster of hidden odds and ends buried in the picture. Every figure here was drawn by hand, and Handford filled each corner with small jokes and mini stories that reward a patient eye.

Behind the playful mess lies a surprising amount of work, since Handford is said to have spent weeks on a single page, adding one little character at a time. The fun comes from that overload, because picking out one striped hat in such a swarm gives a genuine rush of triumph. Let your gaze roam, and see if you can catch our wandering friend hiding in the crowd.