Where's Waldo (Where's Wally) Books in Order: Every Main Book, and the Best Ones for Kids
There are seven main Where's Waldo/Wally books. The first, Where's Wally?, came out in 1987 and the seventh, The Incredible Paper Chase, in 2009.
Waldo and Wally are the same character. He's called Waldo in North America and Wally in the UK, India and various other countries. So if you're shopping across markets you'll see both names on the covers.
And here's the list of all Where's Waldo books.
Table of Contents
Where's Waldo books in order
- Where's Waldo? (1987)
- Find Waldo Now (1988)
- The Great Waldo Search (1989)
- Where's Waldo? In Hollywood (1993)
- Where's Waldo? The Wonder Book (1997)
- Where's Waldo? The Great Picture Hunt! (2006)
- Where's Waldo? The Incredible Paper Chase (2009)
Since then, the publishers have mostly released compilations and activity books rather than new main titles. These include Destination: Everywhere! (2017, a best-of collection), The Official Coloring Book (2025), At the Airport (2026) and an Advent Calendar collection (2026).
Key facts in 30 seconds
- Creator: English illustrator Martin Handford.
- First published: 25 June 1987 by Walker Books in the UK. In North America the books come from Candlewick Press, which is part of Walker, and Penguin Random House distributes them.
- Why two names: a Little, Brown executive in the US didn't like "Wally". In Germany he's Walter and in France he's Charlie.
- Sales: more than 73 million copies by 2007, in 26 languages.
- Who owns it: Universal, through DreamWorks' Classics catalogue.
Which Where's Waldo book should you buy first?
Go with the book 1. The scenes are less crowded than in the later books, so younger children actually find Waldo and feel brilliant about it.
For a child who's already hooked, go for The Fantastic Journey (originally, The Great Waldo Search). It's the most imaginative book in the series, with fantasy lands instead of beaches and stations. Older kids and adults who want a proper challenge should try The Great Picture Hunt! or The Incredible Paper Chase.
Ages: as a rough guide, 5 and up. Four-year-olds can enjoy them with an adult pointing. There's no upper limit, seriously.
Editions: buy the full-size paperback or hardback. The pocket and mini editions shrink the scenes so much that Waldo is practically a dot. Skip the ebooks. These are big two-page spreads, and on a Kindle they don't work at all.
What’s new for Where's Waldo
On 16 October 2026, License Global reported Universal's plans for the 40th anniversary in 2027. This includes a "40 in 40" tour of events and a new merchandise collection launching in January 2027.
With the anniversary coming, expect more new editions next year. If you want a gift for the holidays, the classic seven are a safe bet.
If this has you thinking about screen-free reading for the whole family, have a look at my books to build a reading habit and my 2026 book recommendations.
Which Waldo book did you grow up with, and did you ever find the scroll in every scene? Tell me in the comments. Happy hunting!
FAQs about Where’s Waldo/Wally
Q. Is it Where's Waldo or Where's Wally?
They're the same books. The character is called Wally in the original UK edition, which is also the name used in India and many other countries. He became Waldo in North America because a Little, Brown executive didn't like the name Wally. Then, he's called Walter in Germany and Charlie in France. The puzzles inside are the same whichever name is on the cover.
Q. How many Where's Waldo books are there?
There are seven main books. They came out between 1987 and 2009, starting with Where's Wally? and ending with The Incredible Paper Chase. There are also many spin-offs, including compilations, activity books, colouring books, an Advent Calendar collection and At the Airport, which was published on 2 June 2026.
Q. Who created Where's Waldo?
Waldo was created by the English illustrator Martin Handford. Walker Books published the first book, Where's Wally?, in the UK on 25 June 1987. In North America, the books are published by Candlewick Press, which is part of Walker. Universal now owns the rights through DreamWorks' Classics catalogue.
Q. What age are Where's Waldo books for?
As a rough guide they suit children from about five years old. Younger children can enjoy them with an adult helping. The early books have less crowded scenes, so they're easier for beginners. The later ones, like The Great Picture Hunt and The Incredible Paper Chase, are a real challenge even for adults.
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