“Look at this. Look at THIS!” my brother Robin called to me. In his hands was a huge book unlike anything I had ever seen before.
There are some books which become so ubiquitous in the small worlds occupied by childhood, that it seems they were just always there. Most children don’t really discover Wally, they just become increasingly aware of his existence. That iconic striped top is as ingrained in their innate visual language as Mickey’s ears. Indeed, for children, Where’s Wally books (like Wally himself) are never far away, always hiding in plain sight, somewhere in your peripheral vision.
I, however, absolutely remember the first moment I found Wally (or Waldo, if you must). It was in 1987, in a tiny bookshop at the top of Arundel high street, standing beside my bro.
At seven years old I was already trying to combine art, words, and puzzles in the stories and games I invented in my bedroom. I soon learned that the best puzzles are really magic tricks in disguise. They ask you to do one thing, but in doing so show you something completely different. Wally is the purest example of this.
By offering readers the seemingly simple challenge of searching for a bespectacled tourist, Handford tricks us into studying the minutiae of his scenes far more closely than perhaps we would otherwise. And once he has our attention, Handford reveals the real deck of cards - for all of humanity is represented in Wally’s world. Politics, economics, war, love, death, art, yes, even literature is offered up, discussed, lampooned and celebrated within the simple interactions of his million-strong cast.
When a child is presented with a work of art made for them with such care and commitment, it empowers them. Handford communicates a deep and resounding respect for his readership through the sheer effort of his craft.
As my childhood dream of becoming an artist and author has become my grown up reality, I’ve held on to the lessons Mr Handford and Wally taught me. My series of puzzle adventure books, starring Von Doogan, have at their heart a secret pact with my young readers. I will always endeavour to truly challenge them, to give them the very best of my creativity, and I will never forget that they’re all far cleverer than I’ll ever be.
The puzzles in my books are also magic tricks in disguise. Between you and me, when you embark on Doogan’s latest adventure, The Great Air Race, you’ll perform complex mathematical problems, use logic, learn semaphore, make measurements in time, distance and weight, crack a multitude of codes and solve mysteries that would have Poirot scratching his moustache. But if I’ve done my job right, you probably won’t notice any of that, you’ll have just been enjoying the ride. And if you do get stuck, I hope parents, grandparents, and siblings will be there to help you, just as Robin was there to help me find Wally, and so much more besides. A problem shared is not only a problem halved, it is a connection gained.
And the last thing that Wally taught me? That a Brit abroad, no matter how hard they try to blend in, will always, always be spotted in the end.
Von Doogan and the Great Air Race is available now from David Fickling Books. Buy Von Doogan and the Great Air Race at the Guardian bookshop.