Search & Find are terrific options for kids starting at the age of 3 all the way into their teenage years. For younger children (3 to 5 years old), they provide a great way to build concentration and develop a sense of focus and attention to detail. These are valuable traits for toddlers who are essentially learning how to learn. Focus and concentration can help them learn other things more effectively. They also help build memory, as you’ll find your children eventually surprising you by remembering the locations of characters. And if all that’s not enough, these books are great fun where you can participate and engage with your child. So without further ado, here’s our list of the top 5 Search & Find Books out there, otherwise known as the Best Books like Where’s Waldo!
1. Where’s Waldo – Deluxe Edition
The ultimate classic when it comes to Search & Find books is the original Where’s Waldo. This Deluxe Edition celebrates the first edition with some added fun, including a free poster on the underside of the jacket, a spot-the-difference game between the jacket and self-cover designs, and some new items to search for in the pages. There are scenes for everyone, and enough secrets to keep coming back again and again.
2. Star Wars – Where’s the Wookie
This is my personal favorite, but then again I love all things Star Wars, so I’m certainly a bit biased. In the 1st volume of “Where’s the Wookie”, you’ll travel across different lands in the Star Wars galaxy to spot Han Solo’s best pal, Chewbacca. You can find all sorts of other characters, such as bounty hunters, Luke, Leia, Han, and of course, Darth Vader. It’s a load of fun and was the book I used to introduce my daughters to Star Wars!
3. Where’s Waldo? In Hollywood
This is one of the most fun editions of Where’s Waldo. In this one, you get to follow him and his band of buddies through a variety of Hollywood sets. The scenes are hilarious and as detailed as ever. Adults will have a lot of fun looking through the landscape as kids sharpen their concentration looking for Waldo.
4. Where’s the Unicorn?
So I have two daughters, and of course – they love unicorns. But really, what’s not to love? They’re colorful magical creatures that do nothing but smile, jump, play and, in this particular case, hide inside beautifully drawn landscapes full of fun. There are 7 to find in each scene – Leaf, Ruby, Snowflake, Blossom, Luna, Stardust, and Amethyst. That means you won’t quickly run out of playful unicorns to look for.
Bonus! My daughter Luna loved this book so much we did a “Read Aloud” together. Watch the video here:
5. Where’s Waldo? The Spectacular Spotlight Search
There are so many Where’s Waldo books to pick from it can seem difficult to figure out where to start. As you’ve seen above, my recommendation would be to start with the original and the Hollywood versions. For a twist however, the “Spectacular Spotlight Search” edition does a wonderful job of bringing new elements of fun. Armed with a spotlight you can move around, you’ll navigate each page like a true detective to find Waldo and. And as usual, other fun elements are hidden throughout each scene.
Hope you liked this list! Let me know in the comments which other Search & Find books you’ve loved and had fun with as kids & adults, and which ones you’ve found to be great for your children.