London, UK/New York, NY/Boston, MA (Monday, May 17, 2010)—Leading independent children’s publishers, The Walker Group, consisting of Walker Books UK, Candlewick Press and Walker Books Australia, with Classic Media, a global media company with a portfolio of some of the world’s leading kids, family and pop-culture brands, including Where’s Wally?, today announced that The Walker Group has been appointed to create a new global publishing program for the popular Where’s Wally? books.
Inspired by the internationally bestselling Where’s Wally? books by Martin Handford—which have sold an extraordinary 50 million copies worldwide and have been published in 38 countries and in 27 languages—this first-ever spin-off program for Where’s Wally? will feature all-new material that will be released across a variety of exciting and innovative formats, creating even more ways to enjoy the unique search and find experience of Where’s Wally?. The new range will be designed to complement the original Where’s Wally? collection designed by Martin Handford.
“We are very proud to be the long-standing home of the Where’s Wally? publishing phenomenon,” said Helen McAleer, Managing Director, Walker Books UK. “It’s incredibly exciting to be working with Classic Media on the spin-off global publishing program based on this popular character, and we look forward to creating a new range of formats and content to keep the millions of Where’s Wally? fans entertained around the world.”
“Thanks to our new partnership with Classic Media, Candlewick will be able to build on our bestselling publishing program with new formats and character-driven spin-offs, all maintaining the one-of-a-kind search and find elements that have made the Where’s Waldo? series such a huge success with kids and adults for more than twenty years,” said Karen Lotz, President and Publisher, Candlewick.
“Walker has done an exceptional job as publisher of Where’s Waldo? since its debut in 1987,” said Nicole Blake, SVP, Marketing & Consumer Products, Classic Media. “We are so excited to announce this global partnership for spin-off publishing that will create even more opportunities for fans to enjoy the Where’s Waldo? experience for years to come.”
The line will debut in 2012 in honour of Waldo’s 25th birthday celebration.
The Walker Group is the publisher of the original and internationally bestselling Where’s Wally? books by Martin Handford, and is well positioned for a creative collaboration with Classic Media on the multiple formats that will be available as part of the new spin-off publishing program.
First published in 1987, Where's Wally?® is one of the most recognizable characters in the world. The pop-culture icon has appeared in the primetime American TV shows Frasier, The Simpsons and Friends, as well as on the 1000th Anniversary cover of Rolling Stone magazine denoting the top cultural figures of the last 40 years. Where’s Wally? recently made its Video Game and Mobile Game debuts, with the first App for iPhone and iPod touch selling more than one million units.