Martin Handford , the man behind the mind-boggling Waldo books, began his career as a freelance illustrator specializing in drawing crowd scenes. "I can't tell you how pleased I am that Waldo has taken on a life of his own," he says. "I'd like to inspire children to open their minds to explore subjects more, to be aware of what's going on around them. I'd like them to see wonder in places that may not have occurred to them." Martin Handford lives in England.