Waldo Takes Maplewood by Storm at Words Bookstore

Words Bookstore was the place to be Thursday afternoon, as over a hundred children and grownups came for the culminating celebration of the 2013 "Where's Waldo" contest.

The event capped off a month-long contest that asked participants to "find" a cardboard cutout of Waldo in local businesses. Participants who completed a certain number of entries were eligible to enter a contest to win prizes donated by the businesses.

Words was one of 265 independent bookstores nationwide that teamed up with Waldo publisher Candlewick Press and the American Booksellers Association in the contest, which helps encourage communities to patronize their local small businesses. 

Words owners Jonah Zimiles and staff handed out the prizes to winners. But, as Zimiles pointed out, everyone was a winner because every child got a delicious Waldo cookie courtesy of The Able Baker.

There were nearly 200 entries this year. The grand prize winner - who scored a complete set of Where's Waldo books - was Ananya Pimplaskar, age 6, from Maplewood.

For a complete list of participating businesses, click here.