By Exildah Smith
University of Washington communications intern

From now through July 31, Edmonds residents may be seeing a lot of Waldo, the children’s book character known for his distinctive wardrobe of red-and-white-striped shirt, glasses, and matching bobble hat.

That’s because the Edmonds Book Shop is among 250 independent book stores nationwide — and 13 in Washington state — participating in a national Waldo search that leads up to the character’s 25th birthday July 31, said Juliet Brewster, the shop’s event coordinator.

Twenty downtown Edmonds businesses are participating in the search, so keep a lookout when you visit them: Savvy Traveler, Glazed and Amazed, Walnut Street Coffee, HouseWares, Cole Gallery, Revelations Yogurt, Nama’s Candy Store, Garden Gear, Sound Styles, Kinder Britches, Teri’s Toybox, The Wishing Stone, The Edmonds Bakery, Waterfront Coffee Co., The Edmonds Theater, Manya Vee, C’ est la vie, The Wooden Spoon, Red Petal Cakes, Art Spot, Fabric of Life, Red Twig Bakery & Café, Arista Wine Cellars, Cline Jewelry and Orthodontics Exclusively.

For every clue you get, your chances of winning the prizes will increase.  “We will be giving out posters, postcards, gift shop certificates, ice cream pops, two tumblers, and the grand box set of six books,” Brewster said.

The winners will be announced on the final day of the festivities, and as part of the celebration, the Book Shop will host a birthday party featuring Waldo-themed games, and serve cake and lemonade.

To start your hunt, visit the Edmonds Book Shop at 111 5th Ave.  S.