Is "Find Waldo Now" Trustworthy? An In-depth Analysis

A fact-check of the second Waldo book.

We all trust Martin Handford for our history facts. But is he actually as trustworthy as some would have you think? Let's find out!

Page One: The Stone Age

Color-coded Families: There is no evidence of this.

A big cover-up: There is no evidence of this.

Really dumb fishermen: There is no evidence of this. In fact , "cavemen" were actually quite brilliant, and fully human. Also, the left breast of the guy on the lower right is practically on his shoulder, which is incorrect [citation needed].

Underwater mammoth: I was surprised to learn that this is actually pretty accurate! Mammoths were big [citation needed] and their fat made them quite buoyant.

Saber-toothed tigers: The right tooth of the one on the lower right is too long. Also, Smilodon were bob-tailed.

Four boars chasing a man: There is no evidence of this. Pigs are more intelligent then dogs, though.

Six men chasing a boar: There is evidence for this.

A stone age rodeo: There is no evidence for this.

A lesson on dinosaurs: Actually quite accurate, in my worldview.

Violent courtship: There is no evidence for this.

Cave theater: There is no evidence of cave paintings used for this purpose. Also, fire is not a flashlight [citation needed]; it gives off light in all directions.

Stone age baseball: There is no evidence for this.

Page Two: The Riddle of the Pyramids

Intro: The pyramids are not a riddle or a mystery. They were tombs for pharaohs. Also, the date is off.

Strange pyramids: No pyramids of this design were that small or light, and they were not upside-down.

Really small mummy: This is actually quite accurate–cats were often mummified, and sometimes children were too.

Upside-down mummy: When was the last time you accidentally set up an embalmed ancestor upside down?

Animated Sphinx: There is no evidence of this.

Really bendy palm tree: This makes no sense.

Sunbathers in peril: Horses very seldom run over people. Also, why is the charioteer so... idiotic?

Page Three: Fun and Games in Ancient Rome

Tiny Colosseum: The Colosseum was 615 feet across at its widest.

A sword and shield being cut in two: This is not possible.

A really smart horse: This is not possible.

Bladed chariot: I think Handford has confused the Colosseum with the Circus Maximus. Also, if your scythe blades are constantly whirling, they won't hit straight. Real scythed chariots were designed so that the blades would not spin.

A gladiator getting his socks knocked off: This is not possible. See https://mythresults.com/knock-your-socks-off

Intelligent lions: This is not possible. [citation needed]

Tigers: This is actually totally accurate. The now-extinct Caspian tiger was used in the gladiator fights.

Assassination: Who added that trap door? And why aren't the guards watching the emperor?

Improper gladius use: None of the gladiators are using their gladii to stab. They are supposed to be used as both a thrusting and slashing weapon.

Page Four: On Tour With the Vikings

Really small town: How on earth do all those people fit in there? And where do they get their food?

Horned helmets: This is actually inaccurate. See https://www.history.com/news/did-vikings-really-wear-horned-helmets

Swords: Actually, most vikings did not own swords. They were expensive, and often fragile.

Helm-shaped smoke: There is no evidence for this. [citation needed]

Figureheads in love: There is no evidence for this. [citation needed]

A happy figurehead: There is no evidence for this.

A long boat: Wood does not bend like that. [dubious/discuss]

Three spears being beheaded: This is all but impossible.

Opposite abduction: There is no evidence of this.

Childish vikings: There is little to no evidence for this.

Unbalanced boat: There is no evidence of this.

Halved boat: There is no evidence of this.

Really long beards: There if no evidence for this.

Argive shields: Viking shields were designed like trash can lids–no straps.

I plan to follow up with another post of the same type!