Gnomes

It has become apparent that I have well and truly lost my sense of magic. When I was a teenager I was entranced by Gnomes. My school library stocked it as a reference item, and many a lunchtime was spent poring over it. Eventually I left school and Gnomes behind, but for many years wished I could find another copy and revisit the world of Gnomes. Imagine my excitement then when I discovered a second hand copy at a local bookstore. I eagerly handed over my $3, rushed it home, and discovered… the magic had vanished.
No longer was I enchanted by the cute escapades and illustrations of these tiny people. Instead I found myself questioning the sexism of the male gnomes being fully responsible for all the labour, and the confinement of show more females almost exclusively to the home. I was horrified that daddy gnomes left nearly all of the parenting of daughters to the mother, and wondered if gnomes really were as sickeningly perfect as the book portrayed.
I suppose growing up is one of the sad inevitabilities of life. But for those who are still young, and those successfully fighting the habit of growing up, enjoy Gnomes while you still can. Reading it truly is a delightful experience. show less

When I was little, I used to pore over this book, wishing that, if gnomes were not real and if I couldn't see them for myself, I could at least live for a time like the little people depicted in the book, with elaborate teaparties made of natural foods, and mad handcrafting skills. Perhaps it's because my family was in the SCA. Now that I am grown, I still wish that, from time to time. Such a fun book. I think that, if this is not too much of a stretch - when children read books like this, and say, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, they start to think, what WOULD it be like to be a small and out-of-the-way creature? How much is going on outside right now, that I am missing? This perhaps is the seed from which a lot of environmentalism show more sprouts - the ability to realize that other creatures might have other worlds of their own, about which you know far less than you think. show less

My parents owned a copy of this book when I was a child. Although I was too young to read, I vividly remember looking at the pictures in this book and fervently admiring it. I never thought that when I grew up I would find my own copy of it. But I did!

A delightful fictious romp through the world of gnomeology - this beautifully illustrated book paints a picture of the world of the gnome. As you read the book and study the pictures, you may begin to wonder whether that the author might have painted everything from life. It seems amazing that the vivid illustrations in the book came from someone's imagination.

A work of art and a charming pasttime. I highly recommend it.

Pleasant, picturesque, detailed, lovingly drawn. Also very conservative-with-a-small-c, patriarchal, and closed-minded: nothing in the depicted gnome society breaks any new ground, it all harkens back to a traditional Western-style golden age of craftsmanship wedded to strict gender roles. Add in a dash of environmental messages and there you have it.

Nice drawings though.

The first time I read this book was when my brother got it for his birthday. I loved it so much, that a few years later I got a copy myself.
Reading this book was the first time I got to know gnomes. As a child you know of course, that gnomes exist. But, that they would have such a rich life and do such useful things, I had never imagined.
It is a beautiful book, the text is, for me, interesting as explanation to the drawings, that are exceptional.
For a city girl like me this was also a kind of journey into nature. First of all the way gnomes help the animals when they are in need, or are fighting. And secondly I realized that the things we have / are used to are not available everywhere and it was very interesting to read about the soap show more herbs, how pine apples are used, what kind of tools they have. show less

A faux bestiary of gnomes. Amazingly detailed descriptions of gnomes' everyday lives (Sometimes bordering on TMI). Breathtaking pictures. The translation isn't perfect, but that hardly matters.

One of my favorites as a kid, I recently re-read this classic and thoroughly enjoyed it again as an adult. I don't really know what differences there are in the Thirtieth Anniversary Edition versus the original, but I didn't really notice any changes (of course it's been at least twenty to twenty-five years since I last flipped through the pages of this beautiful and fascinating book.)

What makes this book so wonderful is the stunning artwork combined with the tongue-in-cheek text written as a naturalistic study of Gnomes in their natural habitats and everyday lives. This is a great book to just flip through for a few minutes or to read from cover to cover. The diagrams and stories blend together with the pastoral artwork in a way that show more stands the test of time and remains a joy for those of all ages. As long as you have a little imagination, I think that you will have a very rewarding experience in giving Gnomes a shot. show less