The Hidden World of Gnomes

by Lauren Soloy (Author)

Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

A delightful introduction and collection of facts about the secret lives of gnomes that will charm and fascinate readers of all ages.

This book is an introduction to the hidden folk called gnomes, who live in a happy place they call The Pocket. Where is The Pocket, you ask? Well, it's all around you, all the time. Gnomes are curious little creatures, and they're very shy. But after reading this book, you will learn to spot the telltale signs that gnomes are around . . . and maybe even meet one!

Lauren Soloy has been studying gnomes her whole life, and she has created this book to share her knowledge with you. For example, what jobs do gnomes do? Babysitting robin's eggs, squirrel-tail fluffing, storytelling. Where do they live? In gardens, forests and any place with plants, birds and bugs. What are their names? Hotchi-Mossy, Able Potter, Cob Tiggy and Puckle Swift, to name a few.

With charming details and surprising facts, this celebration of all things gnome will enchant readers of all ages.

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Hardcover
$19.99

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Kirkus

Gnomish “heart-seeing” might be the best way to appreciate this winning tribute to euphoria.

ALA/Booklist

Starred Review
An utterly charming gnome tome for anyone searching for wonder.

Publishers Weekly

In this charming guidebook to gnomes and gnome-dom, Soloy introduces, via a lunar calendar year, an ethos of being at home in the natural world. Digital spreads that suggest loose ink lines and gouache show the world from a gnome's-eye view: just shy of the height of a snowdrop. Their tiny bodies are rounded, and their faces, portrayed with varying skin tones, peer out from hoods in a world populated with acorns, ferns, and mushrooms. Some pages describe individual gnomes ("Burley Bell is the doctor. She is always busy tending to various animals, insects and plants"), while others describe activities ("Snail Stacking"), particular moons (the "Bursting Moon" heralds harvest), and varied pleasures ("The joy of tapping a stick"). The cooperative gnomes take time to celebrate, muse on the mysterious, and sing and dance and play, and this idyll invites readers to "see the magic in the world" as gnomes do. Ages 3-7. (June)

Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

Starred Review

Crafting dandelion seed pillows, playing hide-and-seek with fox kits, and grooming squirrel tails are just a few pastimes for gnomes living in the Pocket. In this imaginative picture book, Soloy gathers the simple moments shared by Hotchi-Mossy, Merry Pip, Beatrix Nut, Twiggy Dell, and other gnomes into a blend of field guide and scrapbook. The sections of the book reflect the 12 full moons of the gnome year and detail the seasonal activities of each. Under the Snowdrop Moon, the gnomes wake with the first flowers of early spring. The Strawberry Moon of summer offers ripened fruit for nibbling. Gathering parties mark the Mushroom Moon of early fall, and the year concludes with the final three Sleep Moons when the gnomes grow their winter whiskers. Individual gnomes are spotlighted, detailing their contributions to life in the Pocket; Merry Pip egg-sits for birds, Beatrix Nut decorates beetle shells, while Rose Gladly whispers lullabies to sleeping seeds. Nestled in between explanations of gnome life are the simple pleasures in their lives, such as "the joy of listening to the rain fall" or "the joy of listening to bees sing." Soloy's layout is structured, yet the text playfully dances in and out among earthy watercolor-and-ink illustrations. VERDICT Early elementary readers will treasure the delicate details of this book and tote it along for outdoor exploration. This cozy and whimsical primer on gnomes will delight readers of all ages.—Emily Brush

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

A Booklist Editors' Choice for 2023

PRAISE FOR The Hidden World of Gnomes

"[This] cheeky, cheerful book is incredibly endearing . . . each page turn brings an unexpected treat. Young readers can dip in for a delightful detail or read all the way through for a deep dive into the cozy world, and Soloy concludes with a reminder that there is always magic to be found in the world around us. An utterly charming gnome tome for anyone searching for wonder." —STARRED REVIEW, Booklist

"[A]ims to make readers more attentive to nature as a source of joy. . . . Gnomish 'heart-seeing' might be the best way to appreciate this winning tribute to euphoria." —Kirkus Reviews

"In this charming guidebook to gnomes and gnome-dom, Soloy introduces . . . an ethos of being at home in the natural world." —Publishers Weekly

"In this imaginative picture book, Soloy gathers the simple moments shared by Hotchi-Mossy, Merry Pip, Beatrix Nut, Twiggy Dell, and other gnomes into a blend of field guide and scrapbook. . . . Early elementary readers will treasure the delicate details of this book and tote it along for outdoor exploration. This cozy and whimsical primer on gnomes will delight readers of all ages." —School Library Journal

"A cute, lighthearted, and fun read that I can see many readers — young and old — exploring and loving." —Young Adulting

"The Hidden World of Gnomes is truly distinctive: a catalogue, a meditation, a work of gentle humor and an ode to humanity, big or small." —Imaginary Elevators
Lauren Soloy
LAUREN SOLOY has lived on both coasts of Canada, always within reach of the sea. She currently lives in Nova Scotia, in a house that is exactly 100 years older than she is, with her librarian husband, two curious children, an ever-expanding collection of books, two hives of bees and one grumpy cat. She has finally achieved her life goal of being able to walk through her yard, snacking on whatever fruit or berry is in season--a fact which, she figures, makes her an honorary gnome. She is the author and illustrator of When Emily Was Small and Etty Darwin and the Four Pebble Problem, as well as the illustrator of I's the B'y: The Beloved Newfoundland Folk Song.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780735271043
Lexile Measure
730
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Tundra Books (NY)
Publication date
June 20, 2023
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV037000 - Juvenile Fiction | Fantasy & Magic
JUV012030 - Juvenile Fiction | Fairy Tales & Folklore | General
JUV006000 - Juvenile Fiction | Business, Careers, Occupations
Library of Congress categories
-

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