The Hidden World of Gnomes

March 1, 2023
Tiny gnomes' life goals center on experiencing as much joy as possible. More emotive and less instructive than Owen Churcher and Niamh Sharkey's A Field Guide to Leaflings (2023), this book introduces similar elusive beings who live "all around us." Inventive names like Hotchi Mossy, Merry Pip, and Cob Tiggy help individualize Soloy's thumb-size creatures, who have bulbous bodies, stick appendages, and kind, squarish faces in shades from light to brown. The gnomes each have an "important job," like storytelling, eggsitting for birds, and planting. They ride leaves while wearing acorn helmets, enjoy chases astride squirrels and hares, and seem to be vegan. Gnomes love celebrating, singing and circle-dancing when a mushroom appears or a shiny rock is found. Unlike the lollipop watercolors of Leaflings, the art here features heavy lines and earthy colors that will perhaps inspire some young copyists. The book aims to make readers more attentive to nature as a source of joy: Rose Gladly's seed library or Abel Potter's "woody pig" (i.e., woodlouse) might help readers find pleasure in what they see outdoors. There are joys for every sense, including a recipe for gnome cookies. And there are more subtle forms of happiness to appreciate, like "the joy of sitting with another person, not talking, together." The final message is direct: "You can choose to look closely. You can choose to see the magic in the world. You can choose to believe." (This book was reviewed digitally.) Gnomish "heart-seeing" might be the best way to appreciate this winning tribute to euphoria. (Picture book. 4-7)

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June 5, 2023
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.

Starred review from May 15, 2023
Grades K-2 *Starred Review* Did you know there are tiny gnomes living all around? Canadian author Soloy welcomes readers into their magical, miniature world with a detailed directory of all things gnome related. An adorable introductory spread features a lineup of some of the residents, including mushroom-clad Minolta, fuzzy green Hotchi-Mossy, and acorn-hatted Cob Tiggy. Like any reputable guidebook, this one imparts basic gnome-knowledge first, covering eating habits, celebrations, and seasonal observances. It then delves into specific gnome professions (Rose Gladly maintains the seed library, Beatrix Nut works on fluffing squirrel tails, Merry Pip runs a postal service via cooperative bees and ants) and endless activities (leaf riding or snail stacking, anyone?). There are even exuberant exercise diagrams, simple cookie recipes, and rhyming chants to shout aloud. The cheeky, cheerful book is incredibly endearing, and darling digital illustrations are wonderfully textured in rich earth tones. Some pages are marvelous magnifications of tiny activities, while others are glorious spreads of the wider but still intimate world that that gnomes inhabit; regardless, 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.

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Starred review from November 10, 2023

K-Gr 2-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

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