The 200 hand-illustrated pages overflow with the authors’ on-the-scene sketches and firsthand observations.
In Secrets of the Gnomes, authors Poortvliet and Huygen are invited as more than mere observers. After a meal of mushrooms and cream (which tastes as if it were made of “everything that light, air, sun, moon, and earth could produce”), they find that they have been turned into gnomes themselves....
The authors learn of the tender emotional life of a gnome; they see and diagram the mechanics of ingenious gnome technology; they observe how gnomes administer justice in the wild; they are told how fairy tales first began (Little Red Riding Hood was actually a gnome!); and, best of all, they are allowed to see parts of the gnomes’ fabled Secret Book.
Whether you're a seasoned gnome enthusiast or new to their enchanting world, The Secrets of the Gnomes offers a delightful escape into a land of wonder and imagination. Perfect for readers who love fantasy, nature, and whimsical tales.
Rien Poortvliet (1932–1995) was a Dutch artist and illustrator best known for his drawings of animals. Wil Huygen was born in Amersfoort, Holland, in 1923, the seventh of ten children. A physician, children’s author, and oil painter, he lived in Holland with his wife until his death in 2009 at 86 years old. Huygen has five grown children of his own.
