Gnomes (book)

Gnomes
English cover
AuthorWil Huygen
Original titleLeven en werken van de kabouter
IllustratorRien Poortvliet
LanguageDutch
GenreChildren's literature
PublisherVan Holkema & Warendorf
Publication date
1976
Publication placeThe Netherlands
Published in English
1977
Media typePrint
Pages212
ISBN9026949588
OCLC4188345
LC ClassPT5881.18.U9 L47
Followed byThe Secret Book of Gnomes 

Gnomes, originally published in Dutch in 1976 as Leven en werken van de kabouter (lit.'Life and work of the gnomes'[1]), then released in English in 1977, is a fiction book written by Wil Huygen and illustrated by Rien Poortvliet. The book explains the life and habitat of gnomes in an in-universe fashion, much as a biology book would do, complete with illustrations and textbook notes.

The book was well received by critics. Huygen's writing, which mixed physiology with fiction, and Poortvliet's drawings, which used a natural style and watercolor, were both praised. Gnomes sold almost a million units after its first year of being published in the United States. Its financial success led to the creation of several spin-off books about the same fictional creatures, as well as many other products, such as toys, clothing and games.

  1. ^ Dektar, Joan (6 May 1979). "Keeping up with gnomenclature". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. Retrieved 1 October 2020.