Customer Reviews

A Gnome's Christmas

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If you're looking for the perfect Xmas gift, it's here. This charming continuation of the gnome saga is beautifully written, illustrated, and produced. It's a challenge to keep a story going even after its famed illustrator has passed on, but the author succeeds famously. Songs, fables, and even recipes capture the details of gnome life. A must-read for anyone who remembers gnome-mania from their childhood.

A Gnome's Christmas is priceless fun for all ages...I can vouch for that sinceI am 77 and love it. Poortvliet's gnomes are recognized anywhere. They are THE gnomes. If you are Finnish, you will like the mysterious box found in a barn in Finland containing this fun information about Gnomes and their lives in general, but especially Christmas customs. Anybody with crafting skill might be inspired to create a little gnome house instead of a dollhouse. I couldn't resist buying a half dozen books to give as gifts next Christmas. I'd give the book 100 stars if it were possible.

This is a great book with fabulous illustrations. For those seeking mainly stories on Gnomes, this book is not for you. This book has one story and is then filled with arts & crafts ideas and traditions. This would be great for setting up children's Christmas parties that need a theme, or for an elementary school classroom teacher looking for fun ways to celebrate the season with projects.

It is written the way the other gnome books are written, and it is very pleasant to read and it makes you believe that these little gnomes actualy exist! The front of the book has some kind of a red velvet fabric around the front edges, and I like that! Also the back of the book has an envelope with a little cardboard gnome in it...I recommend this book who likes the gnome saga...

I read all of the previous reviews, and I think I received a different book.

Crafts? Recipes?

The only craft is carving animal heads to hang on the wall. There aren't any instructions, it just says that the gnomes do it every year.

The recipe, and I quote:
"1 walnut
1 ACORN
1 almond
1 fig
1 date
The fruit is first soaked in grog, mead, or other lightly alcoholic beverage."

Say what? I don't know about you, but I have no interest in eating acorns. And even if I wanted to make grog or mead, I wouldn't encourage children to consume it.

The games? Playing ring toss on the father gnome's hat; tying pie plates to his beard, and replacing his honey tea with vinegar. Oh joy, let's all celebrate Christmas that way.

Even if the book wanted to encourage children to be caretakers of nature like the gnomes, I don't think it is worth making a "garlic pie" to put outside for the foxes.

Maybe I've missed the point, but I don't see how this is a book that can relate to children in a positive or enjoyable way.

Oh yes, one last thing: all the gnome children know that Sinterklaas can't possibly make it around to everyone's house, so the father gnome not only has a costume ready to wear, but his children KNOW about it. If you're trying to get one more year out of Santa Claus, the gnomes have just blown it for you.

An infinitely better book is "The Gnomes Book of Christmas Crafts." It's beautifully photographed, and full of things you can actually make and display in your home to celebrate Christmas a little more like the gnomes.

I had given this as a gift to my
mom who likes gnomes. It is a very
cute book and she enjoyed it.

This is the perfect Christmas gift for a small child - one whose imagination is just getting ready to lift off. Share the magic of the small world of gnomes. Cuddle up on the couch and flip through the pages of delicious details.

This is the first of a large collection for my future grand-kids.

I wish I'd paid more attention to this book before ordering. I thought it would be in story form and not just informative. It wasn't what I wanted at all.

I enjoyed this book, but then I enjoy all of Poortvliet's work. I would recommend this to anyone.

This itsy bitsy work is great for the children. Gave three out to my GKids. For adults you might want Ms. Virtue's Healing book with Fairies. There is a World Guide if you want a vast historical review of what distant past generations have to say about nature people. If You Could Only See .. A Gnome's Story is a more modern, direct-channel of the Gnomes for those who want to learn how to see, sense, hear and feel the wee folk. If you want light reading, the Christmas book here fits in a stocking, looks real Christmasy and is a very simply written bookette that the kids will enjoy for their first introduction to Gnomes. Good for 6 - 12 years old, I would guess. Consider it.

Windy