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Gnomes 30th Anniversary Edition Hardcover – August 1, 2006

by Wil Huygen (Author), Rien Poortvliet (Illustrator)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 975 ratings
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Gnomes is the product of Rien Poortvliet and Wil Huygen’s observation of the local gnome population in Holland. Until Gnomes was first published in Dutch in 1976, these friendly nocturnal creatures were only represented in folk lore; descriptions were often incomplete or simply inaccurate. Poortvliet and Huygen, having studied and interviewed gnomes for two decades, set out to fill this gap with their own encyclopedic tome.

Gnomes covers all areas of gnome culture, including architecture, education, courtship, medicine, industry, and relationships with other mythical creatures. Huygen’s sober descriptions are balanced by Poortvliet’s light-hearted portrayals of gnomes at work and at play. Thirty years later, this beautifully illustrated volume continues to engage and enchant readers of all ages.
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Previous page
  1. Reading age
    9+ years, from customers
  2. Print length
    212 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    3 - 7
  5. Dimensions
    8.25 x 0.75 x 11.75 inches
  6. Publisher
    "Harry N. Abrams, Inc."
  7. Publication date
    August 1, 2006
  8. ISBN-10
    0810954982
  9. ISBN-13
    978-0810954984
  10. See all details
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About the Author

Rien Poortvliet, born in 1932, was one of the most popular Dutch artists, regarded by colleagues as the Bach of wildlife painters. He illustrated more than twenty books before his death in 1995. The Rien Poortvliet Museum in Middelharnis, Holland, opened in 1992 and is dedicated to his works.

Wil Huygen was born in Amersfoort, Holland, in 1923, the seventh of ten children. A physician and children's author, Huygen has recently taken up oil painting. He still lives in Holland with his wife and has five grown children of his own.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ "Harry N. Abrams, Inc."; 30th Anniversary edition (August 1, 2006)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 212 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0810954982
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0810954984
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 9+ years, from customers
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 3 - 7
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.75 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.25 x 0.75 x 11.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 975 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
975 global ratings
Beautiful Memories
5 Stars
Beautiful Memories
Having this book in my hands once again is magical. Oh how I missed my old friends the gnomes! I haven't seen them since the 1980s. It's been too long! The book itself is wonderful, the content mesmerizing!Now onto the condition of the used book: It was described as "good" with a "tight spine". Yet there is a big rip in the very spine of the book! I would never have classified this as good, but rather acceptable. I am disappointed that the description wasn't more accurate. However, for the price I'm keeping the book and all the lovely memories that come with it and hope I find one in great condition one day soon that doesn't break the bank!The story gets 5 stars, the inaccuracy of the description unfortunately will take a star away from seller feedback.
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Top reviews from the United States

Emily
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful
Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2023
Verified Purchase
Wonderful book, vivid images
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MoonPye
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Memories
Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2024
Verified Purchase
Having this book in my hands once again is magical. Oh how I missed my old friends the gnomes! I haven't seen them since the 1980s. It's been too long! The book itself is wonderful, the content mesmerizing!

Now onto the condition of the used book: It was described as "good" with a "tight spine". Yet there is a big rip in the very spine of the book! I would never have classified this as good, but rather acceptable. I am disappointed that the description wasn't more accurate. However, for the price I'm keeping the book and all the lovely memories that come with it and hope I find one in great condition one day soon that doesn't break the bank!

The story gets 5 stars, the inaccuracy of the description unfortunately will take a star away from seller feedback.
Customer image
MoonPye
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Memories
Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2024
Having this book in my hands once again is magical. Oh how I missed my old friends the gnomes! I haven't seen them since the 1980s. It's been too long! The book itself is wonderful, the content mesmerizing!

Now onto the condition of the used book: It was described as "good" with a "tight spine". Yet there is a big rip in the very spine of the book! I would never have classified this as good, but rather acceptable. I am disappointed that the description wasn't more accurate. However, for the price I'm keeping the book and all the lovely memories that come with it and hope I find one in great condition one day soon that doesn't break the bank!

The story gets 5 stars, the inaccuracy of the description unfortunately will take a star away from seller feedback.
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Steve Brown
5.0 out of 5 stars A book from childhood
Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2024
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Such a wonderful trip back to my childhood with the Gnomes book! The book and dust cover arrived in mint condition. Packaged securely. A great price for a little piece of nostalgia! Thank you!
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Mrs. Ebeth
5.0 out of 5 stars I grew up with this book
Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2024
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It's as good now as it was then. It just seems... smaller somehow lol!
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Neem
5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful
Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2015
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This is a delightful coffee table book, full of tongue in cheek humor. It might even be readable fare for kids. But you will have to skip over a page or two. For instance, I didn't want to say that it has sexual context, because honestly it doesn't. But my mother-in-law would have been terribly insulted by a picture of a naked gnome or two, especially a naked lady with exposed breasts (come where the feeding of infants gnomes and physiology of gnomes is humorously discussed. Everything in this is humorous. If you have friends who into gnomes in their yards decor, then this would be a great gift. The art is on every single page is the book discusses every conceivable subject you could ever think of. My favorite chapter was on relationships with other animals. It's a large and heavy book. I would tell you the number of pages, but the authors didn't bother to number them.
49 people found this helpful
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CelticAngel
4.0 out of 5 stars A completely "made-up" world set up like an Encyclopedia
Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2017
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When I was 12, I used to babysit for a couple in my neighborhood. They had this book in their living room. I've always been an avid reader and when I saw the cover art, I couldn't resist! I was mesmerized by the art and fascinated by the content. A completely "made-up" world set up like an Encyclopedia...I was hooked!
When my daughter announced that she was making me a Grandma this year, I knew I had to find this book for the baby's library.
8 people found this helpful
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bonita herren montgomery
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book!
Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2023
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This book came to me in such pristine condition that I don’t think it was even opened before I got it! Someone took good care of it. Thanks!
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Robert
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this book since childhood!
Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2018
Verified Purchase
I have to admit that this was a book my Mom had when I was growing up, so there is a bit of a nostalgic love of this book that is likely tainting my opinion! Tahat said, we are building a whimsical fairy garden and Gnome forest on our property near our mini free library and we needed ideas. This book's illustrations continue to be one of my favorites and the explanations of the various parts of Gnome existence is still fun. It is a great coffee table book in our timber frame home and we can't wait for our future grandchildren to enjoy this book as much as we do!
12 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Ivanise
5.0 out of 5 stars Um clássico dos livros ilustrados
Reviewed in Brazil on May 6, 2024
Verified Purchase
Passados quase 50 anos, este livro continua sendo uma referência para ilustradores e muitos aspectos visuais presentes na representação dos gnomos atualmente se devem à popularização das lindas ilustrações de Rien Poortvliet. Adquiri uma edição usada em inglês de 1979 por receio de haver algum tipo de modificação (e porque não de censura) do conteúdo, como vem acontecendo comumente com diversos livros antigos reeditados nos últimos tempos.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 12, 2023
Verified Purchase
I have been looking for this for a long time, my mother bought me it years ago, but I lost during one of my many move. I have very little of my mother's so am so ecstatic that I've got this. Description of condition spot on. Excellent customer services. 5☆
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Tijana Vujosevic
5.0 out of 5 stars Legendary book
Reviewed in Canada on November 16, 2020
Verified Purchase
This is one of the best children's books ever written. It takes you inside a gnome world, constructed with such care that it definitely appears to be real. The existence of the world is "documented" with plans of gnome houses, standards of clothing, gnome literature... Real treat for the young and the old.
One person found this helpful
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snehil srivastava
5.0 out of 5 stars Nice
Reviewed in India on July 15, 2019
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Informative and good looking
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Andrew Swift
5.0 out of 5 stars Très bon livre, pas si petit, magnifique
Reviewed in France on March 11, 2018
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Le livre est très joli et on va l'apprécier pendant des années.

Les illustrations sont magnifiques.

Il y a beaucoup de texte en anglais, pas forcement au goût des petits.

A noter : la qualité de l'impression est bonne, mais très moderne. C'est à dire que le papier est fin, verni, et ça n'a pas l'air d'un vieux livre classique.
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