I was browsing through some titles the other day in an online catalog. I found Christmas Gnomes (Gnome for the Holidays) by Kelly Green and Lisa Alderson (illustrator). I did not know what the form was (and in fact, didn’t know the story) but knew I had to get it as a gift for my sister who is a gnome lover. In fact, she’s such a lover of the fuzzy capped beings that once I asked her if she minded me getting a gnome I had my eye on. I didn’t want her to think I was copying her (goodness forbid! She is my younger sister afterall, can’t let her think I think she’s cool or anything) or horning into her territory. She didn’t mind (that was a few years and thousands of gnomes later). Turns out it is a board book shaped like a gnome with a fuzzy beard covering a suprise.
The day it came, my coworkers commented on my choice of orders (we didn’t have it in stock, I had to special order it). And I quickly looked through it. It was a bit smaller board book (for those without little ones, a board book is the ‘cardboard’ covers that are a bit more sturdy than a paper cover, but not as serious as a hardcover). It is a silly rhyming story of counting as gnomes come to your home for the holiday. It is not that simple, the counting does blend itself into the story, but that’s part of it. And actually it is more, “If you hear a knock at the door, open it and holiday cheer galore will happen.”
If you like gnomes (as an adult or kid) it is fun, if you are looking for a sweet, simple Christmas story for your toddler it is fun or just a silly gag gift even, this is proably for you. The only issue I have is that beard on the cover that might rip and will get dirty, but otherwise a nice addition to your collection of board books.