Review by Charlotte Mundy
Tundra Books, 2023
96 pages, hardcover, $25.99, 9780735271043
Ages 3-7, pre-school to grade 2
Magic Realism
Snowdrop Moon: When the first bulbs start to push through the ground, the gnomes wake up from their winter sleep. They love snowdrops because they are the first flowers of spring. The gnomes welcome them into the world with a special snowdrop song.
Have you ever seen a gnome? Perhaps you have noticed the squishing of mud, the rustling of leaves, or the faint humming of something familiar that you cannot quite recall. If you look closely enough, you might find there is a whole other world right under your nose. Maybe those slight disturbances are Minoletta on an adventurous day out, or Abel Potter tinkering with a new nut conveyor belt, his fellow accomplice Billy Buttons by his side. According to the Hidden World of Gnomes, the level of activity of the gnomes is largely dependent on the cycle of the moon. If you are wandering in the daytime, you might find some busy, working gnomes during the Bursting Moon, or some partying gnomes during the Frog Moon. These are only a few examples in a tremendously rich world filled with gnomes.
Written and illustrated by Lauren Soloy, The Hidden World of Gnomes is a fantastical and playful story that gives us humans a special glimpse into the world of “The Pocket.” We are allowed a look into some of the important gnomes and the essential jobs they perform to keep the community functional. Rose Gladly has the very special job of seed collection and sorting while Hotchi-Mossy gives out words of encouragement to the mosses, helping them flourish and grow. Bonnie Plum is even kind enough to share one of her cookie recipes with us. Throughout the book, we are allowed small glances into their lives. For instance, we get to see the gnomes enjoy a well-deserved feast at the Mushroom Moon party accompanied by one of their rhymes for mushroom stew.
The illustrations by Lauren Soloy occupy the entirety of every page in earthy, autumn hues. On one page, Soloy draws the different types of flower costumes that the gnomes might wear, and on another is Mrs. Spider’s positive message for the day. The pictures accentuate the story perfectly, giving the reader an idea of each gnome and their character. While Minoletta sports a spotted toadstool on her head, her outfit resembling a mushroom, Hotchi-Mossy wears a ball of green moss covering his body. The art is whimsical and amusing, giving a sense of adventure to the reader.
Lauren Soloy’s hidden world of gnomes lies in the details, all of which help us to understand what the gnomes’ daily lives might be like. Every gnome has a different job in this world, and each is as important as the other. The illustrations emphasize the text by adding more context to the story and enlivening the characters. The book is marked for children as young as 3 years old, but the text is small and dense in some places which tells me that, if not solely looking at the pictures, it may be more suited for a slightly older audience. The Hidden World of Gnomes is a cute, lighthearted, and fun read that I can see many readers – young and old – exploring and loving.
Charlotte Mundy completed her undergraduate with a BSc in Nursing. Living with the curse of creativity while working in a scientific field, she has been taking writing courses at UBC to satisfy her appetite for literature. She has always enjoyed reading and writing and hopes to one day become an author.
YOUNG ADULTING 