Monday 31 August 2009

that's My World, & ABC Wednesday G for Gnomes












My books are part of My World.This post deals with two of my favourite books about gnomes.
All over the world gnomes have found a home among humans. They have lived here for ages. We didn't know about them until one of them told about their way of life and their long history. We shall call him David. Now David thought that it was about time to tell the world about their existence. So he went to the Dutch author Wil Huygen and his friend the Dutch illustrator Rien Poortvliet, to whom he told about his life. Like all gnomes he is 15 cms tall and he weighs 300 grammes. He can grow as old as 400 years. The most important feature is his pointed hat. Gnome children get their pointed hats at an early age and will never take them off: not in bed, not even in the bathtub, only when it has to be enlarged.
A couple marries when they are about a hundred years old. They get two children: biovular twins. At the age of twelve they are toilet-trained. Gnomes sleep during the daytime in their comfortable houses under trees or under the roofs of farmhouses. As soon as it gets dark they get up and start work. The gnome is known for his knowledge about herbs and the wildlife in the woods or the fields. He helps sick animals and even sick people. He has learnt all kind of skills: carpenting, forging all kind of metal objects, glassblowing... you name it! He builds his own house with the help of relatives and neighbours. Well see for yourself...



That's my World is hosted by Klaus,Sandy,Ivar,Wren,Fishing Guy & Louise - a Team of experienced bloggers, whom we thank for this wonderful meme. You can see more of the world of other bloggers by clicking on the logo in the side bar or on that's My World


ABC is created by Denise Nesbitt and a team of experienced bloggers, thank you all so much.For more interesting ABC posts click on the logo in the sidebar or Here. This week we are looking for words beginning with G.

46 comments:

The Weaver of Grass said...

Gnome stories, reader wil - I love them. Have you ever read "The Little Grey Men" and "Down the Bright Stream" ? Both are by B.B. - they are an absolute joy.

Anya said...

Wat leeeeeeuuuuuukkkk
is mijn lievelingsboek :)))))
Ik heb dat boek zovaak opgeslagen en de meisjes eruit voorgelezen,
ik heb zelfs eens een nieuw moeten kopen omdat het versleten was.
Mijn jongste dochter nam het stiekem mee in haar bedje
hahahaha......
Ze kwamen niet uitgekeken het boeide ze altijd maar
ikke deed hetzelfde :))))
Bedankt het is voor mij een hele leuke herinnering

Vicki Lane said...

I read this book some time ago -- completely charming! Thanks for reminding me of it!

Rajesh said...

I have not read them yet. But whatever I could read from your post, it definitely sounds very interesting.

Sylvia K said...

I love gnome stories, too, Wil! What a delightful post -- as always!

Have lovely week!

Sylvia

Anonymous said...

when i was young i stumbled upon an illustrated gnome and read a short story about them. ever since i was fascinated by them. but i haven't really read up on them. i wish someday to find time to really read about this fascinating creature.

Barbara said...

So interesting, Gnomes are lovely!

gleaner said...

Delightfully charming! I thought Gnomes mainly lived in England - I've never had much interest until now - the pictures and stories are very sweet.

Guy D said...

Great stuff as always!!!

Have a great week
Guy
Regina In Pictures

Martha Z said...

Very interesting, I didn't know all that about gnomes

Renie Burghardt said...

Hi Wil,

What a charming tale about gnomes. I didn't know much about them, but I do love my garden gnome. He's been around here several years. Now, I will have to sneak out there at night, to see if I can catch him in some magical act.

And thank you for the nice comment about my story. In blogland we have discovered that it's a small world, after all.

Hugs,

Renie

Carol Murdock said...

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this post Wil !!!
Thank you so much for a history lesson on Gnomes! xoxo :)

Snap said...

What a fun post and great combination for My World and ABC. Well done!

Indrani said...

Very interesting! I have read their stories, but never got to know about their life style. How delightful reading all these! :)

Wolynski said...

Do you have gnomes in your garden? Good, now I know where they come from - Holland - and they're 15cm tall, without exception. Very interesting and charming.

Etje said...

Zelf nu nog in deze tijd blijven ze tot de mensen hun fantasie spreken he

Arija said...

Wil, I have enjoyed that book since it was published, just could not resist it.

Dina said...

Great post Wil!! Gnomes, they seem too good to be true. ;)
But 12 years in diapers would be a drawback.
The slide of the Jewish and Arab gnomes is hilarious. LOL
My daughter is Naomi and sometimes we call her Gnome for short.
Do you know the Zwerg Baartli or is he just a local Swiss German dwarf? A whole culture has grown up around the book in the Alpine village where it was written.

Carver said...

What a great post and the illustrations of the book are wonderful.

penny said...

I enjoyed your lovely story about the delightful history of Gnomes, Wil. I have always liked Gnomes but never knew the history of their origins.
Thanks for stopping by, be well, be happy... Pam

Arkansas Patti said...

What delightful little creatures though I had to agree with Dina on the toilet training.
Such interesting information and only makes me curious to read more. Thanks so much.

Unknown said...

Great post on the history of Gnomes...

but you didn't mention the travelocity gnome... lol

Thanks for sharing,
Smiles,
Sue

Happily Retired Gal said...

Wonderful! I love stories and gnomes tales are fascinating ;--)
Hugs and blessings,

Carol said...

Fun and interesting ...Love gnome stories...

DeniseinVA said...

This is exceptional, so enjoyable and how I loved the slide show. I have always admired the artist of these little gnomes and know them well, but I haven't seen any in quit a while so thank you for sharing these wonderful gnomes once more. Great My World post.

Janice Thomson said...

Such a delightful and entertaining post Wil - love it!

photowannabe said...

Charming post and a fun read. Original choice for the letter G.

Bradley Hsi said...

I almost thought that you are posting for "Genome". Well Gnome is certainly more interesting. It is a nice post of "G".

Hildred said...

What a charming post reader wil. I smiled all the way through the slide.

Baruch said...

I've paged through this book before - a true treasure

anthonynorth said...

I've researched 'little people' folklore from around the world and they always fascinate me - the way they all have cultural variations, but underneath, there's an amazing universality.
A great fun post.

Rune Eide said...

Til og med en skikkelig julenisse av gammelt slag!!!

Takker og bukker!

Mara said...

I remember them from the cartoon series made of the stories. And Rien Poortvliet is a great illustrator!
A great G!

Jane Hards Photography said...

You always make everything fascinating. Must admit I have never given gnomes as much thought until reading this.

No idea what has happened to linky.

Rose said...

Fascinating! And I thought all they did was stand in a garden and create mischief:)

Roger Owen Green said...

In the Sendak book Little Bear, it features a gnome. when we used to watch the animated show on TV, the gnome used to freak out the then 3-year-old daughter, but on repeated viewing, she became rather fond of them.

Jo's-D-Eyes said...

heeeh R will ,
Crazy gnomes but I have the book too, so how crazy am I ehh, nicely done a and I love "Kabouters"ans the mysterie around them,

For me its G Griep Hatsjeeee! (the flu and Green seats, well come and see and wish me "Get well"for ABC wednesday.

Happy Myworld and ABC W.
From JoAnn/Holland

~JarieLyn~ said...

This is such an excellent post. Oh, it made me smile so much. Did you write the book? It's so delightful and interesting. Great post.

Jay said...

So ... you like gnomes, then? LOL! Funny story! Why do they keep their hats on all the time? Do they have no hair?

Janie said...

How interesting about the gnomes. They seem to have an affinity to nature, so I'm sure I'd like them if I were to run across one in person!

Regina said...

Interesting story! Great post.!

Wsprsweetly Of Cottages said...

YES! I always knew they were real!

Jeannette StG said...

Rien van Poortvliet is one of my favorite illustrators! Can't think of a child who does not love gnomes:)

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

There is a New Zealand children's story.

A family moves in the neighbourhood, finds a gnome in the garden, they don't like gnomes and give it to the local village fete.

Their neighbour knocks on the door," Welcome to the neighbourhood. I saw this at the fete, and thoguht it is a perfect gift for you. Now you have a pair."

They open the pack, it was the very gnome they had got rid off.

cherie said...

very interesting!

Barbara Martin said...

I loved this post, Wil.