When a mysterious box is found in a Finnish barn, its contents are revealed as a chronicle of Gnomish Christmas customs. From the arrival of Sinterklaas and his assistant Little Piet on December 6th, through the Christmas Rounds done on Christmas Night, and concluding with Edda Night on January 6th, Christmas in Gnomish culture is a month-long celebration. With games and songs, presents and plays, the merry and generous Gnomes celebrate with one another, and with all the animals of the natural world, who are in their care...

This delightful little fantasy guidebook contains lots of descriptions of Gnomish customs, a few Gnomish songs (complete with musical notation), and a few Gnomish teaching tales. The text is from American children's author Bruce Goldstone, and the artwork from Rien Poortvliet, co-creator, together with Wil Huygen, of the celebrated Dutch children's classic, Gnomes. A delightful little book, A Gnome's Christmas is the perfect holiday title for readers who love stories about little gnomes or tomten. The cover is decorated in red velvet, and there is a Gnome decoration included in an envelope at the rear. Although I have not yet read Gnomes (it has been on my to-read shelf for many years), I picked this one up with anticipation, given my usual enjoyment of this kind of story, and I was not disappointed! Recommended to anyone looking for magical Christmas books featuring these gentle and merry caretakers of the natural world. ( )