Gnomes | by Wil Huygen

Did you know that gnome couples always have twin children? Or that a gnome is seven times as strong as a human? Do you want to hear some gossip from the gnome who knew Rembrandt? Dutch artist Rien Poortvliet's charming illustrations and physician Wil Huygen's detailed observations of the gnomes' habits, anatomy, and lifestyle are a delight for readers of all ages. Children will adore the gnome family's underground home and the constant interaction with animals; adults will appreciate the tongue-in-cheek scientific data. Gnomebody is immune to the gnomes' tremendous appeal­­––and a whole new generation is waiting to love them for the first time!

Wil Huygen was born in Amersfoort, Holland, in 1923, the seventh of ten children. A physician, children's author, and oil painter, he lived in Holland with his wife until his death in 2009 at 86 years old. Huygen has five grown children of his own.
 
Rien Poortvliet, born in 1932, was a Dutch artist and illustrator best known for his drawings of animals.