FICTION

Santa, Please Bring Me a Gnome

by An SWERTS
tr. from Dutch. illus. by Eline Van Lindenhuizen. 32p. Clavis. Sept. 2017. Tr $17.95. ISBN 9781605372754; pap. $9.95. ISBN 9781605373898.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 1—The only thing Tess wants for Christmas is a real gnome—a tiny friend with whom she can go to school, play on the swings, and read books. She shares her wish with her grandparents, who outfit a small house to her specifications with little wooden furniture and a teeny quilt. On Christmas day, she wakes up to a hamster instead, but the accompanying letter from Santa offers a more than satisfactory explanation. This may not be a surprise to any child who has taken a look at the cover art, which depicts a hamster riding in Tess's backpack, but the story is sweet and appealing, as are the cartoon illustrations of Tess and her round-faced, smiling family.
VERDICT This is a good choice for libraries seeking heartwarming Christmas picture books that don't feature wisecracking elves, animal-filled barns, or too much treacle.
Reviewed by Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library , Oct 01, 2017

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