The Gnome From Nome

Serendipity

by Stephen Cosgrove, Robin James (Illustrator)

A gnome and an otter who are freezing in the icy cold of the North Pole learn a secret about keeping warm.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Friendship, Fantasy, Kids, Juvenile, Fiction

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

Reviews

[Kelly (Maybedog) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beloved from childhood.

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't really into the story even though the reading was good, short and simple. I did like the wordplay of Gnome and Nome as well as the moral of the story.

What I didn't like was the illustration for in my opinion they weren't as top job as some of the others. And the other thing I didn't like was they were paying to find a secret that they should have found with each other. It just seemed a bit over the top for me, especially when it was the greedy actions that wasn't friendship was said to be.

Still will keep it for my collection....

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love Cosgrove's books. I had them when I was little so I was thrilled to find hardbacks recently at Half-price books. The illustrations are fabulous and every story has a moral to it. They are the perfect length for an older preschooler or young grade school child. Not too long, with enough illustration in the picture to really hold them captive.

[OliveTree · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the heartwarming, (literally, haha) tale of a gnome finding true love in an otter, in alaska, by using some totally real "magic gnome paint" to make fake, real gold, and trick some losers into telling them the secret of love.

Probably, the best thing i've ever seen by Serendipity. Which is to say, the only thing.

[JD Waggy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Firstly, that is the weirdest looking otter around. Robin James is normally such a spot-on, beautiful illustrator, but this book felt like the Duplo toy version of her normal work. Secondly, I get that Serendipity books are pretty warm and fuzzy, but this one...this was kind of ridiculous. Never in a million years do I buy that people in search of gold would teach others how to love. The first reaction of them not even noticing the gnome and the otter is much closer.

The tie-in to the town of Nome is cute and hurrah for celebrating Alaska, but this was a little too syrupy and weird for me. I'll stick with some of the other Serendipity books.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book from my childhood that my mother was getting rid of; so I grabbed it and absorbed it into my own library. :D Gnome was cold. He moved somewhat south to get warmer, then discovered that friendship is the best warm blanket ever.

[Laura Pfeiffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the serendipity books are absolutely wonderful. I love the illustrations. I think they must be from the 70's or 80's. I got them secondhand from my next door neighbor when I was a little girl.
I love gnomes!

[Michelle F · Rating 2 out of 5]

Certainly cute and sweet, but the messages of caring and sharing could easily be misinterpreted here as the power of buying the best things in life, and behaving selfishly until you are guilted into doing otherwise. I mean, I obviously know this wasn't the intent, and I enjoy that there is some cute Alaskan history worked into this children's story, but the execution could have been slightly less ambiguous, perhaps.

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the idea of the book and I especially liked the ending. It made me feel really grateful for the friendships that I had. However, the book was quite long and I’m not sure if it would hold the students attention.

[Selina Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started re-reading my favourite Serendipity books. Love these.

[Set · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good practice for early readers to read longer passages. The images are basic and the message is about love and friendship.

[Andrea Frohman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute book about learning the truth about friendships.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gnome and an otter want to know how to be warm inside and out, so they concoct a plan.

[Ikayuro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another cute book from Mr. Cosgrove, featuring Robin's fantastical artwork! While not one of my personal favorites, you could say it's still quite heartwarming and enjoyable!

[Nicholas Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found in DC with my best friend

[Nanny B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story!

[Robert Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very sweet story. It tells about love and friendship. The pictures are sweet.

[Jimmy Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story about a very cold gnome who is trying to warm up, and goes south hoping to find a warmer climate. He meets an otter who helps him to find warmth. The illustrations, which drew me to the book, are lovely.

I didn't realize, since I was unable to read the book before I purchased it, that the friend of the gnome was a sea otter. I have a bit of an otter fixation, so I have to point out that the cover and other illustrations are of a river otter (white bib, snout, primarily land bound), rather than the story-described sea otter (no bib, no pointed snout, primarily ocean bound). There are both river otters and sea otters in Alaska, by the way. If you want your children to know their animals, this might be important to clarify since the two have different habitats and behavior.

The story is sweet, and I think children will love looking at the pictures (perhaps clarifying the otter) and hearing about the warmth of friendship.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Basic plot: A gnome and otter learn how to keep warm.

I think I got my first Serendipity book through a Scholastic book order or book fair. I quickly became obsessed and collected a ton and a half of them as a child. I would spend hours just looking at the pictures because the art is simply gorgeous. The stories were whimsical and fun, and always ended with some sort of life lesson for kids. I kept reading these books long after other picture books had been set aside.

[EchoHouseLibrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Usually children's books that clearly are out to teach a lesson get on my nerves but not Stephen Cosgrove's. I loved reading the Serendipity books as a child, and read several to my own children. When we received this sweet book from far away friends we immediately snuggled up to enjoy. Gnome from Nome is endearing with clear, bright illustrations by Robin James. A warmth filled book for children and adults alike!

[Gheeta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd completely forgotten about this book until I saw it on the bookshelf of my friends' daughter! Oh what fun to read it again! I love the Serendipity books. This one tells a sweet story about love and friendship.

[Arwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book about a Gnome and an Otter looking to get warm, but along the way they start the Alaskan gold rush and found Nome Alaska. (???) It's weird, I know. I can hardly believe it as I type it. Not one of the better Serendipity stories.

[Meri · Rating 5 out of 5]

These Serendipity books are so adorable. Get them for your kid!

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out my blog, Books from Bleh to Basically Amazing for my thoughts and memories of the Serendipity series!

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was bought at The Book Corner...man I loved that store!!

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic story about love, friendship, and cherishing what is important in life.

[Cassandra · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just... no. Picture books can be deep, insightful, and clever, as well as entertaining. This wasn't one of them. Oh well.

[Mikana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated and a sweet little story with morale. A wonderful story to share with your loved ones.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book about Alaska and friendship. The illustrations are well done and a pleasure to look at while reading the story.

[Erika Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book for younger kids!