This brings together Gnomes and Secrets of Gnomes, published in 1977 and 1982 respectively. Gnomes is filled with gnome facts and history, while in Secrets of Gnomes the authors are turned into gnomes and undertake a great journey across the Siberian wilderness.
Just for the artwork, this should receive five stars. Add in the clever commentary, and you have a book that first captured my attention as a child when it came out in the late 70s and still makes me smile and think. Underneath the whimsical information about how gnomes look and live is a serious message about conservation and respecting the world around us. If anything, that message is more relevant now than when these books were first released.
I remember reading this when I was little and actually taking it as proof that gnomes were real. You are completely dissolved into the tiniest (literally!) details of their world. Utterly fascinating, and I still hope to chance upon a helpful house gnome here in the suburbs--someday!