User:JBeens/Secrets of the Gnomes

Secrets of the gnomes, published in Dutch in 1981 as De oproep der kabouters (lit. 'The call of the gnomes') is a book by artist Rien Poortvliet and author Wil Huygen. It is the sequel to the 1976 book Gnomes. The English translation was published in 1982.

In the book, the authors are asked by the kabouters (a variant of the gnome) to visit them in Finland. Once there, they are reduced to the size of their hosts (and honor which, as the gnomes let them know, has only been bestowed upon very few; Hans Christian Andersen having been one of them). After many adventures, it is made clear that the reason for the call is the way humankind is treating Earth. The gnomes are concerned about this development and want to address the matter to the humans, with Poortvliet and Huygen as their intermediaries.

Like the first book, Poortvliet's illustrations play a key role in the book. Here both authors make their appearance in the illustrations.