Lindsay Gloade-Raining Bird

The Newest Gnome by Lauren Soloy (Tundra Books, coming out Oct 7, 2025)

An utterly charming foray into the mysterious world of forest gnomes and their nature-loving culture. When new gnome Grolly Maru arrives in the mushroom circle of The Pocket, he’s unsure of his purpose and so must be shown the delights in everything around him and the jobs each gnome takes on that brings them joy. Whether it’s observing the moon, recognizing patterns in nature, foraging and making tasty treats or just enjoying the elements and other creatures in the forest, there’s something transformative just in following along on each little adventure.

Lauren Soloy imbues this picture book with a quiet love and appreciation of nature, in little scenes featuring a web being built, a snail travelling a leaf, time slows down in the perusal and hunt for all the details hidden on each page. She celebrates individuality in her diverse set of gnomes, each with their own distinct personality, and the gifts we all bring to the world just in being ourselves.

Her illustrations are dynamic and adorable, the story soft and simple but poetic. The Newest Gnome is a beautiful reminder to appreciate the quiet wonder in the everyday, all around us.

My thanks to Netgalley and Tundra Books for the ebook review copy. I’ll be purchasing this for my kids’ collection!