| Now for the first time since the days when wizards and witches
ruled the land, humans are allowed to see some of the treasures that lie inside The Secret Book of the Gnomes. For thousands of
years, these little people with full-sized hearts have made careful notes on the world
around them, knowing that one day others would share in their wisdom.
My name is David and I am a wood gnome. Wood gnomes are loved and protected by all the creatures around them. We build our homes beneath the roots of a tree. The roof tiles are often made from pine-cone scales. [If you have an old bird house around you might like to shingle it in pine cone scales. Be sure to fasten them on with something that will survive the outdoors - like outdoor wood glue!] I, David the Gnome, will reveal to you many parts of The Secret Book. We will begin with the year when, according to our calendar, "The Butterflies Flew Backwards". But why don't we show everyone the whole book? Well, there are two very
special reasons. First, because it is so big; too big even to fit into the great library
of Alexandria in Egypt, the largest and most famous library the world has ever seen. [This
library was destroyed by fire but please take a look at the plans to rebuild it by
visiting the following site www.unesco.org/webworld/alexandria_new/index.html
and see for yourself how massive it is going to be.] And second, because our Code of
Basilea forbids humans from seeing certain parts of The
Secret Book. Now listen very carefully as I pass on what the
Great Gnome has allowed me to tell you. Although I am 275 years old, I am not really old at all. My parents and even my grandparents are still alive. I am only 15 cm tall, but my cap makes me look much taller. I wear a red one so that my friends the birds don't mistake me for a mouse as I scurry through the forest after nightfall. Male gnomes let their beards grow and grow. We only ever trim them for special occasions like weddings, visits from relatives or before setting out on long journeys. [Most King Gnomes have beards that extend to the floor!] We gnomes are small and light and can move through the woodlands remarkably quickly, jumping over obstacles with the greatest of ease. The animals are our neighbors and our neighborhood is the world. Even if nobody sees us, we are watching you! So look around you carefully. If one day you notice that a ball left in the garden has moved or that a broken lamp is now mysteriously working, you can be sure there is a gnome about. Lisa is my wife and she too is a wood gnome. |
David…….Tom Bosley Aired on Nick from 1988-c.1996, and on The Learning Channel from 1996-1998.
David the Gnome, and his wife Lisa, lived in a tree. They probably reminded more than a few children of their grandparents. David would travel around on the back of his trusty fox, Swift, who he would summon by whistling. This 26-episode series came to the U.S. airwaves in 1987, running weekdays on Nickelodeon, and was later rebroadcast in 1996 on The Learning Channel. It was narrated by Christopher Plummer, of The Sound of Music and The Insider fame. |
Female wood gnomes
always wear green or blue hats. They remind us of the sky above and the forest all around.
But sometimes they wear red ones just to confuse people! Lisa is only 200 years old and
still very young for a wood gnome. She weighs between 250 and 275 grams, slightly less
than me. I weigh about 300 grams. [Lisa and her female friends enjoy wearing more colorful
clothes and caps when attending special functions - especially weddings!] 
