Sarah is a bit unhappy when her parents move her from New York City to Hadley, CT. She misses her friends, the city...just her old life in general. Her father wants to fix up their new house, but he isn't exactly the perfect handyman. Things just seem a bit gloomy. But, then Sarah meets an unexpected friend....an old gnome. Vesper. Suddenly she is off on an adventure in a land filled with gnomes, elves, trolls and sprites!

This is a great adventure story for young elementary school age children. Sarah is a great main character. She learns a few things from her new friends, but also helps teach them some important lessons as well. Just a perfect innocent childhood adventure story -- I loved it! I often turn to children's books to have pure enjoyment of a story and to read something less heavy than adult fiction. I listened to this story as I worked outside getting my garden plots ready for planting soon, so it was perfect!

I loved this sort of story when I was a child. I always wished my closet was a doorway to Narnia or that I could fly with Peter Pan. This story has that same innocent magic! An adventure just for a child who needs something to liven up their world...just a bit.

I will definitely be reading more by Jeff Dinardo!

I listened to the audiobook version of this story. Narrated by Simone Stevens, the audio is just short of three hours long. Easy listening length! Stevens does a great job of narration. This story was a fun, entertaining listen as I worked outside in my yard.

**I voluntarily listened to a review copy of this audiobook from One Elm Books. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

I absolutely loved this text and would definitely use this in the classroom wether an audio book or a text.It’s a wonderful tome about a young girl who has to move from her home in the big city to the country and how she makes adjustments end the adventures she has .
I found myself reminiscing and think this text would be enjoyed through the generations.

The One Great Gnome is a lovely fantasy story for middle-grade children. Sarah just moved from Manhattan to the countryside to a farmhouse. When she explores the house and surroundings, she finds a weird-looking statue of a gnome. Soon Sarah discovers that it is a living gnome turned to stone. After she helps him to turn back to normal, it escapes. When she follows the gnome, she accidentally finds a secret passage to the gnome world.

The narrator is perfect for this story, and she does all the voices very well. Some background noises contribute to a pleasant listening experience.

Thanks to the publisher and author for the opportunity to listen to this! All opinions are my own.

This is an adorable children’s book. This story follow Sarah as she helps the gnomes save their home. She meets many different fantasy creatures including gnomes, sprites, and ogres. I enjoyed listening to the narrator, and enjoyed the added sound effects.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me listen to this audiobook in exchange for my review.

This is a sweet book and a nice story to listen to.

I don't know why, I was expecting a story catered to an older age group, so the simplicity of it was a bit of a shock, but it still was a nice story and a good use of my time.

It just annoyed me sometimes all the "Sarah said" or "the Ogg said", "he said", "she said" in the middle of the dialogs. I know that, when reading, it makes sense to add those sentences for context, but the narration was so immersive and the narrator did such a great job with each character that when those sentences were read it brought me back from the story.

I didn't give it 4 stars because, seen as the book is made for small children, there are some things that I don't agree with, such as the idea that they can explore unknown places by themselves, and the fact that Sarah didn't had any form of consequence for disappearing for days, seeing as time moves in a different speed in the Gnome world and in the upper world only 5 minutes passed since her disappearence. I'd like it more if she came back and her parents were worried for her, so it can teach small children that it's not always an adventure when you run away from home and go explore by yourself in a place you don't know.

This was a thoroughly delightful book. Sarah moves to a new home in the country where she befriends a gnome who takes her through a magical door where they begin a wonderful adventure.
I loved this whimsically charming read of gnomes, elves and trolls. It was captivating from beginning to end and I would highly recommend it to any of my friends with young children.

"Eleven-year-old Sarah moves with her family from New York City to rural Hadley, Connecticut. She's eager to explore her new home and meet new friends, but she never expected to befriend an old garden gnome. Join Sarah as she is drawn into a secret world beneath our feet. Sarah uses her instincts to calm old rivalries and help the underworld elves, gnomes, and more live in peace."
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I absolutely adored this book! I teach upper elementary, so I know some students would be a bit too old for this, but they would absolutely still enjoy it, even just as a fun or easy read. There were many places where I could have stopped reading and then had my students turn and talk about various scenes, figures of speech that were used, lessons the characters learned, and so much more. The narrator was phenomenal and coupled with the added sound effects, the book really came to life.

Thank you NetGalley, One Elm Books, and the author Jeff Dinardo for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in return for an honest review.

Think about your favourite childhood fantasy books. What did they have? Adventure, danger, fun, thrills? Gnomes, trolls, sprites, elves? Secret passageways and hidden treasures? Rivalries and friendships? And most importantly, a happy ending? Do you want a single book that contains each and every item mentioned here? Here’s the book you are looking for.

The One Great Gnome is a middle-grade fantasy featuring an eleven year old Sarah who finds herself struggling to settle in rural Connecticut after a life in NYC. While exploring her new house and its surroundings, she discovers a statue of an old garden gnome. Imagine her surprise when somehow, the garden gnome comes to life. Her, and our, adventures begin thereon.

I loved the story. It has nothing exceptional and yet it is exceptional. It has everything a great children's story needs: fabulous writing, interesting characters, quick pacing, loads of fun adventures and plenty of moral lessons. I felt as if I were talking a nostalgic amble through my childhood storybooks, especially through The Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland.

There is a secret clue hidden within the book title too which I can't reveal as it is a minor spoiler. But I just want to say to the author: I loved that secret, especially because I couldn't figure it out till the end and felt quite foolish for taking so long to realise who/what it stood for.

I was fortunate enough to receive the audio ARC of this book from NetGalley. And man! How that enhanced my experience! Simone Stevens, take a bow! You are one heck of a narrator! This wasn't just a narration, it was an outstanding acting performance. So many distinct voices for each character, such feelings inserted in every sentence, such fabulous enacting of sounds such as laughter... I've rarely enjoyed an audiobook as much as I did this one. To add to the experience, I loved the producer's decision of adding sound effects wherever practically possible. To hear the door creaking, the footsteps stomping, the cat mewing, ... Wow! I'm sure children will enjoy all these sounds as they listen to the story.

Recommended for every child and every adult who forgot to grow up.

Thank you, NetGalley and One Elm Books, for the Advanced Audio Review Copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a cute read! The comparisons to The Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland were spot on. I got such a great nostalgic feeling from this book. It also reminded me of the older movie A Troll in Central Park. The storytelling was great and even as an adult it held my interest. I can't wait until my nephew is older so I can share this with him!

A fun and cute middle-grade fantasy

The Great Gnome is a middle-grade fantasy by Jeff Dinardo which centres around the eleven-year-old Sarah. When Sarah moves from New York City to rural Hadley, she is excited to explore her new home. As she explores her new home, she is transferred into a secret world, full of elves, gnomes and adventure.

Reading this middle-grade fantasy reminded me of books such as Alice In The Wonderland and Peter Pan. The story is fast-paced and filled with magic and adventure. The protagonist, Sarah, is a memorable character and a great role-model. Sarah loves adventure and demonstrates the importance of being nonjudgemental and tolerant.

Although I am not the targetted audience for this book, I would recommend this short story to anyone in Middle-grade. It is a fun and fast-paced fantasy, filled with adventure, a memorable protagonist and exciting creatures.

4 / 5 stars

My thoughts on the Audiobook: The narration is excellent, and the audiobook includes sound effects. Reading this book through audio was a terrific experience.

Thanks to Red Chair Press and NetGalley for the audio-arc in exchange for an honest review.