  | No more gnomes Author: Mills, Beth | |
| Price: $23.28 | ||
Summary:
Well-mannered Herbert struggles to politely tell Ms. Goat that he detests her creepy, boorish garden gnomes.
Reviews:
School Library Journal (05/02/25)
Booklist (09/01/25)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 05/02/2025 K-Gr 3—The story of Herbert, the politest kid in town, who is so polite that he even has a medal to prove it. But when confronted with the lawn gnomes of his after school nanny and neighbor, Ms. Goat, he has a hard time expressing his fear and disdain for her gnomes and their impact on his sanity. Herbert's emotions get too overwhelming and instead of being rude, he plots to teach the gnomes a lesson. The story's premise touches on a social-emotional skill that isn't seen much in other books: teaching kids to speak out in ways that protect their own feelings without hurting others. However, the character of Herbert is hard to connect with as he is drawn in a way that does not have wide appeal—he comes across as an old man version of a kid, and mixed with the gnomes who are creepy and grumpy, this book might struggle to find an audience. Bright colors and text bubbles make for a movement-filled adventure, and Herbert's emotional outburst and questioning is true to kids and adults of all ages. VERDICT A great message but not a first choice book without a more appealing main character.—Danielle Schwessinger - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 09/01/2025 Herbert is so polite that he won first prize in an etiquette competition, so he faces a dilemma when his nanny, Ms. Goat, starts collecting gnomes that he hates. Herbert tries to play outside, but the gnomes stare at him incessantly. He tries to engage with them, asking them to stop, but being garden statues, their gazes are somewhat static. Since the living characters are animals with human attributes (clothes, homes), readers will wonder: Are the gnomes able to follow Herbert with their eyes? Are they trying to “get” him? The tension builds until Herbert is forced to take action. He doesn't want to hurt Ms. Goat’s feelings, but those gnomes have to go. He loads the gnomes into a wheelbarrow, borrows some of Ms. Goat’s tools, and takes them into the forest. A clever twist reveals a humorous solution for Herbert’s problem and helps him resolve his struggle between politeness and honesty. Digital illustrations cleverly demonstrate Herbert’s growing anxiety while keeping the tone light enough for young readers. - Copyright 2025 Booklist.
