Printable Coloring Pages from Coloring.ws

David the Gnome

by Leanne Guenther
Last Updated: October 9, 2026

The Secret Book of Gnomes, originally published in Dutch in 1976 as Leven en werken van de Kabouter, is a whimsical and charming mock-field guide written by Wil Huygen and illustrated by Rien Poortvliet. The book treats gnomes as real biological entities, detailing their anatomy, culture, and daily lives with a serious scientific tone mixed with dry humor. Its stunning oil paintings and rich storytelling made it an international bestseller and established the foundational lore for the famous animated series.

The gnomes in the books (David and Lisa) are pretty classic looking garden gnomes!

classic coloring page of David the gnome

walking in the mushroom forest

classic coloring page of David the gnome digging

digging in the mushroom forest

eating porridge

classic coloring page of David the gnome pushing his wheelbarrow

pushing a wheelbarrow

classic coloring page of David the gnome waters his daisies

watering daisies

making a cake

David is a gnome doctor who lives deep in the forest with his wife Lisa. He rides Swift the fox to reach animals in trouble and treats everything from a hurt deer to a bird with a broken wing. Gnomes in his world are tiny but seven times stronger than a person and live to around 400 years old. The trolls cause most of the trouble. The World of David the Gnome first aired in 1985 and was based on the Dutch book Gnomes by Wil Huygen and Rien Poortvliet.

Lots of kids in North America remember it from Nickelodeon’s morning line-up.

Leanne Guenther

About the Artist/Author:

Hello! I'm Leanne, the creative mind behind coloring.ws. I love nothing more than enjoying a warm cup of tea and a quiet day with a good friend. Here’s a bit more about me:

Things I Love:

Drawing: My happy place is with a pencil in hand, bringing ideas to life on paper.
Early Childhood Education: I absolutely adore those early, eager-to-learn years with kids. Their curiosity and enthusiasm are infectious!
Mythology: From Greek gods to Aztec legends, I’m fascinated by the stories that have shaped cultures.
History: Exploring the past helps me understand the present and dream about the future.

Things I Have a Love/Hate Relationship With:

Technology: I love how it connects us and makes things easier, but why does it have to change so quickly?
Trivia Nights: I'm your go-to person for fun facts, yet somehow, I always end up in second or third place. Frustrating!
Gardening: I like to think I have a green thumb, but it has a few brown speckles. My plants and I are working on it.
Animals: I adore my pets and they bring me so much joy, but oh, the chores! Why can’t they clean up after themselves?

I earned my degree back in the early '90s, and as a lifelong learner, I continue to delve into the things I love. This includes technology (though I struggle to keep up!), art, early childhood education, history, and mythology as it relates to sociology.

I know that while the coloring pages are largely for kids, many of you visiting the site are educators and caregivers. I’ve tried to share some interesting trivia tidbits and fun facts to make your visit enjoyable too. Happy coloring!