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The Gingerbread Man
The gingerbread man outruns everybody, until he meets the quick-witted fox.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1980
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511 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
May 22, 2012
This fun, exciting and adventurous story is a great read for children from KS1. The gingerbread man hops out the oven and begins his run encountering many problems along the way from the old woman to the old man, the cow, and of course the sly fox. The gingerbread man repeats his famous line, Run, run, as fast as you can, you can’t catch me I’m the gingerbread man. This is a great way to get all children involved in reading together and for enjoyment. The story ends when the gingerbread man is tricked and sadly eaten by the sly fox which makes the story much more intense and increases the willingness to read. The gingerbread man will always be a great experience for children and long remembered in their lives as they grow older as it truly is a classic.
January 1, 2021
In my quest to read children's picture books for the Goodreads Choice Awards I stumbled upon this little blast from the past. This book has stuck with me for years because I can remember reading it as a class when I was in Kindergarten. The best part was that they had our old librarian, Mr. White, dress up in a gingerbread man costume and walk around the school while we were outside for recess. Nearly 20 years later, that mental image is still stuck in my mind. It was so nice to revisit this book and feel the nostalgia of it all again. This book is truly a classic and the illustrations are superb.
February 10, 2025
I'm not gonna lie. I love this book!😁 My Grandma would always read it to me when I was a kid,😊 so I decided to take a trip down memory lane and read it myself.I love the gingerbread man!😁 he will always have a special place in my heart.❤️🥰
September 3, 2021
Super cute book
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March 3, 2022I don't think I was particularly fond of the illustrations as a child and I'm still not
February 13, 2016
I am 5 years old and I liked the book because it was adventurous and had a twist at the end.
February 1, 2025
I spent my entire life hearing “you can’t catch me I’m the gingerbread man” only to be traumatized when I actually read it. I do love gingerbread men. RIP.
February 26, 2019
The Gingerbread Man is about a Gingerbread man who escapes out of the oven after a little boy opens it. The little boy’s grandma told him not to open the oven, but the little boy’s curiosity got the best of him and he opened the oven to see if the gingerbread man looked as good as it smelled. That is when the Gingerbread man escaped and started running away from everyone. He starts by running away from the boy and his grandparents, then when they stop, he starts to run away from three farmers. When the farmers stop chasing him, the gingerbread man runs away from a bear. Then when the bear stops to rest, the gingerbread man runs away from a wolf. When the wolf stops, the gingerbread man encounters a fox. The fox proceeds to ask where the gingerbread man is going. The fox claims he could not hear what the gingerbread man was saying. As the gingerbread man gets closer to the fox, the fox grabs him and eats him up. That was the end of the gingerbread man.
The theme of the story is to be careful when trusting people and to always follow directions when given them by a trusted adult.
When reading this book, I felt kind of angry because the gingerbread man was trying to escape from the little boy. At the same time, I felt mad at the boy because he did not listen to his grandma when she told him not to open the oven. Overall, I think the gingerbread man got what he deserved for escaping from the little boy in the first place.
I recommend this book because I think it teaches an important lesson about following directions and telling the truth. If the boy would have listened to his grandma and kept the oven shut, the gingerbread man would have never escaped and none of this would have ever happened. Additionally, the fox uses trickery to lie to the gingerbread man in order to lure him in and eat him. While the gingerbread man deserved this, trickery and lying are not always good. The gingerbread man believed the fox and ended up getting eaten because of it.
The theme of the story is to be careful when trusting people and to always follow directions when given them by a trusted adult.
When reading this book, I felt kind of angry because the gingerbread man was trying to escape from the little boy. At the same time, I felt mad at the boy because he did not listen to his grandma when she told him not to open the oven. Overall, I think the gingerbread man got what he deserved for escaping from the little boy in the first place.
I recommend this book because I think it teaches an important lesson about following directions and telling the truth. If the boy would have listened to his grandma and kept the oven shut, the gingerbread man would have never escaped and none of this would have ever happened. Additionally, the fox uses trickery to lie to the gingerbread man in order to lure him in and eat him. While the gingerbread man deserved this, trickery and lying are not always good. The gingerbread man believed the fox and ended up getting eaten because of it.
February 2, 2019
I have always heard about the book, The Gingerbread Man, but I have never actually read the book before. I thought the book was really interesting and told a different story. I enjoyed how creative the story line of the book was as well as the colors. Each page was very colorful and detailed. The book had a lot of different characters and the characters started out being people, and then eventually turned into talking animals.
While I was reading the book, I new automatically it was a fairy tale. From the class reading, a fairy tale usually is magical and enchanting where there are talking objects or animals. Fairy tales are books about topics and situations that wouldn't be possible in real life, and I think that's what makes the books so fun for children to read and listen too. I was able to tell that the book was a fairy tale because first the gingerbread man was able to come alive. He was able to speak and walk/run after coming right out of the oven. When the gingerbread man started running away he would come in contact with other talking animals, and in reality that isn't possible.
I would use this book in my classroom if I was going over the different types of traditional literature. I think this book is a good example of a fairy tale and has a little bit of a story behind it. Maybe, people can't always run away from their problems because it will catch up to them, and in the gingerbreads case he finally got eaten after running. However, I do think in some cases that fairy tales could be confusing for children. When little kids are listening or reading fairy tales, I feel like some parts of them might think some of the things happening in the book could be real. I think it's important for teachers to clarify that the gingerbread man running away and talking is not possible in real life, but that it's good to have an imagination.
While I was reading the book, I new automatically it was a fairy tale. From the class reading, a fairy tale usually is magical and enchanting where there are talking objects or animals. Fairy tales are books about topics and situations that wouldn't be possible in real life, and I think that's what makes the books so fun for children to read and listen too. I was able to tell that the book was a fairy tale because first the gingerbread man was able to come alive. He was able to speak and walk/run after coming right out of the oven. When the gingerbread man started running away he would come in contact with other talking animals, and in reality that isn't possible.
I would use this book in my classroom if I was going over the different types of traditional literature. I think this book is a good example of a fairy tale and has a little bit of a story behind it. Maybe, people can't always run away from their problems because it will catch up to them, and in the gingerbreads case he finally got eaten after running. However, I do think in some cases that fairy tales could be confusing for children. When little kids are listening or reading fairy tales, I feel like some parts of them might think some of the things happening in the book could be real. I think it's important for teachers to clarify that the gingerbread man running away and talking is not possible in real life, but that it's good to have an imagination.
September 8, 2016
A freshly baked gingerbread man escapes when he is taken out of the oven and eludes a series of nursery rhyme characters who hope to eat him until meeting up with a clever fox.
WARNING: SPOILERS AND DISCUSSION OF ESSENTIAL PLOT ELEMENTS FOLLOW
Exposition a comprehensive description and explanation of an idea or theory. The idea of this story is for the gingerbread man to survive being killed or eaten alive.
Setting the place or type of surroundings where something is positioned or where an event takes place. The setting of the gingerbread man is inside a little house. It’s the baker’s house and now his house.
Protagonist is the leading character or one of the major characters in a drama, movie, novel, or other fictional text. In this short story the protagonist is the gingerbread man himself. He’s the one trying to do well.
Antagonist is a person who actively opposes or is hostile to someone or something; an adversary. The antagonist in the story is the old man, the women and the fox. They’re all out trying to get the gingerbread man.
Conflict a serious disagreement or argument, typically a protracted one. The conflict in “The gingerbread man” is after the old women finishes making the little gingerbread man he comes to life and runs straight out the window down the street. The animals along the road start to chase the gingerbread man.
Rising action in a plot is a series of relevant incidents that create suspense, interest and tension in a narrative. The rising action in this story is when the gingerbread man jumps out the window. He doesn’t walk out, that little guy jumps out.
Climax the most intense, exciting, or important point of something; a culmination or apex. The climax is the animals and the couple start chasing the gingerbread man to get him back to the house.
Falling action is defined as the parts of a story after the climax and before the very end. The falling action in the gingerbread man is when the gingerbread man meets the fox. That’s when things get hairy.
Resolution a firm decision to do or not to do something. The Resolution of the story the gingerbread man is when the fox eats the gingerbread man. I cried when I read this last part of the story.
Denouement the final part of a play, movie, or narrative in which the strands of the plot are drawn together and matters are explained or resolved. The Denouement in the story is when the fox eats the gingerbread man after running away from the animals and the couple.
Secondary Characters are people who are In the background. The only people who weren’t a big party in the story was the animals running after the gingerbread man. They had one part in the story and that was it.
Memorable quotes is something that you’ll always remember and will make you think about things in your life. “You're a monster!” is what the gingerbread man said when he was running away from the couple.
Once upon a time, there were a little old woman and a little old man who lived in a little cottage near the river. The little old woman and the little old man were hungry, so the little old woman decided to bake a gingerbread man. She made a big batch of gingerbread dough, then rolled it flat and cut it in the shape of a gingerbread man. She gave him raisins for eyes, a cinnamon drop for a mouth, and chocolate chips for buttons. Then she put the gingerbread man in the oven to bake. When the gingerbread man was done, the little old woman opened the oven door, but before she could take him out, the gingerbread man jumped up and ran through the kitchen and out of the cottage shouting, "Don't eat me!" The little old woman ran after the gingerbread man. "Stop," she yelled. But the gingerbread man ran even faster, chanting, "Run, run as fast as you can. You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man." The gingerbread man ran into the garden and passed the little old man. "Stop," the little old man called out, "I want to eat you." But the gingerbread man ran even faster, chanting, "I've run away from a little old woman, and I can run away from you, I can. Run, run as fast as you can. You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man. The little old man chased the gingerbread man, followed by the little old woman. But the gingerbread man ran too fast for them. The gingerbread man ran through the yard and passed a pig. "Stop," the pig snorted, "I want to eat you." But the gingerbread man ran even faster, chanting, "I've run from a little old woman and a little old man, and I can run away from you, I can. Run, run as fast as you can. You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man." The pig chased the gingerbread man, followed by the little old woman and the little old man. But the gingerbread man ran too fast for them. The gingerbread man passed a cow by the barn. "Stop," the cow mooed, "I want to eat you." But the gingerbread man ran even faster, chanting, "I've run from a little old woman and a little old man and a pig, and I can run away from you, I can. Run, run as fast as you can. You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man " The cow chased the gingerbread man , followed by the pig and the little old woman and the little old man . But the gingerbread man ran too fast for them. The gingerbread man passed a horse in the field. "Stop," the horse neighed, "I want to eat you." But the gingerbread man ran even faster, chanting, "I've run from a little old woman and a little old man and a pig and a cow, and I can run away from you, I can. Run, run as fast as you can. You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man." The horse chased the gingerbread man, followed by the cow, the pig, and the little old woman and the little old man. But the gingerbread man ran too fast for them. Then the gingerbread man reached a wide river, but he didn't know how to swim. A sly and hungry fox saw the gingerbread man and said, "Jump on my tail, and I'll take you across the river!" The gingerbread man thought to himself, "I'll be safe on his tail." So he jumped on the fox’s tail and they started across the river. Halfway across the river, the fox barked, "You're too heavy for my tail, jump on my back." So the gingerbread man jumped on the fox’s back. Soon, the fox said, you’re too heavy for my back, jump onto my nose." So the gingerbread man jumped on the fox’s nose. But as soon as they reached the riverbank, the fox flipped the gingerbread man into the air, snapped his mouth shut, and ate the gingerbread man. And that was the end of the gingerbread man
WARNING: SPOILERS AND DISCUSSION OF ESSENTIAL PLOT ELEMENTS FOLLOW
Exposition a comprehensive description and explanation of an idea or theory. The idea of this story is for the gingerbread man to survive being killed or eaten alive.
Setting the place or type of surroundings where something is positioned or where an event takes place. The setting of the gingerbread man is inside a little house. It’s the baker’s house and now his house.
Protagonist is the leading character or one of the major characters in a drama, movie, novel, or other fictional text. In this short story the protagonist is the gingerbread man himself. He’s the one trying to do well.
Antagonist is a person who actively opposes or is hostile to someone or something; an adversary. The antagonist in the story is the old man, the women and the fox. They’re all out trying to get the gingerbread man.
Conflict a serious disagreement or argument, typically a protracted one. The conflict in “The gingerbread man” is after the old women finishes making the little gingerbread man he comes to life and runs straight out the window down the street. The animals along the road start to chase the gingerbread man.
Rising action in a plot is a series of relevant incidents that create suspense, interest and tension in a narrative. The rising action in this story is when the gingerbread man jumps out the window. He doesn’t walk out, that little guy jumps out.
Climax the most intense, exciting, or important point of something; a culmination or apex. The climax is the animals and the couple start chasing the gingerbread man to get him back to the house.
Falling action is defined as the parts of a story after the climax and before the very end. The falling action in the gingerbread man is when the gingerbread man meets the fox. That’s when things get hairy.
Resolution a firm decision to do or not to do something. The Resolution of the story the gingerbread man is when the fox eats the gingerbread man. I cried when I read this last part of the story.
Denouement the final part of a play, movie, or narrative in which the strands of the plot are drawn together and matters are explained or resolved. The Denouement in the story is when the fox eats the gingerbread man after running away from the animals and the couple.
Secondary Characters are people who are In the background. The only people who weren’t a big party in the story was the animals running after the gingerbread man. They had one part in the story and that was it.
Memorable quotes is something that you’ll always remember and will make you think about things in your life. “You're a monster!” is what the gingerbread man said when he was running away from the couple.
Once upon a time, there were a little old woman and a little old man who lived in a little cottage near the river. The little old woman and the little old man were hungry, so the little old woman decided to bake a gingerbread man. She made a big batch of gingerbread dough, then rolled it flat and cut it in the shape of a gingerbread man. She gave him raisins for eyes, a cinnamon drop for a mouth, and chocolate chips for buttons. Then she put the gingerbread man in the oven to bake. When the gingerbread man was done, the little old woman opened the oven door, but before she could take him out, the gingerbread man jumped up and ran through the kitchen and out of the cottage shouting, "Don't eat me!" The little old woman ran after the gingerbread man. "Stop," she yelled. But the gingerbread man ran even faster, chanting, "Run, run as fast as you can. You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man." The gingerbread man ran into the garden and passed the little old man. "Stop," the little old man called out, "I want to eat you." But the gingerbread man ran even faster, chanting, "I've run away from a little old woman, and I can run away from you, I can. Run, run as fast as you can. You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man. The little old man chased the gingerbread man, followed by the little old woman. But the gingerbread man ran too fast for them. The gingerbread man ran through the yard and passed a pig. "Stop," the pig snorted, "I want to eat you." But the gingerbread man ran even faster, chanting, "I've run from a little old woman and a little old man, and I can run away from you, I can. Run, run as fast as you can. You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man." The pig chased the gingerbread man, followed by the little old woman and the little old man. But the gingerbread man ran too fast for them. The gingerbread man passed a cow by the barn. "Stop," the cow mooed, "I want to eat you." But the gingerbread man ran even faster, chanting, "I've run from a little old woman and a little old man and a pig, and I can run away from you, I can. Run, run as fast as you can. You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man " The cow chased the gingerbread man , followed by the pig and the little old woman and the little old man . But the gingerbread man ran too fast for them. The gingerbread man passed a horse in the field. "Stop," the horse neighed, "I want to eat you." But the gingerbread man ran even faster, chanting, "I've run from a little old woman and a little old man and a pig and a cow, and I can run away from you, I can. Run, run as fast as you can. You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man." The horse chased the gingerbread man, followed by the cow, the pig, and the little old woman and the little old man. But the gingerbread man ran too fast for them. Then the gingerbread man reached a wide river, but he didn't know how to swim. A sly and hungry fox saw the gingerbread man and said, "Jump on my tail, and I'll take you across the river!" The gingerbread man thought to himself, "I'll be safe on his tail." So he jumped on the fox’s tail and they started across the river. Halfway across the river, the fox barked, "You're too heavy for my tail, jump on my back." So the gingerbread man jumped on the fox’s back. Soon, the fox said, you’re too heavy for my back, jump onto my nose." So the gingerbread man jumped on the fox’s nose. But as soon as they reached the riverbank, the fox flipped the gingerbread man into the air, snapped his mouth shut, and ate the gingerbread man. And that was the end of the gingerbread man
November 30, 2020
"The Gingerbread Man" illustrated by Karen Schmidt is a folklore book for young readers. This book is about an old couple who do not have kids, so they make gingerbread cookies and decorate them with faces and buttons for clothes. The gingerbread man jumps off the pan and off the table and begins to run away so the old couple will not eat him. He runs into trouble, however, and tries to ask a fox for help and it does not go as planned. The illustrations in this book are bright and colorful and attractive to all younger readers. This author uses personification to portray a cookie as a person, and give the fox a voice. This story is fun for families to read together and enjoy as a family. This is a fun story that can be read by children of all ages with its simple language and can be read at any time of the year, whether it is Christmas time or summer time.
December 6, 2021
The gingerbread man is geared toward ages 4-7 years old. This book is a children’s folklore tale. In this book the gingerbread man hops out of the oven and runs away. Who will catch him?
This book is appealing to children because it is a fun story about the gingerbread man who jumps out of the oven. In this version of the story the illustrator uses bright colors which can also draw the children in. This book has repetition in it as the ginger breadman says “run, run as fast as you can. You can’t catch me. I’m the gingerbread man.” The moral in this story is to not be careful of who you trust. I would have students use this book to complete a handout on character and setting.
Reviewed 12-5
This book is appealing to children because it is a fun story about the gingerbread man who jumps out of the oven. In this version of the story the illustrator uses bright colors which can also draw the children in. This book has repetition in it as the ginger breadman says “run, run as fast as you can. You can’t catch me. I’m the gingerbread man.” The moral in this story is to not be careful of who you trust. I would have students use this book to complete a handout on character and setting.
Reviewed 12-5
December 1, 2017
1. None.
2. Pre k- kindergarten.
3. The gingerbread man hops out the oven and begins his run encountering many problems along the way from the old woman to the old man, the cow, and the sly fox. The gingerbread man repeats his famous line, Run, run, as fast as you can, you can’t catch me I’m the gingerbread man.
4. The gingerbread man will always be a great experience for children and long remembered in their lives as they grow older. It is truly a classic to me. It allows a great way to get all children involved in reading together and for enjoyment.
5. Scavenger hunt for the gingerbread man. Create their own gingerbread man and house.
2. Pre k- kindergarten.
3. The gingerbread man hops out the oven and begins his run encountering many problems along the way from the old woman to the old man, the cow, and the sly fox. The gingerbread man repeats his famous line, Run, run, as fast as you can, you can’t catch me I’m the gingerbread man.
4. The gingerbread man will always be a great experience for children and long remembered in their lives as they grow older. It is truly a classic to me. It allows a great way to get all children involved in reading together and for enjoyment.
5. Scavenger hunt for the gingerbread man. Create their own gingerbread man and house.
November 27, 2017
I would recommend this book for the early primary grades, kindergarten through first grade. I would categorize it as traditional literature.
Run, run, as fast as you can! I grew up listening to my mom read this story, and loved it every time. Although I am not a fan of gingerbread cookies, I adore this book. This is a great book to help students practice hypothesizing. I would love to have students bake gingerbread cookies, or make gingerbread ornaments. I love baking and doing crafts, so I would find standards to tie in with fun activities.
Run, run, as fast as you can! I grew up listening to my mom read this story, and loved it every time. Although I am not a fan of gingerbread cookies, I adore this book. This is a great book to help students practice hypothesizing. I would love to have students bake gingerbread cookies, or make gingerbread ornaments. I love baking and doing crafts, so I would find standards to tie in with fun activities.
November 14, 2018
Having made salt dough ginger breads this seemed the perfect title to end the morning session, I explained although the same title it was a different version from the story they had heard the day before.
The children enjoyed the familiar parts of the story and joined in with them.
Good to share different versions of the same story to promote the idea of different endings, leading to further literacy discussions and activities....
Will be re-visiting this story next week in order to sequence it into beginning, middle and end....and bake gingerbread biscuits of course!
The children enjoyed the familiar parts of the story and joined in with them.
Good to share different versions of the same story to promote the idea of different endings, leading to further literacy discussions and activities....
Will be re-visiting this story next week in order to sequence it into beginning, middle and end....and bake gingerbread biscuits of course!
Read
March 24, 2020During SBT2 our theme for English was fairytales. During a sequence of lessons I based them around the Gingerbread man story. I made a clay gingerbread man who lived in our classroom to help bring the story to life and to help children in describing what he looks like. One day the gingerbread man went missing in which we created posters to put round school to find him. But we received a postcard from him so we wrote back to him pleading for him to come back to our classroom. These were very engaging lessons!
November 21, 2019
The little old lady and man lived in a little old house. The little old lady baked and made a gingerbread man, one day. When the gingerbread man was through cooking he jumped out of the oven and ran out of the house. The little old lady and man began to chase him. Along the way several other farm animals gave chase as well. The gingerbread man met up with a sly fox on the banks of a river. This is a traditional story that children enjoy.
March 11, 2018
Genre: Traditional Literature
Unique feature: Many of the memorable quotes from this story are repeated throughout the book. The repetition created in the text is great for beginning readers!
Grades: 1-2
Unique feature: Many of the memorable quotes from this story are repeated throughout the book. The repetition created in the text is great for beginning readers!
Grades: 1-2
February 14, 2020
My children absolutely adore this book. Reading literature is so important to the development of a child's mind, and I cannot think of thing I would rather do then sit down to read to them in the evenings. Imagination and growth are so vital in those so young.
May 24, 2020
This is the traditional story of the gingerbread man. This is a fun story to incorporate into a preschool thematics unit. The gingerbread man out smarts all that he encounters until he meets the sly fox.
August 20, 2020
This book is a classic story that students love! It has rhyme and great pictures that keep the students paying attention. It also has a good message about humility and not trusting strangers. You could also use this book in the winter as a holiday story.
October 27, 2021
What in the hell just happened?
Poor Ginger!
What a cunning little fox.
That went south real quick with an ending I didn't see coming.
Wooooooow. Alls I can say is wow.
P.S. John Krasinski read this one and it was wonderous.
Poor Ginger!
What a cunning little fox.
That went south real quick with an ending I didn't see coming.
Wooooooow. Alls I can say is wow.
P.S. John Krasinski read this one and it was wonderous.
Read
October 17, 2023The Gingerbread Man is a storytelling book about a gingerbread cookie that runs away so he doesn't want to get eaten. An activity for this book would be for the children to put together a three-part summary about what happened in the book.
December 31, 2023
A classic treasure and a Perfect Holiday Book before baking gingerbread man with the children!
Humorous, fun repetitive phrases children can pick up and repeat - brought great memories this Holiday Season.
Humorous, fun repetitive phrases children can pick up and repeat - brought great memories this Holiday Season.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2016
Re-read in reception - 4.5*
I loved this story as a child but it always made me so hungry...
So much potential and great in reception.
I loved this story as a child but it always made me so hungry...
So much potential and great in reception.
March 1, 2017
Bad
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2018
Violent ending, politically in correct for 2018. Or reality!
March 27, 2018
run run as fast as you can you can't catch me i'm the gingerbread man
September 9, 2018
Good book to read children, story is easy and fun to follow. The moral of the book is to not trust anyone straight away as the fox makes lying seem too easy and compelling.
October 15, 2018
I would read this book to Pre-K and Kindergarteners. This book is good to utilize in introducing folktales to students. The repetition in the text makes it great for beginning readers.
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