The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School

The Gingerbread Man is Loose

by Laura Murray, Mike Lowery (Illustrator)

When a class leaves for recess, their just-baked Gingerbread Man is left behind. But he's a smart cookie and heads out to find them. He'll run, slide, skip, and (after a mishap with a soccer ball) limp as fast as he can "I can catch them! I'm their Gingerbread Man!"

With help from the gym teacher, the nurse, the art teacher and even the principal, a deliciously sweet ending is served up for both the Gingerbread Man and the children who made him.

 Teachers often use the Gingerbread Man story to introduce new students to the geography and staff of schools, and this fresh, funny twist on the original can be used all year long. Includes a poster with fun activities!

Genres: Picture Books, School, Childrens, Christmas, Back To School, Fiction, Storytime

32 pages, Hardcover

First published July 7, 2011

About the author

Laura Murray was a teacher before becoming an author, is a popular speaker at schools, and has had to deal with many an escaped Gingerbread Man in her day. She is the author of THE GINGERBREAD MAN LOOSE IN THE SCHOOL, and the Gingerbread Man’s continuing school adventures - THE GINGERBREAD MAN LOOSE ON THE FIRE TRUCK, THE GINGERBREAD MAN LOOSE AT CHRISTMAS, and THE GINGERBREAD MAN LOOSE AT THE ZOO (2016). This humor-filled, rhyming series was inspired by a Gingerbread man that managed to escape her classroom every single school year. Her first book won the 2014 Virginia and Illinois Reader's Choice Award, and was nominated for 7 other state awards as well; is a Junior Library Guild Selection; a Florida Children's Choice Award Honor book; and received a starred ALA Booklist review.
Laura lives with her family in northern Virginia. Visit her online at www.LauraMurrayBooks.com for loads of fun activities and lessons, standards-linked teacher's guides, as well as information on school author presentations.

Reviews

[Melisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute, love a great rhyming book.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each year the kindergarten teachers at my school start the year off with a gingerbread man unit, where the students decorate their own gingerbread man (paper). When I first saw this book, I thought it would be perfect to share when the students came to the library for the first time. The kindergarten teachers give me a gingerbread man that they have decorated with each class, and we pretend that it 'ran' away, (it's really fun to pretend not to know where it came from, I hide it in the book). Well, it turns out the book worked very well. The teachers liked it and the students liked it. And I liked it because (SPOILER) the gingerbread man doesn't get eaten at the end. In addition the book comes with a fun poster, with a maze, coloring page, and lesson ideas on the back. The author's website also has a complete reading guide. I kinda wish that I'd had time to prepare the gingerbread hunt for the students. I think it would have been fun.

Review wise the writing is clear and crisp and reads well out-loud (it does rhyme). The refrain changes slightly as the gingerbread man moves through the school (runs, skips, limps, etc.). The illustrations are really cute and compliment the story beautifully. The format is simplified comic with panels and speech bubbles and a fun font. The emphasized phrases help with reading out loud, the reader knows when to add emphasis. A winner in every way, I highly recommend it.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute twist on the traditional Gingerbread man story. A classroom bakes a gingerbread man and leaves him to cool while they go off to recess. Except he thinks he was purposely left behind he and wanders around the school to find his class. I like the fact that he visits the gym, the nurses' office, the art teacher, and the principal; but there are so many other places he does not visit (hmm, the library, for instance) that I feel could have been visited. That being said, I still enjoyed the rhyming text and the newer choruses he shouts out as he visits places.

I loved the bright and bold color choices of the illustrations in this book. They are done in panes, as you would find in an comic book. Some pages are full spreads. The font used in this book is also playful, which really compliments the illustrations and the Gingerbread man himself.

I read this to my very first group of Kindergartners today in the library. They really enjoyed it. I purchased this book for my school library with the 1st grade teachers in mind because they always do a big Gingerbread Man unit around Christmastime. I think this one will quickly become a favorite!

[Green Bean · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I began in a bowl. I was not yet myself--just a list of ingredients pulled from a shelf, chosen by children who measured and mixed my smooth, spicy batter while sneaking quick licks..." When the cooking class kids run off to recess, this smart cookie rollicks after them, rhyming all the way! En route he meets the school nurse, who band aids his gingerbread toe back on, the art teacher who almost has him for lunch, and Principle Peacock who helps reunite him with his culinary classmates! In the shape of a comic book and sweet as molasses, this story will satisfy both your sweet tooth and your silly tooth! A back-to-school poster, activity prompts and a recipe for whipping up your own gingerbread adventurers come tucked inside!

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so cute and the kids loved how it happened in school! We also had a scavenger hunt around the school too! They loved it!

[Leanna DIY · Rating 5 out of 5]

So in a school they made a gingerbread man. But lost them one day. But teachers and the principal helped him find his way.





I DO NOT LIKE BOOKS I LOVE BOOKS

[Mary Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

short review: With its bouncy rhythm and rhyme, this is a terrific book to share as kids are getting used to a new school. A freshly-baked gingerbread man runs through an elementary school trying to find his class, discovering the gym, the art room, the principal’s office on the way. A favorite read-aloud!

long review: Children love listening to the wild chase in the classic folktale The Gingerbread Man, and many teachers read this folktale and its variations to preschool and kindergarten classes. I was thrilled to discover The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School, by Laura Murray - it combines a fun story with great rhyme and rhythm, one that will be perfect for reading aloud at the beginning of the year!

As he tells in this delightful story, the gingerbread man is put together by a classroom full of kids. But as soon as he comes out of the oven, the children all go outside to recess. And so begins a familiar chase, but this time the gingerbread man is chasing the class, instead of the familiar animals chasing him!

"I'm the gingerbread man, and I'm trying to find
the children who made me, but left me behind!"

Laura Murray combines good-natured humor with lively, dynamic rhythm and rhyme in this story that begs to be read aloud. The gingerbread man's adventures take him on a tour of the school: to the gym, the art room, the principal's office. In each place, he meets the teacher who helps him follow his class. This story lends itself perfectly to kindergarten classes just getting to know their new school, or preschoolers looking ahead to a larger school. In fact, Laura Murray has a great collection of related activities on her website. At its heart, though, this book will be a favorite because of the great read-aloud quality to the language that Murray has used.

Mike Lowery's art also has great appeal, with panels and drawings that draw on comic book traditions. Kids will enjoy the bright colors and funny drawings, which fit both the folktale and school themes. The drawings are detailed enough for repeated readings, but are not overly busy and crowded. They are perfect for this audience and story.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School would be considered a beginners graphic novel. I have found that this book is a fun read and kids love it. It is the story of a gingerbread man who gets lost in a school while trying to find the children who made him. He has many adventures, one being he rounded a corner and became stuck to the side of a volleyball. Is the gingerbread man able to run as fast as he can to find the children who left him behind?

Text to Self – This book reminded me of how I felt every time I started a new school. I felt tiny and lost. But once I got familiar with the school, met people and knew my way around I felt more confident and comfortable with my surroundings.

Text to Text – This book is similar to the Gingerbread Man, except he is trying to find his makers instead of run away from them. The gingerbread man has adventures along the way, some scary and some fun. This book is written in rhyme and is very fun to read to children.

Text to World – This book show kids to keep trying and they can accomplish what they set out to. The Gingerbread Man faces obstacles such as being stuck to the side of a volleyball, a missing toe, and landing in someone’s lunch, but he keeps plugging along until he finds his missing class.

[Megan Moriarty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a cute book about a class of children that make a gingerbread man. After the children take the gingerbread man out of the oven, they go outside for recess. But, the gingerbread man wants to go with them. So, he gets up off of the pan and goes around the school looking for the children. He runs into many obstacles and teachers that try to help him along the way. Finally, he reaches the principal and she shows the gingerbread man all of the "Missing Gingerbread Man" signs that the children made and she helps him back to his classroom. This book is intended for young elementary students around kindergarten or first grade. This book is entertaining and a good fit for them because it introduces rhyming. As a teacher, you can come up with so many activities to go along with this book, such as making a gingerbread man, hiding him in the school, and going on a hunt for the missing gingerbread man. You could also have the students create "Missing Gingerbread Man" signs.

Murray, L., & Lowery, M. (2011). The gingerbread man loose in the school. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun story about a gingerbread man who gets left behind and then searches all over the school (with some bumps along the way) for his class. The rhyming narrative is entertaining, but I must admit that I don't love the illustrations. The story is presented in a graphic novel-style format, with lots of cartoonish frames. Our borrowed copy didn't have a poster mentioned by other reviewers - there was a pocket for it, but it was missing.

The story reminded us of our youngest's daughter's kindergarten adventure last year, where the class had to go from the gymnasium to the music room to the library and then back again to their classroom to find the gingerbread men who ran away. At each location, the children found a note that gave them a clue of where to go next. It was a big hit with the kiddos and after we read this book, our youngest enjoyed telling us again about her memories of that day.

[Laura5 · Rating 4 out of 5]

To start off the year a gingerbread man goes missing and the kindergartners at my school go looking all over the school for him. Along the way, they get to see all the different areas of the school (the gym, the office, the library) and meet the folks (like me the librarian) associated with those areas. They come into the library with a sign they made of what he looks like, and ask if I have seen him. I get to introduce myself and say "he was here running in and out of all the shelves, but then he ran that way," and wish them good luck on their search.
They eventually find him and get to eat him. Which is always a big hit.

Gingerbread Man Loose in the School will be a fun title to share with them the next time I see them. It is nice twist on their "hunt".

Website connections:
http://sprintsweets.com/
http://www.starfall.com/n/holiday/gin...

[Deja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review: I thought this book was so sweet and short not so long for kids in between 4 or 5 years old. I knew my nephew would love it because he like seeing all the outcomes they gingerbread had to go through and also at the end we baked and gingerbread cookie.





Utilize: I would have this book as ongoing assessment through the year. Meaning this is perfect for new students coming to the classroom because they feel so scared and and left out. That reading this book would let them knew we do not want you to feel left out so we would get you evolved and you will never be left behind. Also have the student helps out with new students coming into our classroom coming up with a new buddy pair system.

[Tam · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 6-year-old loved this fun, rhyming story.

Excerpt from the book:
"I began in a bowl. I was not yet myself--
just a list of ingredients pulled from a shelf,
chosen by children who measured and mixed
my smooth, spicy batter while sneaking quick licks . . .
A sprinkle of ginger, some cinnamon too,
molasses, soft butter, and eggs as my glue.
Then in their classroom, the children began
to roll me and mold me to look like a man.
They added some sweets to make me complete
and I baked on a pan in the warm oven heat.
I heard a small DING! and the pulled out the pan.
Finally, I thought. I'M A GINGERBREAD MAN!"

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel the this book can be used to teach children about school? In the begin the children learn to bake and create a gingerbread man. This little ginger man goes on an adventure looking for his school friends. He goes to the gym, the nurses office, the cafeteria, and the principals office. This book can teach children where to go for specific needs for help in the school.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

We really liked the rhyming in this book, and the "flip" of having the Gingerbred Man do the chasing for a change. We also liked that he didn't seem to be in danger of being consumed at all. The illustrations were interesting...seemed like one of the kids could've done them. (Maybe that was the point.) We liked it a lot.

[Hapzydeco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kindergarten students will have fun with this one. What better way to get to know your school and introduce lessons of citizenship than reading this book aloud at the beginning of the school year.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun twist on The Gingerbread Man. It's a great back-to-school picture book.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun twist on a familiar story.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I tagged this as a graphic novel because the panels of illustrations in this picture book make it a great ladder into graphic novels for kids.

[Meganators · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and funny - kind of comic-strip style illustrations. Would be a great classroom read-a-loud!

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute rhyming text and predictable storyline.

[Benji Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good back-to-school read aloud. It might be a little long for K3 and K4, but the K5ers responded to it well.

[Keila Dawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very clever twist to an old tale.

[Nancy Kotkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A unique take on the gingerbread man story that actually improves the classic tale. Fun rhyming text makes good use of refrains.

[C Abbott · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought it was odd that he wanted to try to find the kids, instead of trying to get away.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Won the Monarch.

Eh.

[Liza Nahas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A happier, friendlier version than most of the "gingerbread man" tales we've read.

[Darlene Pasquale · Rating 5 out of 5]

1. awards -2015 Publisher’s Weekly Picture Book Bestseller, 2013-14 Winner of Virginia Reader’s Choice Award, 2013-14 Winner of the Illinois Monarch Award
2. appropriate grade levels - kindergarten-2nd grade
3. Summary - This story is a fun, brand new spin on the classic story of The Gingerbread Man. A classroom of students bake a gingerbread cookie and set him out to cool while they go out for recess to play. The ginger bread man comes alive and sets out on a journey all around the school to find his friends that made him!
4. Review - I really like this story because it is a refreshing change to the original, and the gingerbread man and the class have a happy ending. I also like that the pictures look similar to drawings, and that much of the dialogue used is shown in speech bubbles. Students could easily relate to this story because the book takes place in a school.
5. 2-3 in class uses - Teachers can use this book to introduce different places, and different people within the school. This could be especially helpful to new students such as kindergartners who are new to the school atmosphere. Teachers can also hand out a blank gingerbread man, and have students color and decorate them in order to hang them up in the classroom for the holidays.

[Edward Sojuwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new taste on the world's favorite fairy tale cookie. The Gingerbread Man was created one day in elementary school cooking class. They have remade him. They have the culinary technology. But apparently they've left our gingery hero all alone. So now it's up to the GBM to track them down, thru the school halls, from PE where the coach finds him stuck to the dodgeball, to the nurse's office where he gets his toe fixed (he was caught in a Toe-Away Zone, ha ha!), from the art room where he almost becomes the art teachers lunch, to the principal's office where Principal Peacock finds him playing twirlies in her chair, and Peacock's feathers are ruffled. But the Ging' Guy remains stalwart. This cookie does! Not! Crumble! "I will catch THEM!" he vows about the schoolkids. "I'm the Gingerbread Man!" Yes, he is! And now new fans of da GB Man will see for themselves! This book adds new dimensions to the time honored tale of the Gingerbread Man using a unique new recipe. Like adding new wine to old bottles, or better yet: making old gingerbread cookies with new ingredients....chocolate chips maybe?
Four stars
Gingerbread DA MAN once again!

[Allie Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a cute story! The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School is about a gingerbread who was made in a classroom and then lost the students in the class. He runs all over school looking for the boys and girls and on his adventure, he discovers all of these rooms in the school. I found this story to be a cute read for early elementary students. The author does an excellent job with adding rhyming to the story making it entertaining and fun to read. This would be a helpful book for a sequencing lesson by talking about where the gingerbread man went on his walk through the school. As for the illustrations, done in pencil, screen painting, and digital color, I thought they complemented the story very well. The colors were sharp and vibrant. One thing that I was not a fan of was set up. It is designed similar to a graphic novel and I had some hard times wondering which speech bubble I was supposed to read first on a couple of pages. Overall, I think this is a fun book that children would like as a read aloud.