Catching a Sweet Treat: Our Favorite Gingerbread Tales #tbt
At over 140 years old, this is the oldest Throwback Thursday title to date on the blog. “I’ll run and I’ll run as fast as I can, you can’t catch me, I’m the……”
GINGERBREAD MAN!
At the elementary school where I taught, our fabulously creative kindergarten teacher used to send her kids on a hunt around the school, chasing the Gingerbread Man using clues until they looped back around to their classroom where a treat was waiting. The library was always a stop on their hunt, and my older students who happened to be around when the kinders reached the library LOVED reminiscing about their own days chasing that crazy cookie. This sweet activity caused all of my gingerbread themed books to be checked out for weeks! Because it is a folktale, there are scads of versions. I’ve had a chance to read dozens, so today I’ll share a few of our favorites, both of my Preschool Bookworm, and of my former students.
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You may also be interested in our Gingerbread PARTY! (My December baby’s 4th birthday party!)
The Gingerbread Boy by Paul Galdone. This version alone could quality for Throwback Thursday, with a publication date of 1975. This is what most of us would consider “the original.” A good starting point to introduce the basic tale to your bookworms.
Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett. Jan Brett’s illustrations never disappoint. She is a prolific author and her website is full of wonderful freebies connected to her books, including coloring pages, videos, recipes, activity pages, and games.
The Gingerbread Pirates by Kristin Kladstrup. For a Christmas themed version, this is a fun choice! These gingerbread pirates go to great lengths to avoid being eaten by Santa; the ending is a fun twist, too!
The Gingerbread Girl by Lisa Campbell Ernst. I LOVE Lisa Campbell Ernst (especially Stella Louella’s Runaway Book)! This is the tale of the Gingerbread Boy’s “younger, wiser sister.” We love singing out the refrain together, and the ending is a fun twist, fitting for the female protagonist and heartwarming for the reader!
Marsupial Sue Presents The Runaway Pancake by John Lithgow. We listen to the ebook/audiobook of John Lithgow reading on Tumblebooks (a subscription kids’ ebook site we access through our library. Check if yours offers it!). It is fabulous! If you can get the audio CD along with the book or hear his reading, it is well worth it! My two year old loves it, and my students up through 3rd grade as well.
The Gingerbread Cowboy by Janet Squires. A fun southwest retelling, complete with javelinas, cacti, roadrunners, and lots of shouts of “Giddyup!”
The books mentioned above should be available at your local library, or at the Amazon affiliate links provided.
Keep Reading!
Melissa
