The Gingerbread Girl

Run, run as fast as you can.

You can't catch me, 

I'm the gingerbread man!

The gingerbread man is not the only cookie on the loose.

He has a younger sister; the gingerbread girl is out and about having all kinds of adventures too.

I'll run and I'll run 

with a leap and a twirl.

You can't catch me

I'm the gingerbread girl.

I think that she has enough spunk to be included in Susanna Hill's perfect paperback book linky.

written and illustrated by Lisa Cambell Ersnt

published by Scholastic, Inc., 2006

juvenile fiction

suitable for ages 4-7

themes  fractured folk tales, problem solving, girl power

opening lines
You may remember the sad story of the Gingerbread Boy.
He ran away from the lonely old woman who baked him, as well as many other hungry characters.
His dash though life was ended in one greedy gulp by a sly fox pretending to help him cross a river.  This is the story of his younger, wiser sister.

A full hear has passes since the lonely old woman and the lonely old man had lost their gingerbread boy to the devious fox.  They were even lonelier than before.
"Let's bake again,"  suggested the old man one morning.

synopsis
After the loss of the gingerbread boy, the old man and old woman decide to bake again - this time a gingerbread girl who will not run away.  Like her brother, she bounds out of the oven, out through the door, past a number of neighbours willing to chase after her, and right to fox and the river where her brother met his end.  Luckily, she has a plan and does not end up as a fox snack and assorted crumbs.

I like this book because ... 

I thoroughly enjoy fractured and adapted fairy tales, and this one is very entertaining.  The gingerbread girl has her own personality, distinct from the gingerbread boy.  The oversized illustrations in soft pastel colours complement the story.  A concern when reading to young children is the use of the words "dumber" and "airhead".  It is unfortunate that the fox could not have been given a different vocabulary.  The surprise ended makes up for any blips in the text. 

resources ...

Read some of the ever-growing collection of gingerbread tales. Next week my kindergarten kidlets are going to read a number of gingerbread stories - I can't keep track of how many I own!  At the end of the gingerbread reading extravaganza, we vote on our favourite.  The Gingerbread Girl has been in the running the last few years. 

The obvious:  bake and decorate gingerbread cookies.  We will be doing that too. 

Being as it is getting close to Christmas, here are a couple cute gingerbread girl ornaments.

source: The Trouble with Crafting

source:  Mummycat Gets Organized

Enjoy this Aussie Gingerbread Girl.

Gingerbread is not only for children ...

Click on the pictures for more information. 

gingerbread martini: You're Welcome Savannah

gingerbread biscotti: Fat Girl Trapped in a Skinny Body

gingerbread eggnog trifle: the girl who ate everything

my daughter wants me to make this one for supper tomorrow

If you ever wander down by a river

and think that you might run into a fox,

make sure that you have your licorice with you

enjoy your weekend