The Gingerbread Boy

Galdone doesn't make nice with the ultimate destiny of the cocksure Gingerbread Boy. And bravo to that. Kids are enthralled that in the end, the protagonist actually dies. And doesn't even leave a crumb. Pure magic to read aloud.

Summary
An old woman and man, who didn't have any children, decided to make a gingerbread boy one day. When the gingerbread was done baking, the lady opened the oven and the gingerbread boy jumped out the oven and ran out the door with the old lady and man running after him saying that they couldn't catch him. He runs past farm animals and other people, who all wan to eat him, so they all chased him with him saying and teasing that the couldn't catch him. He then comes to river and a fox ask the gingerbread boy if he would like him to take him across the river. The gingerbread man agrees and in the end gets betrayed by the fox because the fox eats him.

Personal opinion
I love this book because there are so many activities I could do with show more this book whether it be in class or take home activity. I hate to say this but I think this book teaches the audience to be careful who you trust.

Extension
(I love doing food activities) We could make our own gingerbread boys and girls. We could make gingerbread from scratch and have the children measure out the ingredients. I can send home blank paper gingerbread boy/girls and have parents help their children decorate their gingerbread boy/girl. We could go outside and play catch me if you can (tag) to get the children up and moving. show less

The Gingerbread Boy is all about knowing your abilities and that there is always someone who knows something you don't. I liked this book a lot, the flow and familiarity of the story were very nice. I liked the word choice of the story and the build up of the story with it. For example each page he outsmarts someone who adds them to his list on the next, eventually leading him to list off his 6 victims leading up to the fox. I also like the moral of the story and the way it is told. The gingerbread boy becomes so proud that it clouds his judgement and allows the tricky fox to take his pride and turn it into his downfall.

Galdone, P. (1975). The gingerbread boy. New York, NY: Clarion Books.

There was once an old couple that had no kids. The old woman decides to make a little Gingerbread Boy of her own. However, once the gingerbread boy is done baking, it run away! The old woman, the old man, a cow, a horse, and threshers all tried to catch him, but he is too fast. Arrogantly, the gingerbread boy repeatedly says, “Run! Run! Run! Catch me if you can! You can’t catch me! I’m the Gingerbread Boy!” Finally, the Gingerbread Boy meets the fox. Has he met his match?

The Gingerbread Boy has many characteristics of a folktale: a straightforward plot, a brief introduction, a quick establishment of time and place, and repetition. Like many other folktales, it show more highlights the downfall of the proud. It some ways, it also reminds me of Tunjur! and Millions of Cats. In both stories a woman or a couple wanted someone or something to fill the void of loneliness.

The illustrations also enhance the story. It looks like the Gingerbread Boy is running throughout the story, since he is drawn at the right hand corner. If you flip through the pages quickly, it almost becomes a flipbook. show less

The Gingerbread Boy is a simple and direct classic story of an old couple, with no children of their own, who baked a gingerbread boy to keep them company. However, once the boy was baked, he ran away from the couple’s home as fast as he could. During that cross town chase, the gingerbread boy past a cow, a horse, a group of threshers, mowers, etc., all of whom continued to chase him in order to eat him. But the gingerbread boy was too fast for all of them. Finally, he met up with a cunning fox who tricked the boy in thinking that she who was going to help him escape his pursuers. As expected, the fox eventually ate him & the gingerbread boy “went the way of every single gingerbread boy that ever came out of an oven”.

It’s an show more entertaining story with bright and colorful illustrations that definitely adds to the books appeal and raises the reader’s interest. The illustrations portrayed the gingerbread boy’s spirited dash from his pursuers with humor and action & I felt that it stayed true to the culture represented.

When it came to the message or moral of the story, I was not quite sure if it truly had one. One possible message could be to accept one’s destiny & not try to run away from the inevitable. Having said that, I’m not sure if that constitutes a positive message that we would want our kids to embrace. Aside from the message, the story is entertaining, fun, and full of action that would definitely appeal to young readers 3-7 years old. show less

I love this book! It takes a relatable concept(baking) and takes a very imaginative twist that is funny. The pictures are very well done as well. We also learn a lesson in this book as well, to be careful who you trust because the gingerbread boy ends up trusting the fox, but in return is still eaten.

I think this book is a great holiday book. I does not mention any holidays but everyone know gingerbread man are around the holidays. It is a fun read for the children.