The Gingerbread Man Loose at Christmas

by Laura Murray, Mike Lowery (Illustrations)

This Gingerbread Man was loose in the school and on the fire truck, and now he’s loose at holiday time! 

Everyone in class is busy practicing songs and making goodies for their trip to town to thank community helpers, and the Gingerbread Man has made a gift for someone extra sweet. But before he can deliver his gift, whipping wind and swirling snow come to town, too. Slushy sidewalks are no place for a cookie, but this Gingerbread Man won’t let a little bad weather stop him!

“I’ll search on my own, as fast as I can!
I’ll dash through this snow. I’m the Gingerbread Man!”

With all the flavors of the season and generous dashes of kindness and gratitude, the Gingerbread Man’s newest adventure makes for a perfect read-aloud throughout the holidays.

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Holiday, Childrens, School, Humor, Storytime

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 13, 2015

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

[Sophia Triad · Rating 4 out of 5]

We read the book off-season and we still enjoyed the story.
It is a perfect book if you want the little ones to appreciate kindness and gratitude.

[Carrie Charley Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Gingerbread Man is back and has become a true friend and active participant in his classroom. With a little encouragement from his teacher, he and his fellow classmates band together to prepare small acts of kindness and appreciation for their greater community. Proving that love comes in creative, thoughful packages and a little help goes a long way, the Gingerbread Man Loose at Christmas is likely to start a caring chain. As with the first two books, The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School and The Gingerbread Man Loose on the Fire Truck, the rhyme is an extra treat that adds to the adventure. Another great collaboration from author Laura Murray and illustrator Mike Lowery.

I received a review copy of this book from Penguin Young Readers Group in exchange for an honest review.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the "Loose at the Zoo" one.

[Steve Tetreault · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an OK gingerbread man story.

[Meg McGregor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of a series of preschool books featuring the lovable Gingerbread Man.

It is definitely my favorite of the series! (So far)

The story is told in poetic verse; this time the Gingerbread Man, and his preschool class, are creating presents for their neighbors because "it is the season of giving, and we can give too" says their teacher.

I really enjoyed what the Gingerbread Man gave to the baker! "I've come to say thanks for your sweet recipe, without it my class would've never made me! I have something for you --my very best card. I used lots of glitter and worked really hard."

It is a very sweet read and I am sure it will be a rousing success at storytime.

The only drawback for me is that I do not enjoy the illustrations. I know I am in a minority but that is why I did not give this book five stars.

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

We love reading books about the Gingerbread Man. There is so many different books that involve him through out his mischief. My kids thought this book was so much fun. Especially since he didn't get into trouble like any of the books. It's really neat to talk about doing acts of service also helps the meaning of Christmas. The illustrations in this book are colorful and really keep your attention on the book. The story-line is adorable and still follows the flow that is normal for the Gingerbread Man stories. It's a cute story and it's really easy to read aloud. The kids even helped me read the words that were repeated. Which is the start of actually reading.

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fun rhyming picture book has everyone's favorite Gingerbread Man helping his classmates at school make a merry Christmas for all of their friends and neighbors. The class gets busy making Christmas cards, Christmas treats, and poems to distribute to the folks in the neighborhood near the school. But as the weather starts turning nasty, Gingerbread Man may not get his chance to thank someone very special to him. The bold, holiday-colored illustrations along with the rollicking text make this a great book to share with young children during the days leading up to Christmas.

[Mariah Blair · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always really enjoy "The Gingerbread Man Loose" books, but this one was not my favorite. I did like the message that you can spread kindness, love and show appreciation for others as Christmas gifts. Also, that you can make things for others, instead of buying things and that that's a good way to spread happiness and Christmas cheer too.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dumb. Maybe I would have liked it more if I started with the first, or if I were a little kid or mom of same, but a cold read just leaves me cold.... If you really want to do something nice for the holiday, do something for ppl who are alone or unappreciated. Teachers and bakers etc. get plenty of gratitude all year. And besides, gratitude is a Thanksgiving theme.

[Della Tingle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve used The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School at the beginning of the school year as a read-aloud and art activity with my 23 kindergarten,1st, and 2nd grade classes. They love it, and so do I! This book is also precious with it’s rhyming, rhythmic words and lovable gingerbread character.

[Isabella · Rating 5 out of 5]

The kids are all making gifts for the people in the neighborhood. Gingerbread man has a special gift to deliver to a special person but the streets are filled with yuck and muck that make his feet all soggy. Will he be able to deliver his gift? Will his feet dissolve into cookie crumbs??

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have not read the Gingerbread man books you really need to. This has a great rhyming pattern and a fantastic holiday message. The illustrations match the season and the feel of the book, and all together it just works.
#Wintergames #teamreadnosereindeer +26

[Lauri Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

rhyming. Gingerbread Man faces the challenge of coming up with a homemade gift for a school assignment. They deliver joy and gifts around town, but GMan hasn't handed out his yet. Finally he finds the baker he wants to gift. and she gives him chocolate boots!

[AMY · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cute rhyming story about a class and a Gingerbread man who decided to share lots of treats and gifts with their community. It is a fun story and kids will be inspired to share likewise. Cute and colorful illustrations throughout the book. Highly recommended for Grades 2-5.

[Joanne Zienty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute Christmas sequel in this series. This one emphasizes Christmas as a time for giving and a time for thanking the people who are special in our lives.

[Joni Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

The gingerbread man loose at Christmas

This book was a great Christmas read with my 6 year old nephew. He really loved the rhymes and the story.

[Leslea · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter loves these. Why are we on a Christmas kick? IDK She's always into the Gingerbread Man, though. It's been her "thing" since before we discovered this series.

[Kelley Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid Christmas addition. The rhythmic echoes of “Night Before Christmas “. Work well, and the story pairs up with making gingerbread ornaments pretty well.

[Innocentface 247 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The drawing is cute and i like the fact that most of the phrases rhyme.

[Michele Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute Christmas story with a focus on being thankful for those around us. My story time kids loved it with a bunch of gingerbread crafts

[Monica Lit · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet book reminding us that we should have a thankful heart at Christmas. There are so many different people that help us, teach us, love us, and serve us.

[Rebecca Caufman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Covers many of the workers in a neighborhood.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paying it forward.

[Christine Grant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christmas Storytime

Gingerbread Man helps children thank their community during the holidays.

[Davis Kids · Rating 5 out of 5]

I definitely need to buy this to add to our Christmas Book rotation. So cute.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

The format is a picture book version of a graphic novel. It follows the continuing story of the Gingerbread Man during Christmas time. I liked it!

[Karina Bernal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that he ran as fast as he could just to give his Xmas gifts

[Patricia Gower · Rating 5 out of 5]

Modern Fantasy - Folktale

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book and a package of related gifts (temporary tattoos and a stuffed toy.) The shipment came with a warm note from the author and she seems lovely. I wish I could give it five stars. I can't.

It's a cute little book and "cute" is the word that gets used a lot in the reviews of it. Solidly three stars. It focuses on gratitude for the contributions workers make to a child's world (Doctor, Florist, Bank Teller, etc.) and suggests an attitude of mutual giving for the children in a way that is within their reach (sing a song, bake a cookie.) These are the ways in which the book is admirable.

The shortfalls are an illustration style that is so busy the eye flashes all over the page looking for the focal point. The vocabulary demands that this be a book read to the child, not attempted on their own. Lastly, it's never explained why there is a gingerbread man involved with the children at the school. He seems out of place.

Listen, the kids will enjoy this. I'm justifying why I limited my review to three stars.

Thank you Ms. Murray for the book and gifts. I will be passing them along to a first grade class with limited resources.