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A gingerbread Christmas
Christmas has been canceled in the town of Gloomsbury – and something must be done. So the Prince and Princess of Gingerbread attempt to save the day in this fun-filled holiday classic. This is a merry tale about the true meaning of Christmas. Audio and video versions of this story feature narration by Susan Saint James and lively musical score by Van Dyke Parks. Part of the Rabbit Ears "Holiday Classics" collection.
- GenresChristmasPicture Books
32 pages, Board Book
First published January 1, 1991
16 people want to read
About the author
Tim Raglin
30 books12 followersTim Raglin was born and raised in Independence, Kansas, where he lives today. Starting at age eight, he received private art instruction and quickly developed a fascination for illustrative art that continues to this day. He earned a degree from Washington University’s School of Fine Arts in St. Louis and immediately launched into the world of freelance illustration, first in St. Louis, and then for many years in New York.
Raglin has illustrated numerous children’s picturebooks, the most popular being Deputy Dan (Random House) and The Five Funny Frights series (Scholastic). These two series have to date sold over two million copies. He also created a series of greeting cards for Sunrise Publications that are still in print after 15+ years.
In the 80’s, Tim became involved with Rabbit Ears Productions, a children’s video company. He illustrated several of Rudyard Kipling’s Just So Stories for Rabbit Ears, including the Grammy Award-winning The Elephant’s Child, narrated by Jack Nicholson.
Tim then realized a longtime dream by illustrating and directing his own version of Pecos Bill for Rabbit Ears. Narrated by Robin Williams. this video also won a Grammy Award for Best Children’s Recording, as well as a Parent’s Choice Classic Award. Tim directed several other award-winning videos and served as a Creative Director for the company until 1991, writing scripts and working closely with numerous top illustrators.
Raglin has since then illustrated a number of children’s picturebooks, including The Thirteen Days of Halloween (Scholastic), The Wolf Who Cried Boy (Putnam), Twelfth Night (Dial), Go Track a Yak! (Simon and Schuster), Bill In a China Shop (Bloomsbury), Cowboy Jose (Putnam) and Dinner in the Lion’s Den (Putnam). He also produced a series of illustrations for the Disney Cruise Line, entitled A Nautical Alphabet.
But his chief focus has been as the publisher of several of his own picturebooks, including Uncle Mugsy and the Terrible Twins of Christmas and The Birthday ABC, which was chosen as an American Library Association “Pick of the List” in 1995. Raglin is currently working on several new picturebooks which he plans to publish under his own imprint. The Curse of Catunkhamun is the first of these.
Raglin’s Mugsy illustrations received a Silver Medal from the New York Society of Illustrators. Uncle Mugsy, The Birthday ABCs, and Bill In a China Shop were chosen to appear in The Original Art Show: The Best in Children’s Books. The Wolf Who Cried Boy received a Reader’s Choice Award, and Twelfth Night and Bill In a China Shop received Parent’s Choice Awards.
Tim Raglin can be contacted for school visits at tr@timraglin.com or by calling 620-331-4486.
Raglin has illustrated numerous children’s picturebooks, the most popular being Deputy Dan (Random House) and The Five Funny Frights series (Scholastic). These two series have to date sold over two million copies. He also created a series of greeting cards for Sunrise Publications that are still in print after 15+ years.
In the 80’s, Tim became involved with Rabbit Ears Productions, a children’s video company. He illustrated several of Rudyard Kipling’s Just So Stories for Rabbit Ears, including the Grammy Award-winning The Elephant’s Child, narrated by Jack Nicholson.
Tim then realized a longtime dream by illustrating and directing his own version of Pecos Bill for Rabbit Ears. Narrated by Robin Williams. this video also won a Grammy Award for Best Children’s Recording, as well as a Parent’s Choice Classic Award. Tim directed several other award-winning videos and served as a Creative Director for the company until 1991, writing scripts and working closely with numerous top illustrators.
Raglin has since then illustrated a number of children’s picturebooks, including The Thirteen Days of Halloween (Scholastic), The Wolf Who Cried Boy (Putnam), Twelfth Night (Dial), Go Track a Yak! (Simon and Schuster), Bill In a China Shop (Bloomsbury), Cowboy Jose (Putnam) and Dinner in the Lion’s Den (Putnam). He also produced a series of illustrations for the Disney Cruise Line, entitled A Nautical Alphabet.
But his chief focus has been as the publisher of several of his own picturebooks, including Uncle Mugsy and the Terrible Twins of Christmas and The Birthday ABC, which was chosen as an American Library Association “Pick of the List” in 1995. Raglin is currently working on several new picturebooks which he plans to publish under his own imprint. The Curse of Catunkhamun is the first of these.
Raglin’s Mugsy illustrations received a Silver Medal from the New York Society of Illustrators. Uncle Mugsy, The Birthday ABCs, and Bill In a China Shop were chosen to appear in The Original Art Show: The Best in Children’s Books. The Wolf Who Cried Boy received a Reader’s Choice Award, and Twelfth Night and Bill In a China Shop received Parent’s Choice Awards.
Tim Raglin can be contacted for school visits at tr@timraglin.com or by calling 620-331-4486.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 10, 2015
“A Gingerbread Christmas” is one of the holiday classics featured in the Rabbit Ears collection and is about how two living gingerbreads, both of royalty, try to save Christmas in Gloomsburg after the Mayor cancels it. Susan Saint James’ energetic narration along with Van Dyke Parks’ charming music and John Spiers’ illustrations, “A Gingerbread Christmas” is one holiday classic that will never be forgotten.
Susan Saint James’ narration is both energetic and creative at the same time as she uses a New York accent for Hank and possibly an Italian accent for Ginger and Spice, which brings charm to her narration and the story. Van Dyke Parks’ music is charming and beautiful as it sounds like something you would normally hear in many Christmas specials on TV. Van Dyke Parks uses an acoustic keyboard to make the music sound dramatic and cute, which is perfect for the story. John Spiers’ illustrations are cute and creative, especially of the image of the Prince and Princess of Gingerbread, as they look stout and cheerful. Even though the colors are a bit washed out, they still give a comfortable feel to the story.
“A Gingerbread Christmas” is a cute holiday classic about the importance of celebrating the true meaning of Christmas and also getting into the Christmas spirit, no matter how busy one may be. I would recommend this book to children ages four and up since there is nothing inappropriate in this story.
Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog
December 8, 2018
Christmas is cancelled by the Mayor of Gloomsberry. The Prince and Princess of Gingerbread come to restore Christmas before Santa arrives on Christmas Eve. This is a cute story for kids!
Susan Saint James did an excellent job narrating this story!
Van Dyke Parks did outstanding work with the orchestration!
This audio is so well done and will definitely be a treat for young and old alike.
Susan Saint James did an excellent job narrating this story!
Van Dyke Parks did outstanding work with the orchestration!
This audio is so well done and will definitely be a treat for young and old alike.
December 4, 2016
I bought this book in a Christmas set along with a gingerbread boy and girl stuffed toys...I plan to hand these down to my granddaughter tomorrow :-)
December 30, 2023
Ginger and Spice were great. It was an ok story. Save Christmas 🎄 at all cost. :)
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews