The Gingerbread Man and the Leprechaun Loose at School

by Laura Murray, Mike Lowery (Illustrator)

A leprechaun is causing all kinds of trouble on St. Patrick's Day—but our popular Gingerbread Man is back to save the day! After a mischievous leprechaun makes a mess of the band room, the Gingerbread Man vows to catch him. He follows the leprechaun's clues all around the building finding chaos everywhere--even in the library! But then he finds the worst clue of all. It says the leprechaun's next target might be a house made of gingerbread! Luckily, the Gingerbread Man makes it to his classroom in time to set a trap for the leprechaun. He'll show that mischief maker that he messed with the wrong cookie this time. "I'm on a mission! I've got a good plan.I can catch him! I'm the Gingerbread Man!"Look for all of this hilarious Gingerbread Man's The Gingerbread Man Loose at School, The Gingerbread Man Loose on the Fire Truck, The Gingerbread Man Loose at Christmas, The Gingerbread Man Loose at the Zoo, and The Gingerbread Man and the Leprechaun Loose at School!

Genres: Picture Books, Holiday, School, Humor, Childrens, Ebooks, Fiction

32 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2018

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

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

My nephew is crazy about Gingerbread Men. He was sick today so he gets more stories than typical. I found this book about Leprechaun's for St. Patty's Day and Gingerbread Men. It was perfect for him. He loved the story.

The twist in this story is the Gingerbread man is not being chased. He is chasing the Leprechaun who is causing chaos. The Leprechaun didn't flush the toilet and it was all green. the Nephew thought this was hilarious.

I enjoyed the rhymes and the story was ok. It was fun to read.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interest Level: K-3; Reading Level: 2.8

What happens at a school when a leprechaun is the one running and causing mischief? The Gingerbread Man has to come in and try to save the day. On a certain day in March a little leprechaun comes in, starts leaving notes around the school and leaving messes everywhere he goes. Can the leprechaun and his friends stop him from causing chaos all around the school? Read this precious book to find out.

I love the sing-song rhyming of this story. When I read this kind of book with my kids I love to pause and let them fill in the rhyming word. I cannot wait to read this this in March!! Do not miss reading this book!!!

Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book - all opinions are my own.

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[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a bit strange. A leprechaun is causing mischief at school, and the gingerbread man is out to find him. Huh?

[Katy O. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A seasonal addition to this series that will please those parents and teachers looking for a St. Patrick's Day title to add to their collection. There tends to be a shortage of "March" and St. P's Day titles for those teachers who like reading on themes, so this might be a nice way to round out a storytime. Lots of rhyming and a good way to expand on the traditional Gingerbread Man story as well.

Thanks to Kid Lit Exchange for the review copy of this title, all opinions are my own.

[Kelly]

This was a cute book. I haven't read all of them in the series, but I did like this one. It reminded me of my time in elementary school when our teacher made up clues about a leprechaun loose either in our classroom or the school, and it was a fun hunt we went on.

[Mary Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific rhyming, humor and action make this a fantastic read aloud. Sparkling with mischief and fun.

[Jj · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this series is still pretty cute. Perhaps the charm is wearing a bit thin, but that's where the wee green leprechaun comes in! Laura Murray provides us with another fun rhyming story here, while Mike Lowery once again creates some great, bold-line illustrations which work well with the story's jovial tone and plot.

There are not nearly as many solid storytime-friendly picture books for St. Patrick's Day as you would think. This is a good addition, and will be fun to share. I also admit to being a sucker for the multi-hued book rainbow that the leprechaun constructs in the library while creating his path o' destruction (albeit a limited, mostly mild-mannered path) through the school. It is seriously making me consider doing some sort of "build your own book rainbow" extension activity to complement the story.

Altogether, another solid entry in a fun series that kids will enjoy. Better still, you won't mind reading it aloud (this time, with FEELING!) and maybe also creating a little rainbow out of library books, just for kicks.

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.

[Kim Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute and fun to read. My pre k loved it. Nice addition to spring time reads.

[Shan Salter · Rating 3 out of 5]

THE GINGERBREAD MAN AND THE LEPRECHAUN LOOSE AT SCHOOL BY Laura Murray (illustrated by Mike Lowery)

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Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

If you are looking for a St Patrick’s Day read, look no further than The Gingerbread Man And The Leprechaun Loose At School. A fun, comic book style story about a mischievous leprechaun wreaking havoc at a school and a gingerbread man intent on catching him.

The leprechaun messes up the music room, the boy’s bathroom, and even the library! Luckily, the gingerbread man has a papery plan to catch the cheeky green-hatted creature once and for all.

Told in rhyme, this is a fast-paced, witty read perfect for elementary school students. It is one of a series of books about the gingerbread man by the same author/illustrator team.

[Vicki · Rating 2 out of 5]

An okay leprechaun book for the elementary age child.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I shared Gingerbread Man Loose in the School during December and look forward to sharing this one with my K students next week in preparation for St. Patty’s Day. I’m sure it will inspire some leprechaun trap building!

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one more than I thought I would! The text was great - the meter flowed well, and the rhymes never felt forced. The plot clipped along steadily, and I didn't feel rushed or dragged.
This would be a great read-aloud (for kids who are older than my storytime littles, at least)!

[Katherine Kerber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leprechan versus gingerbread man?! Who will be faster? Is the caught cookie doing that catching? Will the leprechan be so lucky?

[Theresa Grissom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Younger students in my school love this series. They will like this one as well.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, KidLit Exchange network, for the review copy of this book! Opinion is my own! 🤗 I LOVE THESE BOOKS! They are super fun to read out loud and the illustrations make me smile. What a great book to read in March! 🍀 Plan a leprechaun hunt to go along with it!

[Judy Sobanski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leprechaun is determined to wreak havoc at school. But the Gingerbread Man is just as determined to stop him! This is a wonderfully fun story written in verse with lively language and repeating rhymes that kids will love reading over and over.

[Mrs. Mounce · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you haven’t ordered this book yet, you need to ASAP! It is the perfect book to read for St. Patrick’s Day, or anytime for that matter! A leprechaun is loose in the school and Gingerbread Man is determined to stop him! Will he be able to trap him before it’s too late? 🍀

[Michele Knott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely my favorite of the series!

[Michelle Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun addition to a great series!

[Ronda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been looking for a picture book to tie in with a slideshow of messes at our school (examples of where we aren't ckeaning up after ourselves, messing up displays, and being irresponsible). I think this might be a fit. The Leprechaun makes all the messes and has to be outsmarted into cleaning things up. Not sure if this will work, but if it reminds us that we can't snap our fingers and fix things, maybe it will help us remember to be more responsible in the 1st place. Regardless, this is a cute, funny, well-rhymed addition to St. Patrick's Day readalouds and a fun batch of examples for foth rhyming words and alliteration.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fans of Laura Murray’s Gingerbread Man books will not be disappointed with this newest episode! Two well-known clever characters are at odds as the Gingerbread Man tries to catch the Leprechaun to stop him from make messes in the school. Murray’s word choice is superb, the rhyme and cadence so fun – this is a true delight to read aloud! Mike Lowery’s clever illustrations in graphic novel format keep the readers’ and listeners’ eyes moving along the story in anticipation. This is an excellent read aloud choice for March, especially if you’ve got a leprechaun making mischief in your school!

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book because the gingerbread man and the leprechaun are loose in the school. They run run run until they find the magical hat and lots of small green notes. [spoiler alert] And he drops his hat when he was running and he gives him a surprise: log roll pencils and glue. And then a cup drops so the ruler will give him a flick and then he falls on a toilet paper mountain and he wraps up like mummy because the glue.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe someday I’ll find a St. Patrick’s Day read-aloud I like…

I borrowed this from Stephanie to read to my class today. It was all right. The kids listened but didn’t really engage too much. I think this author/illustrator team needs to stop milking this series and just accept that the first one was cute.

It wasn’t bad but I wouldn’t read it again next year.

[Charlotte S · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a normal day at school until...a wee leprechaun came! He's making a mess all over the school! Join the Gingerbread Man and the class as they devise a plan to catch the sneaky leprechaun! This book is so fun and sure to make you laugh! This is a great book for St. Patrick's Day! Follow @bronteandwilder on Instagram for more fun book recommendations!

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Instead of a crowd trying to catch the Gingerbread Man, the Gingerbread Man is out to catch the mischievous leprechaun, who is creating havoc all around the school. The GM finally sets a trap for him in a classroom and forces him to put all the mess to right. The text is large and easy to read and the illustrations are also large enough to share with a group.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a leprechaun is running loose pulling pranks throughout the school, the Gingerbread Man sets out to catch him. A lively story that requires the Gingerbread Man to be clever as well as fast. This will a fun picture book to share on St. Patrick's Day!

"I'll search through the school as FAST as I can.
I can catch HIM! I'm the GINGERBREAD MAN!"

[Yvonne O'Connor · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t understand why the gingerbread man is s student. Why is the leprechaun bent on making a mess? Where is his pot of gold and why isn’t it demanded when he’s caught? If his hat is the source of magic, his does he clean everything before he gets it back?

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

LFL find that appeals much more to my inner child and would have to young me, rather than to adult me. Mischief a la' Cat in the Hat, with a Rube Goldberg-style trap depicted as if on a blueprint on the most delightful spread.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one got high marks from me because not only did students enjoy it, but it was a fun read for me too. The rhymes were not annoying and it was fun to do the two characters’ voices. I read it to more than eight classes in one week and I didn’t get tired of it. A crowd pleaser!

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Gingerbread Man and the Leprechaun Loose at School (Paperback)
by Laura Murray
a celebratory switch of the original story showing the ideology and aspects of the Irish culture and St. Patrick's day.