Gingerbread Christmas

Jan Brett's Gingerbread

by Jan Brett

Key Features Description Gingerbread Baby and his friend, Matti, take his gingerbread band to the Christmas Festival where they are a hit until the aroma of gingerbread reaches the children, signaling that it is time to run away. Clever Matti uses snow to disguise the gingerbread instruments while Gingerbread Baby leads the audience on a merry chase to the smartest hiding place ever--a giant Christmas tree. Gingerbread Baby and his friend, Matti, take his gingerbread band to the Christmas Festival where they are a hit until the aroma of gingerbread reaches the children, signaling that it is time to run away. Clever Matti uses snow to disguise the gingerbread instruments while Gingerbread Baby leads the audience on a merry chase to the smartest hiding place ever--a giant Christmas tree. Product Details Item #: NTS826344 9781338263442 Paperback Book 32 Pre-K - 1 Lexile® AD650L Guided Reading GR Level M DRA 20 - 24 ACR 3.6 Gingerbread Christmas Paperback Book 4.46 Out Of Stock Out Of Stock Email me when back in stock Top {{#if inStock}} {{#if isSubscribe}} {{button.label}} {{else}} {{button.label}} {{/if}} {{/if}} {{#if isOutofStock}} {{oosMessage}} {{#if isTSO}}
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Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Holiday, Childrens, Music, Fantasy, Food

Paperback

First published October 18, 2016

About the author

With over thirty three million books in print, Jan Brett is one of the nation's foremost author illustrators of children's books. Jan lives in a seacoast town in Massachusetts, close to where she grew up. During the summer her family moves to a home in the Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts.

As a child, Jan Brett decided to be an illustrator and spent many hours reading and drawing. She says, "I remember the special quiet of rainy days when I felt that I could enter the pages of my beautiful picture books. Now I try to recreate that feeling of believing that the imaginary place I'm drawing really exists. The detail in my work helps to convince me, and I hope others as well, that such places might be real."
As a student at the Boston Museum School, she spent hours in the Museum of Fine Arts. "It was overwhelming to see the room-size landscapes and towering stone sculptures, and then moments later to refocus on delicately embroidered kimonos and ancient porcelain," she says. "I'm delighted and surprised when fragments of these beautiful images come back to me in my painting."

Travel is also a constant inspiration. Together with her husband, Joe Hearne, who is a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Jan visits many different countries where she researches the architecture and costumes that appear in her work. "From cave paintings to Norwegian sleighs, to Japanese gardens, I study the traditions of the many countries I visit and use them as a starting point for my children's books."
--from www.janbrett.com

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the art so much that I want to see more of this author's work.

My nephew loves Gingerbread Men. He is crazy about this. We had to read this story several times. He loves the part where the gingerbread me runs off being chased by the people. He giggled. Jan expands the Gingerbread universe and comes up with a gingerbread band.

It's a fun little story.

[La Coccinelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe I'm just too old for books about sentient baked goods.

I think this book will probably have more appeal to fans of the series. This is the first one I've read, so I was a bit lost. Who is this Matti kid, and how can he make magical gingerbread? That part of the book seems to rely on knowledge of previous volumes.

The story didn't impress me much. Or, rather, the characters didn't impress me much. The villagers are so stupid! When they see magical gingerbread instruments playing music, what's their first thought? Well, you'd think it might be something like, "Wow! Magic gingerbread!" Alas, it's more like, "Let's eat!" (Perhaps the villagers have seen Matti's magical baked goods before, so it's not a big deal. Again, I felt like I was missing something.) At the end, the Gingerbread Baby has to run away and hide in a giant Christmas tree lest he be eaten. I read this as an e-book, but I think the page with the Christmas tree actually folds out (that's what it looked like, anyway). I could just make out the Gingerbread Baby in his very detailed hiding place. And that brings me to my favourite part of the book: the illustrations. They were so charming, detailed and fairly realistic (at least where the people and animals were concerned). There's a lot to look at on each page, since there's gingerbread decoration surrounding each two-page spread.

I think I might've liked this one better if I was more familiar with the characters and the overall premise. But the illustrations are great. This would be a nice Christmas book for fans of Brett's work, especially if they've read the rest of this series.

[Ronyell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank Edelweiss and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was a bit familiar with Jan Brett’s “Gingerbread Baby” series and I was actually surprised that Edelweiss had a copy of the sequel “Gingerbread Christmas!” Since the Christmas holidays is around the corner, I figured that I might pick up a Christmas read and this was quite a cute book to read!

The Gingerbread Baby is back and this time, he wants to start a musical band to play with in the Christmas Festival. So, his friend Matti decided to bake the Gingerbread Baby a Gingerbread Band and the band ended up performing at the Christmas Festival. Everything was going fine for the band until the children started noticing how tasty the band smelled and this causes the audience to try and get at the band.

Can the Gingerbread Baby and his band get out of being eaten during Christmas?

Read this book to find out!

Wow! Jan Brett has one again created a wonderful story about the Gingerbread Baby and I found myself enjoying this book immensely! I loved the fact that the Gingerbread Baby wanted to start a band to play with at the Christmas Festival and it was interesting seeing how the Gingerbread Baby would escape from being eaten on Christmas since he is a…well, you know…a gingerbread cookie. I also loved the Gingerbread Baby’s relationship with Matti as Matti seems to be the only human being who does not want to eat the Gingerbread Baby. Jan Brett’s artwork is beautiful as always as all of the characters look so realistic! I also loved how colorful the artwork is, especially of the images of the Gingerbread Baby and his Gingerbread Band!



Overall, “Gingerbread Christmas” is a truly cute read that would be perfect for the Christmas season! I would recommend this book to children ages four and up since there is nothing inappropriate in this book.

Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

That mischievous Gingerbread Baby, whose story began in the eponymous Gingerbread Baby , and continued in Gingerbread Friends , returns in this third picture-books devoted to his ongoing adventures. Excited at the prospect of the village Christmas Festival, Gingerbread Baby wants to enter with his band. The only problem? He doesn't have a band! Fortunately, his creator Matti knows how to make one for him, and soon they are entertaining the locals with their catchy music. But when one of the little girls in attendance smells gingerbread, and wants a snack, a new problem arises...

Like its predecessors, Gingerbread Christmas boasts a catchy rhyming refrain, sung by the Gingerbread Baby, as well as Jan Brett's gorgeously detailed artwork. Although I have to confess that I wasn't quite as engaged by the story here as I was with the previous titles, the artwork was every bit as appealing as ever, with a gorgeous color palette, characters in beautiful (Swiss) folk costume, and lovely folk-style decorative borders and side-panels that revealed more of the story. At the end of the book there is even a pop-up page, in which a splendid Christmas tree (on which Gingerbread Baby is hiding) unfolds. Recommended to anyone who read and enjoyed the first two books about this insouciant delectable hero, as well as to any Jan Brett fans.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eek! These stories are supes creeps! But, very silly. Do you think Ann-Sophie ate him?

[Serenity · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish that there was a flute in it. 🪈

[Yaritza · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that brings joy and cheers to all who read. Might want to bring your own gingerbread to eat or you might just have to catch Gingerbread baby, only if you can catch him. The illustrations are fascinating filled with old fashion Christmases and Switzerland. I loved the vivid colors and images that made this story one to remember.

[Juliana Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Mattie and the Gingerbread Baby start planning a trip to the Christmas Festival, Mattie bakes a batch of gingerbread instruments and the baby starts practicing his songs. When everything is ready, they go into town to preform. The people and the animals love them, and then one little girls realizes they are all made of gingerbread. Quickly Matti has to hide the instruments while the baby distracts the people with his songs. Mattie builds clever little snowmen around the instruments and the baby runs and gets away by hiding on a decorated Christmas tree in the middle of town.

[Dianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amazing illustrations, cute premise (I loved the gingerbread instruments!) but the story fell kind of flat for me.

[Wendy Nickel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Illustrations exceptional!

[Colette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, colorful variation of the original with a theme of Christmas.

[Margaret Chind · Rating 3 out of 5]

We have often read The Gingerbread Boy, but I am unsure if I have read The Gingerbread Baby. After reading this little eBook galley of the board book version of Gingerbread Christmas, a good Christmas sequel story to The Gingerbread Baby, I want to go back and read it as well. The illustrations are divine and just full of vivid imagery for the imagination that will entertain all readers young and old alike. I know my kiddos would love to have this little board book on their keeper shelve in the Christmas season. The overall story was okay, but I still think that it would serve the purpose of entertainment for the youngest and enthusiastic sort just needing the right story before some hot cocoa on a cold day.

I read this via a temporary eBook Galley through Edelweiss.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations are phenomenal and detailed, but the text is a bit lacking.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clever continuation of the Gingerbread Baby. Brett again spins a delightful story about a full gingerbread band. Always check the illustrations along the side and top/bottom to see more of the story.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brett, Jan Gingerbread Christmas. PICTURE BOOK. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2016. $18.99. Content: G.

Matti makes a series of instruments out of gingerbread and with the Gingerbread Baby as it’s leader, the magical gingerbread cookie band puts on a wonderful show at the Christmas Festival in town. But when the audience realizes the instruments are actually cookies, they get hungry! The Gingerbread Baby distracts the crowd and Matti helps the instruments hide. Then the Gingerbread Baby, himself, leads the audience on a merry chase to the town’s Christmas tree—where he disappears amongst the ornaments.

This is a fun new book to add to your Christmas picture book collection. The story is simple and rather silly, but kids will enjoy it. The illustrations are incredibly detailed and elaborate, and the fold-out Christmas tree at the end will be especially appealing to younger readers. By the end I really wanted to eat gingerbread, myself!

Pre-K, EL (K-3), EL—ADVISABLE. Reviewer: TC
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2016/...

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Our friend the Gingerbread Baby is back in another romping adventure. This time he convinces Matti that he needs a band so that he can sing at the Christmas Festival. Matti helps to bake up a batch of gingerbread instruments, and they head off to the festival. The villagers gather around and "The Gingerbread Band played so sweetly that everyone just had to dance." But all that dancing works up an appetite, and the gingerbread looks very tasty. What will the band do? Readers will have fun watching the Baby and Matti do their best to outwit the villagers and keep the band from being eaten.

I won a copy of this book in a giveaway.

[AMY · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very interesting! Of course, like her other books Jan Brett creates a gorgeous scene with borders flowing with beautiful bits and decorations. The story is very cute and I especially liked the poppet part near the end. You definitely will have fun spotting surprises in the illustrations throughout the story. It is a very fun fantasy with a delicious little gingerbread baby leading the gingerbread band. Nicely done. Kids will love it. This is the third book in the Gingerbread Baby series. Highly recommended for Grades K-3.

[Raven Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting twist on the Gingerbread Man/Baby story, but over all predictable and nothing really "new to it". Jan Brett's illustrations, however, are fantastic and beautiful. If you know all of her works/the Gingerbread stories she does, this might be better, but for the casual fan or someone new to her work this might not be the one to start with. However, a must for collectors of her work as it is classic Brett.

[KC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gingerbread Baby goes out at Christmas and has a wonderful adventure with dancing bears, movable instruments, a young boy named Matti and all the local villagers. Jan Brett's continuing saga after Gingerbread Baby and Gingerbread Friends, is filled with her signature Nordic illustrations and even a pop-up Christmas tree!

[June Jacobs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another whimsical appearance by the author's adorable, somewhat naughty, Gingerbread Baby character. Jan Brett's exceptional artwork and fun narrative will make this a favorite for children of all ages!

[RAF Mildenhall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice little Christmas-atmosphere story raised to 4-star level due to the gorgeous illustrations with a middle-European aesthetic. A quick read but the amount of detail in the art of each page will make you linger much longer. The pop-up tree is sure to be a hit with the wee ones!

[Miss Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

E BRE

I love the illustrations in this book. The story line wasn't one of her better ones, I think. I did like the instruments being added to Gingerbread Baby's collection of friends, and magic gingerbread. Interesting story line.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the illustrations in this book. The story line wasn't one of her better ones, I think. I did like the instruments being added to Gingerbread Baby's collection of friends, and magic gingerbread. Interesting story line.

[Christine (Tina) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I never really realized how disturbing these stories are!

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sort of a strange story but of course, beautifully illustrated in Jan Brett's classic style. Nice pop-up surprise at the end.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gingerbread Baby is back in a fun, musical book, celebrating the season.

Illustrations will allow readers to pour over them, finding all that is hidden.

[Debby Baumgartner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gingerbread baby wants to play with a band at the Christmas Festival but he has not band.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful characteristic Brett illustrations. The story line is weak. Not worth purchasing for our libraries. Borrow from public library if desired.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical Jan Brett in this gingerbread Christmas story.

[Casandria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful story and illustrations (as usual).