The Gingerbread Pup

by Maribeth Boelts, Hollie Hibbert (Illustrator)

You've heard of the Gingerbread boy, but what about his pup? This fun Step 3 early reader puts a great spin on the classic fairytale.

Evalina desperately wants a dog, so she bakes one out of gingerbread and he springs to life! But the gingerbread pup gets into mischief all over town and Evalina must find a way to catch him if she can! This is the latest enchanting fractured fairy tale from the author of early readers Pupunzel, Dogerella, and, The Fairy Dogmother.

Step 3 Readers feature engaging characters in easy-to-follow plots about popular topics. For children who are ready to read on their own.

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Childrens, Fantasy, Holiday

48 pages, Paperback

Published September 29, 2020

About the author

Maribeth Boelts is a former teacher who has written 40 books for children. She lives in Iowa and enjoys all things nature and family.

Reviews

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maribeth Boelts specializes in fractured fairy tales. This one takes an imaginative leap from fictional The Gingerbread Man to a Gingerbread Pup. Well, maybe not a leap, but a cute little hop.

The fictional gloss over the text and illustrations is so thick, you'd think that Evalina, the main character, the one who bakes the Gingerbread Pup, has been smeared with honey.

She looks like she comes straight out of a knockoff Disney animated movie. Even weirder, the "SHAGGY DOG" on Page 18 is pictured on Page 19 as a dead ringer for Lady, in the classic animated flick, "Lady and the Tramp."

THIS MIGHT STRIKE SOME ADULT READERS AS FUNNY

Though kids will like take this in stride. In a self-referential interlude, on Page 26:

In suspense over whether the Gingerbread Pup will escape danger, all the villagers gasped:

"They all knew the story
of the gingerbread boy
who gets eaten by the fox."

Of course, there's going to be a happy ending.

RATING-WISE

If I were an early reader, taking a Level 3 Step into Reading, I might not have developed much taste yet. And so I think it's only fair to rate this collection of cliches as if I were part of the intended audience. For that reason I'll rate this chipper tale as a FIVE STAR book.

[Abbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute twist on the story of the Gingerbread boy. It has wonderful wintery vibes and is a fun and engaging story. My 1st grader was excited to be able to read most of this on her own and loved the illustrations. She had fun trying to predict what was going to happen next! The ending was really cute.

[Bethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why did I think this was a Christmas book? Cute easy reader with a new twist on the classic gingerbread man story. Evalina has some mischievous sheep and thinks a gingerbread pup will help, not so much. The ending is the best.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a super cute book that Santa brought my 3 year old. I liked all the different references to other fairy tales and when you thought it got to the end....it twisted. Really cute story.

[Kasey Meade · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my children’s favorites. We read it daily.

[Emi えみ Takami 鷹見 · Rating 3 out of 5]

The art is adorable. The story is a little wild, but my storytime kids liked it.

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

A dogless shepherdess bakes a gingerbread pup that comes to life and causes havoc.

This beginning reader is loosely based on the folktale "The Gingerbread Man."

[Nanny B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story!

[Trudy Monk · Rating 3 out of 5]

A girl brings to life a gingerbread cup. Not lifechanging but nice like shrek movie.

[Daniel]

Read with grandma

[TJE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute spin off of gingerbread man. Maintained all classic elements and gave cute twist of dog for dog loving kids. Tea enjoyed but said she wished the gingerbread man and pup lived with the girl.

[TFE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Said he liked it when asked. Pointed and talked about book while reading.