Looking for a delightful gingerbread book for kids? We’ve found the best gingerbread read alouds that are perfect for a holiday preschool theme or to go along with your gingerbread project. Gingerbread books aren’t just about the gingerbread man these days. We have gingerbread girls, pirates, ninjas, cowboys, and more!
These sweet, spicy tales of gingerbread cookies, runaway treats, and creative adventures aren’t just a great story with beautiful illustrations. They’re perfect for young children to practice language skills through repetition and retelling. Plus, they go perfect with gingerbread songs.
So pull up a chair and maybe even a cup of cocoa and enjoy reading these delicious stories that are perfect for circle time!
- Classic Gingerbread Stories
- Gingerbread Cowboy and More
- Gingerbread Series
Classic Gingerbread Stories for Kids
Whether it’s the tales of the escape of the gingerbread man or the beautifully decorated houses, these gingerbread books will have children glued to the end!
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The Gingerbread Man by Gail Yerrill
The classic story of the Gingerbread Man by Gail Yerrill is a fun and exciting story for preschoolers! It’s about a little gingerbread man who comes to life and runs away. He’s quick and clever, and as he runs through the town, he meets different animals and people who try to catch him. But the Gingerbread Man just laughs and says, “Run, run, as fast as you can! You can’t catch me, I’m the Gingerbread Man!”
Eventually, the fox tricks the gingerbread man, and in the end, he learns that sometimes being too confident can lead to trouble. The story is full of fun, repetition, rhyme, and excitement, with playful illustrations that are sure to capture the attention of young children.
The Gingerbread Girl by Lisa Campbell Ernst
In this playful twist on the classic, the Gingerbread Man’s sister, the Gingerbread Girl, is ready to for action. She is clever and quick, outrunning everyone who tries to catch her… she’s full of confidence and knows just how to avoid getting caught!
But when she faces the big, bad fox, she cleverly outsmarts him and finally makes it back home safely. Instead of being eaten, the Gingerbread Girl enjoys a happy, peaceful ending with the woman who baked her.
This fun, fast-paced story is full of adventure and teaches young children about cleverness, courage, and the importance of thinking ahead. The colorful illustrations and playful spirit make it a perfect story for little ones!
The Gingerbread Twins by Renee Haynes
This fresh take on the classic gingerbread tale is so adorable and loved by early childhood teachers and students alike. In this version, two gingerbread twins are baked by a kind woman. The gingerbread twins of course run away just like all the other gingerbread tales. However, these gingerbread twins are clever and work together to outwit their pursuers, always staying one step ahead.
With teamwork and quick thinking, the twins manage to stay free and make it back home safely, where they enjoy a happy ending with the woman who baked them. A perfect addition to your gingerbread unit!
How to Catch a Gingerbread Man by Adam Wallace
The gingerbread man is running away from everyone who wants to catch him, just like in the classic tale. But this time, there’s a twist—it’s not just the gingerbread man running from people; the story is about how you can try to catch him!
The book is filled with funny, clever ideas on how to catch the speedy gingerbread man. Each page offers a new plan or idea, but no matter what, the gingerbread man keeps outsmarting everyone with his quick moves and clever tricks.
As the gingerbread man races away, kids will giggle at all the funny ways the characters try to catch him. But even with all their clever plans, the gingerbread man always stays just out of reach!
To extend the gingerbread fun into your math center, grab a free copy of our printable gingerbread man ten frames! They’re great for working on one-to-one correspondence, subitizing, and other beginning number sense skills. Just fill out the form below and we’ll send them right over.
Gingerbread Cowboy and More
Move over gingerbread man! Now, we have stories like “The Gingerbread Cowboy” along with a gingerbread pirate, ninja, and mouse. You’re bound to find your new favorite version!
The Gingerbread Cowboy by Janet Squires
Introduce kids to the excitement of the Wild West version of the gingerbread man with the Gingerbread Cowboy!
In this version, a little old cowboy bakes a gingerbread cowboy, and of course, the gingerbread cowboy is quick and clever, and outruns a cowboy, a cow, and even a hungry coyote who wants to catch him. As he speeds across the desert, he keeps evading his pursuers with his quick moves. But in the end, the gingerbread cowboy meets a sticky situation and must use his smarts to get out of trouble.
The Gingerbread Girl Goes Animal Crackers by Lisa Campbell Ernst
In this sequel to The Gingerbread Girl, the gingerbread girl is back and ready for a new adventure. After barely escaping the fox in the first story, she decides to take a break from running and enjoy some fun. She discovers a box of animal crackers and, to her surprise, the animal crackers come to life!
The gingerbread girl and her new animal cracker friends—like a lion, a zebra, and a giraffe—go on a wild and exciting adventure together. They explore new places, have fun, and learn about teamwork.
But, of course, things don’t always go as planned, and there’s a little bit of trouble along the way!
The Gingerbread Pirates by Kristin Kladstrup
This story is packed with fun, action, and adventure, with a sweet message about bravery and friendship.
In this version, a little boy named Jake bakes a batch of gingerbread cookies, including one very special gingerbread pirate. But when Jake leaves the room, the gingerbread pirate comes to life and sets off on an exciting adventure! He gathers his fellow gingerbread pirates to search for treasure on the high seas (well, actually, the kitchen table!).
The gingerbread pirates must battle against the “Cookie Queen” and her army of cookie soldiers to protect their treasure and stay out of danger, including Jake’s cat, who is very curious!
The Ninjabread Man by C.J. Leigh
With lots of ninja flair, The Ninjabread Man is a great story for little learners who enjoy a little adventure!
In this version, a baker creates a batch of gingerbread cookies, but one of them is no ordinary cookie—he’s a Ninjabread Man! As soon as he’s out of the oven, the Ninjabread Man jumps to life and starts running away. However, this cookie isn’t just fast—he’s also super sneaky and full of ninja moves!
This story is full of exciting action and playful illustrations, with plenty of fun ninja kicks and flips. It teaches kids about being clever and resourceful while entertaining them with humor and excitement. The Ninjabread Man might be tough, but he also learns an important lesson about being careful who you trust!
Gingerbread Mouse by Katy Brutan
In this story, a little mouse named Gingerbread Mouse is lonely and wishes she had someone to share the holidays with. So, she bakes herself a gingerbread cookie, hoping it will be a good friend. But when the gingerbread cookie comes to life, Gingerbread Mouse and her new friend have a grand adventure together! They face challenges together and Gingerbread Mouse learns that kindness, friendship, and sharing are the best ways to find joy.
This story is full of warmth, friendship, and the magic of the holiday season. The soft, cozy illustrations and the gentle message about caring for others make it a lovely choice for young children, teaching them about love, friendship, and thinking of others.
We’re Going on a Gingerbread Hunt by Anna Membrino
This engaging story takes children on a fun and exciting adventure as they join a group of friends on a hunt to find a gingerbread man.
The story follows a group of friends who set out on a hunt to find a delicious gingerbread treat. As they search, they encounter obstacles and challenges along the way. The simple, repetitive structure of the story invites young readers to participate by calling familiar phrases and making predictions. Each page reveals a new twist in the hunt, building suspense and excitement.
With vibrant and lively illustrations, this book is perfect for engaging young readers and encouraging participation. The repetitive text and rhyming patterns make it easy for preschoolers to anticipate the next line, helping build their confidence in storytelling and reading.
A Gingerbread House by Julie Lavender
This heartwarming and festive picture book tells the story of a family coming together to create a magical gingerbread house. This delightful tale celebrates family traditions, the joy of baking, and the excitement of the holiday season.
The story follows a group of family members as they gather ingredients and work together to decorate their very own gingerbread house. Each family member has a special role in the process, and the book captures the joy and togetherness that comes from creating something beautiful as a team.
From mixing the dough to adding colorful candies, the book illustrates the fun and love that go into making a gingerbread house.
Gingerbread Book Series for Kids
These Gingerbread books by Jan Brett are early childhood favorites! In these charming and colorful stories, the gingerbread characters learn valuable lessons. Each story concludes with a heartwarming ending that has young children begging to read them over and over again.
This Gingerbread Series by Laura Murray is based on the poor lost Gingerbread Man! He gets lost in lots of places and sends us lucky readers to find him! Whether your child is racing along with the gingerbread man through the school or the zoo, these books are sure to become a holiday favorite—or a year-round treat!
- The Gingerbread Man Loose in School
- The Gingerbread Man Loose on the Fire Truck
- The Gingerbread Man Loose at Christmas
- The Gingerbread Man Loose at the Zoo
- The Gingerbread Man and the Leprechaun Loose in the School
We hope you’ve found a handful of new gingerbread man books and fun gingerbread books for kids to get your hands on!
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