Are you looking for some Gingerbread themed children’s books to use in your classroom that include literacy extension activities? This list may be just what you are looking for!
Gingerbread is a fun holiday theme for many students. It is filled with some exciting literacy experiences to explore. You may have had the opportunity to read some of these Gingerbread books already, but hopefully, some will be a new adventure for you and your kids. Explore with your children the theme of Gingerbread by trying these engaging books and some of the extension activities suggested.
1. Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett
This book is a little twist on the classic, The Gingerbread Man. It begins in a similar way; Matti opens the oven too soon and out jumps the little Gingerbread Baby and the adventure begins. Read to find out how clever Matti traps the Gingerbread Baby when no one else can.
Literacy Extensions:
- Gingerbread Men Student Booklet
- Venn Diagram: Compare Gingerbread Man & Gingerbread Baby
- Gingerbread Real and Nonsense Word Sort
- Gingerbread Cookie Decoration Store: Students must by decorations for their cookie with money or tokens.
2. The Gingerbread Man by Karen Schmidt
This wonderful retelling of an old classic with chanting and rhythmic text. The lively illustrations show a sassy, boastful Gingerbread man who jumps from the oven he is baking in. He eludes several pursuers until he meets his match in a clever fox.
Literacy Extensions:
- “The Gingerbread Man” New Ending Classroom Book
- “Gingerbread Senses Student Booklet
- Gingerbread Man Art Project
- Gingerbread Man Roll It & Read It Short Vowel Game Cards
3. The Gingerbread Man by Jim Aylesworth
A new rendition of this favorite story about a sassy little cookie! Full of rhyming words, the story can be read over and over. The illustrations by Barbara McClintock are expressive and add to the spirited tale.
Run! Run! Fast as you can! You can’t catch me! I’m the Gingerbread Man! I’ve run from a husband! I’ve run from a wife! I’ve run from a butcher with a carving knife! I’ve run from a cow, and a muddy old sow, and I’ll run from you, too! I can!
Literacy Extensions:
- “How To Decorate a Gingerbread” Classroom Book
- “Gingerbread” Student Color Booklet
- Gingerbread Art Project
- Gingerbread Roll It & Read It Short Vowel Game Cards
4. The Gingerbread Girl by Lisa Campbell Ernst
The classic gingerbread boy story is given a twist in this version of the fairy tale. It’s a Gingerbread Girl! Just as in the original tale, the gingerbread girl repeats a rhythmic stanza. “I’ll run and I’ll run with a leap and a twirl. You can’t catch me, I’m the Gingerbread GIRL!”
In the end, the gingerbread girl outsmarts the fox and even ends up bringing all of the animals and people of the story together! The Illustrations are large and add to the story beautifully!
Literacy Extensions:
- “Gingerbread New Ending” Classroom Book
- Gingerbread Student Story, Man & Girl Versions
- Gingerbread & Gumdrops Counting Games
- Gingerbread Build a Word Game
5. Ten Tiny Gingerbread Men by Tiger Tales
A lovely counting book with ten gingerbread men who love bouncing everywhere. You can follow the adventures of these adorable gingerbread men as they count down from 10 to 1 in this peek-through counting book with glitter accents! Very cute book for young children learning to count.
Literacy Extensions:
- Gingerbread Word Bank
- “Gingerbread I See” Student Counting & Color Booklet
- Gingerbread Art Project
- Gingerbread Roll It & Read It Short Vowel Game Cards
6. The Gingerbread Friends by Jan Brett
That popular little character is back looking for friend because he is lonely. He goes on an adventure he’ll never forget. Gingerbread Baby is confident that he will find some new friends.
On his adventure he happens upon a bakery. He sees a sugar cookie girl and begins to dance and prance to try to make friends. But she just stares and doesn’t say a word, like all the other sweet treats he tries to meet. Will he finally make some friends? Just read to find out!
Literacy Extensions:
- “Gingerbread Senses” Student Booklet
- Gingerbread Student Worksheet
- Gingerbread Real & Nonsense Work Game
- Gingerbread Build a Word Game
7. The Gingerbread Kid Goes to School by Joan Holub
A silly twist on the classic Gingerbread Man tale. The school principal bakes a gingerbread cookie and brings it to school in his lunchbox. When the principal opens his lunchbox, the gingerbread kid winks and jumps off the desk. Where is he off to in such a hurry?
This story has another rhythmic refrain for children to repeat. “I’m the Gingerbread Kid. I’m fast as can be. You can run, run, run. But you can’t catch me!”
Literacy Extensions:
- “Gingerbread Senses” Student Booklet
- Gingerbread Story Retelling Worksheet
- Gingerbread Build a Word Google Slides
- Gingerbread Addition & Subtraction Game
8. The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School by Laura Murray
When a class leaves for recess, their just-baked Gingerbread Man is left behind. But he’s a smart cookie and heads out to find them. He’ll run, slide, skip, and as fast as he can as he chants; “I can catch them! I’m their Gingerbread Man!”
With help from the gym teacher, the nurse, the art teacher and even the principal, the Gingerbread Man does find his class, and he’s assured they’ll never leave him behind again. This story book includes a poster with fun activities.
Literacy Extensions:
- “My Gingerbread” Classroom Book
- Gingerbread Counting Activity
- Gingerbread Roll It & Read It Game Cards
- Gingerbread Sight Word Game
Finally, there are so many wonderful Gingerbread children’s books you can choose from fiction to nonfiction, the list of books is endless. Remember to pick the books that best fit the needs of your students or children and support your learning activities. Happy Reading!
Find some more literacy and extension activities in my store, The Teaching Scene by Maureen.
To read more blog topics check out my blog, “A Guide to Using Literature-Based Units of Study.”
