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Jan Brett's Gingerbread
Gingerbread Baby
Remember how the Gingerbread Boy is eaten by the fox? Well, not this Gingerbread Baby in a delicious twist to a favorite old tale.It all begins when Matti opens the oven too soon and out jumps a cheeky little Gingerbread Bay. He leads Matti's mother and father, the dog and the cat. And a whole colorful cast of characters on a rollicking chase through the village and into the forest, staying just out of reach, daring them to catch him along the way.
But Matti's not with them. He's at home in the borders making what turns out to be a gingerbread house into which the Gingerbread Baby runs. Only Matti knows he is safely inside. And readers will too when they look under the lift-the-flap gingerbread house at the end of the story, and there he is!
But Matti's not with them. He's at home in the borders making what turns out to be a gingerbread house into which the Gingerbread Baby runs. Only Matti knows he is safely inside. And readers will too when they look under the lift-the-flap gingerbread house at the end of the story, and there he is!
32 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 1999
About the author
Jan Brett
110 books964 followersWith 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
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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 389 reviews
January 18, 2018
I am more and more a fan of Jan Brett. This book is fun and it's a work of art. So beautiful.
My nephew loves Gingerbread men and he loves this book. He wanted to read it twice to take in all the details. He loves the line, "You can't catch me." It makes him giggle.
I love the art, the story was fun. The last page, there is a pop-up, which is fancy and nice. The story is smart. Matti, the boy who cooked the gingerbread baby, is the only one smart enough to catch him. The instructions says to cook him for 8 minutes and do not peek. Well, Matti peeks and he gets away and starts the story. Love this!
My nephew loves Gingerbread men and he loves this book. He wanted to read it twice to take in all the details. He loves the line, "You can't catch me." It makes him giggle.
I love the art, the story was fun. The last page, there is a pop-up, which is fancy and nice. The story is smart. Matti, the boy who cooked the gingerbread baby, is the only one smart enough to catch him. The instructions says to cook him for 8 minutes and do not peek. Well, Matti peeks and he gets away and starts the story. Love this!
November 10, 2014
I read this book at least 5 times a day (Yes.Every.Single.Day) thanks to my 18 month old, who is blissfully unaware of all the things wrong with "The Gingerbread Baby". Unfortunately, his dad and I are not so lucky and noticed some flaws.
1. Unlike his parents, Matti is blond. There are only two possible explanations: he is either adopted or the milk and cheese man is his real dad.
2. The annoying narcissism of the Gingerbread Baby. We are reminded by that thing on every single page that he is "[...] the best Gingerbread Baby ever".
3. Note to the Gingerbread Baby: If you hide in the lid of the milk cans, it is very stupid to giggle and let the people who are looking for you know that they "will never find" you. It comes as no surprise that they do on the very next page.
4. The character's astonishing lack of curiosity for the supernatural forces that are obviously at work, when a Gingerbread Baby jumps out of the oven. All they can think of is catching it. Because it says so.
5. Matti clearly displays signs of being a sociopath (at least), since he does not join the rest of the villagers and all the animals in their chase but stays home instead and comes up with an evil plan to trick and capture the Gingerbread Baby.
6. His plan succeeds, although we are wondering how in the world he has the time to bake a gingerbread house, anticipate where the Gingerbread Baby is going, get there first, catch it, run home and play innocent when his parents arrive.
7. His parents also leave him home alone with a lit stove. Which they shouldn't.
8. Another flaw in the timeline: The Gingerbread Baby is running into the woods as everybody is getting closer. But even though his followers are catching up with him, nobody notices him running into Matti's gingerbread house. Or sees Matti running away. Or notices the footsteps.
9. For the villagers, the only possible reason for finding gingerbread crumbs in the woods is that "[...]this must be all that's left of the Gingerbread Baby." No, you simpletons, he might just have had a bowl movement.
10. Why does the Gingerbread Baby find the smell of gingerbread delicious? Is he a cannibal?
11. Why can only Matti hear the tiny voice coming out of the gingerbread house? Is it soundproof? And what is the Gingerbread Baby saying ("Help", maybe?)
12. What happens next, now that the Gingerbread Baby has fallen into the hands of Matti, the sociopath? Probably nothing little children would enjoy reading...
1. Unlike his parents, Matti is blond. There are only two possible explanations: he is either adopted or the milk and cheese man is his real dad.
2. The annoying narcissism of the Gingerbread Baby. We are reminded by that thing on every single page that he is "[...] the best Gingerbread Baby ever".
3. Note to the Gingerbread Baby: If you hide in the lid of the milk cans, it is very stupid to giggle and let the people who are looking for you know that they "will never find" you. It comes as no surprise that they do on the very next page.
4. The character's astonishing lack of curiosity for the supernatural forces that are obviously at work, when a Gingerbread Baby jumps out of the oven. All they can think of is catching it. Because it says so.
5. Matti clearly displays signs of being a sociopath (at least), since he does not join the rest of the villagers and all the animals in their chase but stays home instead and comes up with an evil plan to trick and capture the Gingerbread Baby.
6. His plan succeeds, although we are wondering how in the world he has the time to bake a gingerbread house, anticipate where the Gingerbread Baby is going, get there first, catch it, run home and play innocent when his parents arrive.
7. His parents also leave him home alone with a lit stove. Which they shouldn't.
8. Another flaw in the timeline: The Gingerbread Baby is running into the woods as everybody is getting closer. But even though his followers are catching up with him, nobody notices him running into Matti's gingerbread house. Or sees Matti running away. Or notices the footsteps.
9. For the villagers, the only possible reason for finding gingerbread crumbs in the woods is that "[...]this must be all that's left of the Gingerbread Baby." No, you simpletons, he might just have had a bowl movement.
10. Why does the Gingerbread Baby find the smell of gingerbread delicious? Is he a cannibal?
11. Why can only Matti hear the tiny voice coming out of the gingerbread house? Is it soundproof? And what is the Gingerbread Baby saying ("Help", maybe?)
12. What happens next, now that the Gingerbread Baby has fallen into the hands of Matti, the sociopath? Probably nothing little children would enjoy reading...
September 13, 2019
I enjoyed this variation of the Gingerbread Man. In this version we have a gingerbread baby boy. Because Matt couldn't help but peek before the cooking time was up, the gingerbread baby jumps out of the oven and dashes out the front door. He gives everyone a merry chase through the village and into the forest. Only Matt thinks of a way to catch the gingerbread baby -- with a gingerbread house.
The illustrations are beautiful. The framing surrounding the pictures is active with showing small glimpses of what Matt is doing to catch the gingerbread baby. The last page has a flip-up, gingerbread house flap so the child can see the gingerbread baby singing in it. This book would appeal to kindergarten and up. For additional activities and coloring sheets related to the story go to http://www.janbrett.com.
The illustrations are beautiful. The framing surrounding the pictures is active with showing small glimpses of what Matt is doing to catch the gingerbread baby. The last page has a flip-up, gingerbread house flap so the child can see the gingerbread baby singing in it. This book would appeal to kindergarten and up. For additional activities and coloring sheets related to the story go to http://www.janbrett.com.
January 25, 2019
4.36 STARS
What a cute and unexpected twist on the classic tale, The Gingerbread Man!! (Or maybe, I just missed this story when I was growing up). Who knew that a gingerbread baby could wreak such havoc? Jan Brett weaves an imaginative tale about what can happen when you do not follow a recipe to the letter. For the holidays, or anytime during the year, this book is definitely enjoyable.
What a cute and unexpected twist on the classic tale, The Gingerbread Man!! (Or maybe, I just missed this story when I was growing up). Who knew that a gingerbread baby could wreak such havoc? Jan Brett weaves an imaginative tale about what can happen when you do not follow a recipe to the letter. For the holidays, or anytime during the year, this book is definitely enjoyable.
December 14, 2016
Our incoming Kindergartners do a gingerbread hunt and it's nice to be able to build on that initial experience by reading other versions. This one has been a great favorite with many of my students who agreed with Jan Brett in not liking the ending of most gingerbread man stories. Great read-aloud with possible tie-ins to a wide number of lessons--folk tales, compare/contrast, versions & variations, & prediction jut to name a few. As a bit of a cautionary tale to anyone reading this aloud, many of our younger students have never heard the word "bleating" and apparently are imagining a "bleeding goat" instead of a "bleating goat".
Be sure to visit Jan Brett's website at http://www.janbrett.com/ and take a look at the videos she has included of herself reading from this story, baking gingerbread with her grandkids, and drawing a gingerbread baby. You can also find wonderful activities and printables to go with whichever story you happen to be reading.
Be sure to visit Jan Brett's website at http://www.janbrett.com/ and take a look at the videos she has included of herself reading from this story, baking gingerbread with her grandkids, and drawing a gingerbread baby. You can also find wonderful activities and printables to go with whichever story you happen to be reading.
November 20, 2018
Inspired by the classic Euro-American folktale about the Gingerbread Man, prolific picture-book author/artist Jan Brett spins an engaging fantasy about a Gingerbread Baby who, let out of the oven early by his young creator, takes off on a wild escapade. As almost all the farm residents, and then the villagers give chase, Matti, the young boy who baked the runaway cookie in the first place, sets out to create a Gingerbread house for his independent creation...
Similar in many respects to a number of European folktales about runaway delectables - the Russian Kolobok, the Norwegian tale of the runaway pancake - the American story of The Gingerbread Man first saw print in 1875, in children's periodical St. Nicholas Magazine. Apparently it was told to the author's children by a storyteller from Maine. Whatever its origins, this story has been given an entertaining twist by Brett, who saves her runaway baby from the usual fate (being eaten by the cunning fox), and gives young readers a happier ending. As always with this artist, the illustrations are gorgeous, with a rich, full color palette, lots of details in the decorative borders and side-panels, and a fun flap to be lifted on the final two-page spread, revealing the Gingerbread Baby in his new home. Recommended to Jan Brett fans, and to anyone looking for entertaining retellings of this classic tale.
Similar in many respects to a number of European folktales about runaway delectables - the Russian Kolobok, the Norwegian tale of the runaway pancake - the American story of The Gingerbread Man first saw print in 1875, in children's periodical St. Nicholas Magazine. Apparently it was told to the author's children by a storyteller from Maine. Whatever its origins, this story has been given an entertaining twist by Brett, who saves her runaway baby from the usual fate (being eaten by the cunning fox), and gives young readers a happier ending. As always with this artist, the illustrations are gorgeous, with a rich, full color palette, lots of details in the decorative borders and side-panels, and a fun flap to be lifted on the final two-page spread, revealing the Gingerbread Baby in his new home. Recommended to Jan Brett fans, and to anyone looking for entertaining retellings of this classic tale.
December 3, 2019
Gingerbread Baby is a huge hit at our house. It is new-to-me and it was great fun sharing it with my boys. They loved it and asked for multiple readings. It is a very fun book to read aloud, and I set the Gingerbread Baby's little taunts to a melody so now the boys are running around the house singing "I'm the Gingerbread Baby! Catch me if you can!" Haha. I think this is Brett at her finest. The illustrations really work to capture every facet of the story. Sometimes, in other books, I feel that Brett's illustrations get a little too sprawling and the borders etc. can be distracting. But, here, I felt it was just right and it was fun getting little glimpses of what Matti was up to while the Gingerbread Baby had his adventure. Love the illustrations of that Gingerbread Baby -- so darn cheeky and so darn cute! ;-) I also loved the ending. spoiler: We all loved this so much I am considering adding it to our personal library, and I found out there are actually two editions of this book. The board book is, apparently, an abridgement. I can't imagine an abridged version so I would think most folks would definitely want to seek out the hardcover, full edition unless anyone here is reading to a young baby/toddler who couldn't sit through a longer PB.
February 5, 2017
Cute story and when I read it to the kids in school we didn't expect the ending. Lots of great color illustrations!
December 28, 2022
This Christmas the boys - my two grandsons - are finally 'too old' to be read to, but I am not too old to read to me! (Told them so!) And because of that, I'm re-reading some of our favorites from over the years. These are books I keep at my house - not theirs - and they won't get them until they (maybe) have children to read them to. The first is...
This one! Which the younger boy loved! Had to read it over and over! (I prob. read it a dozen times, if not more.) The story of Matti, who asks his mother to make him a gingerbread man, but instead it comes out a 'gingerbread baby.' A mischievous baby. A baby who immediately runs away singing: 'I am the gingerbread baby, fresh from the pan. If you want me, catch me if you can.' The story then moves to a race through town, over a bridge, everywhere you can imagine as Matti - and eventually half the townspeople - rush after the poor little cookie-man so they can eat him. (I guess.) This does have some troublesome elements, now that I think of it...
Anyhow, the artwork in author Jan Brett's books is outstanding! With intense detail and borders around every page of cookies and cooking molds, animals and other things. The artwork is reminiscent of the Swiss or Austrian countryside with buildings, trees, animals, people in traditional clothing and so on. It's one of those books which is as fun to LOOK at, ignoring the words, as reading it.
Five wonderful stars which gave me - and the boys - dozens of wonderful memories.
(And btw, the gingerbread baby doesn't get eaten - there's a lovely surprise ending!)
This one! Which the younger boy loved! Had to read it over and over! (I prob. read it a dozen times, if not more.) The story of Matti, who asks his mother to make him a gingerbread man, but instead it comes out a 'gingerbread baby.' A mischievous baby. A baby who immediately runs away singing: 'I am the gingerbread baby, fresh from the pan. If you want me, catch me if you can.' The story then moves to a race through town, over a bridge, everywhere you can imagine as Matti - and eventually half the townspeople - rush after the poor little cookie-man so they can eat him. (I guess.) This does have some troublesome elements, now that I think of it...
Anyhow, the artwork in author Jan Brett's books is outstanding! With intense detail and borders around every page of cookies and cooking molds, animals and other things. The artwork is reminiscent of the Swiss or Austrian countryside with buildings, trees, animals, people in traditional clothing and so on. It's one of those books which is as fun to LOOK at, ignoring the words, as reading it.
Five wonderful stars which gave me - and the boys - dozens of wonderful memories.
(And btw, the gingerbread baby doesn't get eaten - there's a lovely surprise ending!)
December 23, 2010
This is not a classic retelling of the Gingerbread Man but a cute story of the Gingerbread Baby. Children enjoy the idea of the baby outwitting everybody. It adds a different dimension to tale. I would have liked to see a better flowing story but overall it is wonderful. The children love the beautiful Nordic illustrations. Jan Brett provides additional material to go along with the story on her website. My kids love making the gingerbread house which comes complete with a gingerbread baby!
December 16, 2008
I love Jan Brett and "Gingerbread Man" stories but this book is a disappointment. The wonderful rhyme of the original story "Run run as fast as you can. You can't catch me. I'm the Gingerbread Man!", is changed to a cumbersome stilted rhyme in which the gingerbread baby tries to make friends with confectionary characters in a bakery shop. This book will fit the bill for teachers and parents asking for gingerbread man stories but I wouldn't choose as a read-aloud or a favoirite holiday book.
April 23, 2015
I love Jan Brett but there is some real funny business going on in this story.
Why do Matti's parents leave him home alone with the oven on? That's a terrible idea.
Then Matti is USING the oven! How old is this kid?!
He's reading a recipe for a gingerbread boy but somehow magically creates an entire gingerbread house, decorated and all, in the same amount of time.
The gingerbread baby is drawn to the scent of the gingerbread house. Uhhhh... cannibal baby?
Why do Matti's parents leave him home alone with the oven on? That's a terrible idea.
Then Matti is USING the oven! How old is this kid?!
He's reading a recipe for a gingerbread boy but somehow magically creates an entire gingerbread house, decorated and all, in the same amount of time.
The gingerbread baby is drawn to the scent of the gingerbread house. Uhhhh... cannibal baby?
December 13, 2018
I voluntarily read this aloud today to my preschoolers. It has grown on me since the first time I had to read it. The Jan Brett illustrations are lovely, the text is okay, the ending is creative. It's funny to read along with four year olds who don't know what goats are.
March 16, 2017
Matti makes a ginger bread house to try and catch a rogue ginger bread cookie. A very beautifully illustrated book by Jan Brett. A story of an escaped cookie.
January 7, 2018
A sweet story with beautiful illustrations!
December 21, 2021
Jan Brett's stories and illustrations never disappoint!
This little gingerbread man twist is such a fun read!
This little gingerbread man twist is such a fun read!
December 18, 2020
This is such a delightful book! I have read this today with my 8 year old student, and he truly enjoyed it. It is usually a bit hard for me to keep his attention focused when reading, but this book truly caught his attention . Truly recommend it for everyone!
November 29, 2018
This is my favorite Jan Brett book. The story is a fun twist on the Gingerbread Man. The illustrations are vivid and wonderful. The story is fun and festive.
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December 13, 2020Cute story and beautiful illustrations!
November 9, 2023
Beautiful story. Love the illustrations.
July 5, 2024
Gingerbread Baby good
February 18, 2016
Title: Gingerbread Baby
Author: Jan Brett
Illustrator: Jan Brett
Genre: European Folktale
Theme(s): Baking, Gingerbread
Opening Line/sentence:
It was cold outside. It was warm inside. A fine day for gingerbread, Matti thought.
Brief Book Summary:
Matti, a little Swiss boy creates a gingerbread baby only to have it hop up and run away. As it ran through the town it caused chaos among the all the animals and townspeople. Each person tried to catch the gingerbread baby with no success until it was thought that the fox ate him. However, throughout the entire book Matti is whipping up a new gingerbread house and just when you think the gingerbread baby is gone, he pops up in the gingerbread house.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Marta Segal (Booklist, November 15, 1999 (Vol. 96, No. 6))
Once again Brett has given her own special spin to a classic. Obnoxious, cocky Gingerbread Baby is definitely a cookie for the millennium. Equally modern is his owner, Matti, a Swiss boy who bakes Gingerbread Baby all by himself. As the escaped cookie wreaks havoc on the snow-covered village, it is pursued by the expected cast of animals and town folk. Meanwhile, Matti is at home working diligently on a surefire plan to catch his errant creation, with his progress monitored in side-panel pictures. Brett's signature artwork is intriguingly detailed and delightfully old-fashioned: the Swiss locale gives the book a wonderful holiday feeling, as do the cookies and confections that decorate the picture borders. A special lift-the-flap illustration at the back reveals how clever Matti eventually triumphs.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Jan Lieberman (Children's Literature)
The joyous journey of a jaunty gingerbread boy is served up deliciously in this book. Set in the Alps, this is Ms. Brett's own version. It could be an operetta starring the clever cookie boy who escapes all who try to catch him. He pulls the braids of Martha and Madeline, tweaks the nose of the milk and cheese man, escapes the fox and runs right into a luscious gingerbread house made especially for him by the boy Matti. The colors, the setting, and the fun and energy of this confection will stir you to make your own gingerbread men and house.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
Both reviews mention how the detailed illustrations make the story seem delightfully old-fashioned. This is fitting for the warm hearth atmosphere that surrounds holiday traditions. The reviewers also commented on the surprise ending and Matti’s success in capturing the ornery gingerbread baby. I agree with both reviews that this is a unique spin on the classic Gingerbread Man story with intricate illustrations of frosting and gingerbread to tie the whole story together.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
The illustrations in this book are specifically designed to tell the plot without needing words. Throughout the gingerbread baby’s adventure through the town the pictures along the side are showing Matti’s work in the kitchen to create a gingerbread house. The setting is in the Alps, the perfect landscape for a chilly winter tale about gingerbread and is strongly connected to the traditional style of the story. Also the plot of the story leaves the readers in suspense wondering what will the gingerbread baby do next? Will he be eaten? All while the Matti is plotting a new way to capture the gingerbread baby.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
This story would be a great read during the winter, especially around the holidays. The class could extend the story by creating new adventures that the gingerbread baby went on before returning to his house. Also as a class, gingerbread could be made to practice measuring skills and other math concepts. Then the students could decorate their own gingerbread houses as a story visual. Students could also compare and contrast this reading to the original Gingerbread Man and note similarities in the plot, yet differences in the endings.
Author: Jan Brett
Illustrator: Jan Brett
Genre: European Folktale
Theme(s): Baking, Gingerbread
Opening Line/sentence:
It was cold outside. It was warm inside. A fine day for gingerbread, Matti thought.
Brief Book Summary:
Matti, a little Swiss boy creates a gingerbread baby only to have it hop up and run away. As it ran through the town it caused chaos among the all the animals and townspeople. Each person tried to catch the gingerbread baby with no success until it was thought that the fox ate him. However, throughout the entire book Matti is whipping up a new gingerbread house and just when you think the gingerbread baby is gone, he pops up in the gingerbread house.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Marta Segal (Booklist, November 15, 1999 (Vol. 96, No. 6))
Once again Brett has given her own special spin to a classic. Obnoxious, cocky Gingerbread Baby is definitely a cookie for the millennium. Equally modern is his owner, Matti, a Swiss boy who bakes Gingerbread Baby all by himself. As the escaped cookie wreaks havoc on the snow-covered village, it is pursued by the expected cast of animals and town folk. Meanwhile, Matti is at home working diligently on a surefire plan to catch his errant creation, with his progress monitored in side-panel pictures. Brett's signature artwork is intriguingly detailed and delightfully old-fashioned: the Swiss locale gives the book a wonderful holiday feeling, as do the cookies and confections that decorate the picture borders. A special lift-the-flap illustration at the back reveals how clever Matti eventually triumphs.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Jan Lieberman (Children's Literature)
The joyous journey of a jaunty gingerbread boy is served up deliciously in this book. Set in the Alps, this is Ms. Brett's own version. It could be an operetta starring the clever cookie boy who escapes all who try to catch him. He pulls the braids of Martha and Madeline, tweaks the nose of the milk and cheese man, escapes the fox and runs right into a luscious gingerbread house made especially for him by the boy Matti. The colors, the setting, and the fun and energy of this confection will stir you to make your own gingerbread men and house.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
Both reviews mention how the detailed illustrations make the story seem delightfully old-fashioned. This is fitting for the warm hearth atmosphere that surrounds holiday traditions. The reviewers also commented on the surprise ending and Matti’s success in capturing the ornery gingerbread baby. I agree with both reviews that this is a unique spin on the classic Gingerbread Man story with intricate illustrations of frosting and gingerbread to tie the whole story together.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
The illustrations in this book are specifically designed to tell the plot without needing words. Throughout the gingerbread baby’s adventure through the town the pictures along the side are showing Matti’s work in the kitchen to create a gingerbread house. The setting is in the Alps, the perfect landscape for a chilly winter tale about gingerbread and is strongly connected to the traditional style of the story. Also the plot of the story leaves the readers in suspense wondering what will the gingerbread baby do next? Will he be eaten? All while the Matti is plotting a new way to capture the gingerbread baby.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
This story would be a great read during the winter, especially around the holidays. The class could extend the story by creating new adventures that the gingerbread baby went on before returning to his house. Also as a class, gingerbread could be made to practice measuring skills and other math concepts. Then the students could decorate their own gingerbread houses as a story visual. Students could also compare and contrast this reading to the original Gingerbread Man and note similarities in the plot, yet differences in the endings.
Read
July 3, 2016Title: Gingerbread Baby
Author: Jan Brett
Illustrator:
Genre: European (Swiss) Folklore
Theme(s): Mischief, trickster
Opening line/sentence:
It was cold outside.
Brief Book Summary:
Matti makes a gingerbread baby who comes alive and runs around town while all the townspeople try to capture him.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Jan Lieberman (Children's Literature)
The joyous journey of a jaunty gingerbread boy is served up deliciously in this book. Set in the Alps, this is Ms. Brett's own version. It could be an operetta starring the clever cookie boy who escapes all who try to catch him. He pulls the braids of Martha and Madeline, tweaks the nose of the milk and cheese man, escapes the fox and runs right into a luscious gingerbread house made especially for him by the boy Matti. The colors, the setting, and the fun and energy of this confection will stir you to make your own gingerbread men and house.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Patty Derrickson (The Lorgnette - Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 12, No. 3))
GINGERBREAD BABY has a familiar story line with a twist at the end. A young boy and his mother bake a gingerbread baby that escapes from their oven and leads a merry chase of people and animals through the countryside. The end of the story even surprises the Gingerbread Baby. The story told in the borders on each page adds to the excitement of the story. Jan Brett's beautiful paintings capture the spirit of the story.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
Both reviews obviously commend Jan Brett’s beautiful illustrations. I agree with both reviews that the pictures add to the energy the Gingerbread Baby creates. In addition, the first review commend the colors and setting, which make more captivating illustrations that bring the book and Gingerbread Baby to life. Also, the second review mentions the the story behind the illustrations within the border. Brett’s stories are always full of exciting details.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
The book gives a fun spin to the traditional Gingerbread Man story. The setting, character names and outfits keeps the traditional feeling. The Gingerbread Baby is spunky and his quick “Catch me if you can” remarks makes you want to chase the baby for yourself. In addition to the lively story, the immensely detailed illustrations use bright colors and movement to depict the action behind the story.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
I would use this book around Christmas time to show traditional tales of the winter season. To add an interactive element, I would have the students make their own gingerbread paper cut-outs with their names on it. We would use these cut-outs as decoration for the season. Also, I may have the class make actual gingerbread cookies to take home for their parents or friends. Another way to use the cookies would be to have them for a Christmas party the day before vacation.
Author: Jan Brett
Illustrator:
Genre: European (Swiss) Folklore
Theme(s): Mischief, trickster
Opening line/sentence:
It was cold outside.
Brief Book Summary:
Matti makes a gingerbread baby who comes alive and runs around town while all the townspeople try to capture him.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Jan Lieberman (Children's Literature)
The joyous journey of a jaunty gingerbread boy is served up deliciously in this book. Set in the Alps, this is Ms. Brett's own version. It could be an operetta starring the clever cookie boy who escapes all who try to catch him. He pulls the braids of Martha and Madeline, tweaks the nose of the milk and cheese man, escapes the fox and runs right into a luscious gingerbread house made especially for him by the boy Matti. The colors, the setting, and the fun and energy of this confection will stir you to make your own gingerbread men and house.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Patty Derrickson (The Lorgnette - Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 12, No. 3))
GINGERBREAD BABY has a familiar story line with a twist at the end. A young boy and his mother bake a gingerbread baby that escapes from their oven and leads a merry chase of people and animals through the countryside. The end of the story even surprises the Gingerbread Baby. The story told in the borders on each page adds to the excitement of the story. Jan Brett's beautiful paintings capture the spirit of the story.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
Both reviews obviously commend Jan Brett’s beautiful illustrations. I agree with both reviews that the pictures add to the energy the Gingerbread Baby creates. In addition, the first review commend the colors and setting, which make more captivating illustrations that bring the book and Gingerbread Baby to life. Also, the second review mentions the the story behind the illustrations within the border. Brett’s stories are always full of exciting details.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
The book gives a fun spin to the traditional Gingerbread Man story. The setting, character names and outfits keeps the traditional feeling. The Gingerbread Baby is spunky and his quick “Catch me if you can” remarks makes you want to chase the baby for yourself. In addition to the lively story, the immensely detailed illustrations use bright colors and movement to depict the action behind the story.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
I would use this book around Christmas time to show traditional tales of the winter season. To add an interactive element, I would have the students make their own gingerbread paper cut-outs with their names on it. We would use these cut-outs as decoration for the season. Also, I may have the class make actual gingerbread cookies to take home for their parents or friends. Another way to use the cookies would be to have them for a Christmas party the day before vacation.
November 30, 2017
Jan Brett is an amazing choice for an author when you want to go for some light-hearted, holiday-spirited fun with reading. I gave this book a 4 star rating for its amazing illustrations and fun story for young kids. The story is very simple. A young boy named Mattie and his Grandmother decide it would be fun to bake some gingerbread men! Mattie gets impatient and opens the oven too soon. Before the gingerbread could become a fully baked gingerbread man, a gingerbread baby pops out of the oven, comes to life and escapes out the front door. The little gingerbread baby runs amok in the town but Mattie comes up with a solution and learns a lesson in patience.
My first impression was that the drawings actually almost resembled an old fashion, traditional fairy tale style. It felt very traditional and jolly to me. Jan Brett Utilizes design elements such as borders, gentle and consistent fonts and extremely detailed drawings. Her borders are always elaborate and they always have a fun theme. The borders in Gingerbread Baby were festive and well drawn. The border was actually a well decorated gingerbread cookie with frosting around the edges. This is merely one example of the elaborate detail that goes into creating a cohesive theme throughout her illustrations. Other examples include the theme of snow, christmas references in the forms of decorations and extremely fine and detailed lines. Other compositional elements that further this overall cohesion are the textures that are always elaborate except for in the snows. This creates an effect that the snow is popping but without drowning out her beautiful images. She is great at adding dimension to her drawings using space. Overall it is a great read.
My first impression was that the drawings actually almost resembled an old fashion, traditional fairy tale style. It felt very traditional and jolly to me. Jan Brett Utilizes design elements such as borders, gentle and consistent fonts and extremely detailed drawings. Her borders are always elaborate and they always have a fun theme. The borders in Gingerbread Baby were festive and well drawn. The border was actually a well decorated gingerbread cookie with frosting around the edges. This is merely one example of the elaborate detail that goes into creating a cohesive theme throughout her illustrations. Other examples include the theme of snow, christmas references in the forms of decorations and extremely fine and detailed lines. Other compositional elements that further this overall cohesion are the textures that are always elaborate except for in the snows. This creates an effect that the snow is popping but without drowning out her beautiful images. She is great at adding dimension to her drawings using space. Overall it is a great read.
December 10, 2017
This is such a wonderful story, I like how it closly relates to the original story. My son loved all the pictures, which were simply amazing. He was picking out different animals, shapes, and items, while I was reading to him. He now says "Gingerbread Baby run!" This will now be a favorite to read durning Christmas time in my house.
July 26, 2017
Genres for this class fulfilled by this book: Traditional
Copyright Date: 2003
Estimate of age level of interest: K-3
Estimate of reading level: 2
Brief description: Matti is going to make gingerbread cookies. He peeks to early and out jumps the gingerbread baby! A lot of characters try to stop him but Matti has a plan.
Identify at least 2 characteristics of this genre and subgenre and discuss how they appear in your book: The Gingerbread Baby is a cumulative tale with each new chaser repeating the pattern. It ends with quick climax when Matti catches the gingerbread baby. As a picture book the Gingerbread Baby's illustration are stylized in similar way to other works by Jan Brett. The images are detailed with a story within a story being told in the frame around the central images on each page. The illustrations are extremely detailed.
In what ways and how well does the book as a whole serve its intended audience? This is a beautifully illustrated book that ends on a happier note than other gingerbread tales. Young children will love the chase and older children will enjoy the detailed images that seem like a seek book.
Awards and Citations:
Booklist, 11/15/99
Christian Library Journal, 09/01/00
Kirkus Reviews, 11/01/99
Publishers Weekly, 09/20/99
School Library Journal, 11/01/99
Teacher Librarian, 02/01/00
Wilson's Children, 10/01/10
Copyright Date: 2003
Estimate of age level of interest: K-3
Estimate of reading level: 2
Brief description: Matti is going to make gingerbread cookies. He peeks to early and out jumps the gingerbread baby! A lot of characters try to stop him but Matti has a plan.
Identify at least 2 characteristics of this genre and subgenre and discuss how they appear in your book: The Gingerbread Baby is a cumulative tale with each new chaser repeating the pattern. It ends with quick climax when Matti catches the gingerbread baby. As a picture book the Gingerbread Baby's illustration are stylized in similar way to other works by Jan Brett. The images are detailed with a story within a story being told in the frame around the central images on each page. The illustrations are extremely detailed.
In what ways and how well does the book as a whole serve its intended audience? This is a beautifully illustrated book that ends on a happier note than other gingerbread tales. Young children will love the chase and older children will enjoy the detailed images that seem like a seek book.
Awards and Citations:
Booklist, 11/15/99
Christian Library Journal, 09/01/00
Kirkus Reviews, 11/01/99
Publishers Weekly, 09/20/99
School Library Journal, 11/01/99
Teacher Librarian, 02/01/00
Wilson's Children, 10/01/10
March 11, 2017
Awards-Bank Street College Best Children’s Book of the Year 1999
Grade: This book would be for grades k-3
Gingerbread baby is based on the classic folktale of the gingerbread man. It was a cold snowy day and the family wanted to make gingerbread. As soon as the gingerbread was done cooking, a gingerbread baby jumped out of the oven! He ran out the door and everyone tried to catch him but they couldn't. All the animals and people chased the gingerbread baby until the little boy had an idea. He was going to build a gingerbread house! He uses the house to catch the gingerbread baby and he lives in the house.
The gingerbread baby is a classic spin off of the gingerbread man. This book would be so much fun to read to children before making gingerbread cookies. The pictures are full of details and I enjoy the little hints of what is coming next on the side of the page. This book would be so much fun to read in the winter time with children.
To use this in the classroom the children could read the book and then write about how they would catch the gingerbread baby. Another way to use this book in the classroom is to have the class in small groups create a map of the journey that the gingerbread baby took.
Grade: This book would be for grades k-3
Gingerbread baby is based on the classic folktale of the gingerbread man. It was a cold snowy day and the family wanted to make gingerbread. As soon as the gingerbread was done cooking, a gingerbread baby jumped out of the oven! He ran out the door and everyone tried to catch him but they couldn't. All the animals and people chased the gingerbread baby until the little boy had an idea. He was going to build a gingerbread house! He uses the house to catch the gingerbread baby and he lives in the house.
The gingerbread baby is a classic spin off of the gingerbread man. This book would be so much fun to read to children before making gingerbread cookies. The pictures are full of details and I enjoy the little hints of what is coming next on the side of the page. This book would be so much fun to read in the winter time with children.
To use this in the classroom the children could read the book and then write about how they would catch the gingerbread baby. Another way to use this book in the classroom is to have the class in small groups create a map of the journey that the gingerbread baby took.
November 15, 2017
Summary: It is winter time and Matti, the main character, makes a gingerbread baby who comes to life. Now, the whole village is on the hunt for the gingerbread baby that escaped. Everyone is out looking while Matti is at home plotting his plan to capture the gingerbread baby with his new gingerbread house. Matti sets out the trap catching the baby, and he takes it home for his parents to see. His parents are very proud of him.
Theme: The theme is about planning and trickery.
Response: I read this story a while ago, and it is fun to see what happens to the gingerbread baby and how he gets caught in the end. Matti is smart and thinks ahead, but the reader doesn't know what he's doing, so it is suspenseful. The chase is thrilling to read and makes you excited about winter time.
Recommend because: Children can imagine and explore different ideas of how they might have captured the gingerbread baby. Children can also get excited about the holiday season with this book and making gingerbread men and/or a gingerbread house with their family.
Theme: The theme is about planning and trickery.
Response: I read this story a while ago, and it is fun to see what happens to the gingerbread baby and how he gets caught in the end. Matti is smart and thinks ahead, but the reader doesn't know what he's doing, so it is suspenseful. The chase is thrilling to read and makes you excited about winter time.
Recommend because: Children can imagine and explore different ideas of how they might have captured the gingerbread baby. Children can also get excited about the holiday season with this book and making gingerbread men and/or a gingerbread house with their family.
July 25, 2023
I absolutely love this book! It has got to be my favourite Jan Brett book, primarily because of its illustrations.
A great addition to any collection.
Beginning readers but for book lovers of any age.
✨✨✨✨✨
A great addition to any collection.
Beginning readers but for book lovers of any age.
✨✨✨✨✨
March 8, 2017
This book is a great example of traditional literature. Its the classic story about a ginger bread man running away, but this time its a baby. It seems that the setting of this story is in Germany or Norway. The main little boy is inpatient and opens the oven too early releasing the gingerbread baby. The baby is fast. He causes commotion throughout the village, so the boy has to think of how he can catch him.
The artwork in this book is breathtaking. It is very colorful, and each page is extremely detailed. The cultural aspect of this art was highlighted. The boarders even had detailed artwork that shows other things that are happening in the story. The art artistic style in this book is one of a kind. I really loved how they changed the concept of the gingerbread man to a baby. I highly recommend reading this amazing book.
The artwork in this book is breathtaking. It is very colorful, and each page is extremely detailed. The cultural aspect of this art was highlighted. The boarders even had detailed artwork that shows other things that are happening in the story. The art artistic style in this book is one of a kind. I really loved how they changed the concept of the gingerbread man to a baby. I highly recommend reading this amazing book.
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