The Gingerbread Man
A gingerbread man escapes his bakers and animals, has an adventure, and joyfully finds a new place.
At the edge of a happy village, an old woman and an old man made a gingerbread man with candy eyes and a big, bright smile. When they took him out of the warm oven, he jumped off the tray and called, “Don’t eat me!” Then, with quick little steps, he ran right out the open door.
The old woman and old man chased him through their yard, but he laughed and shouted, “Run, run, as fast as you can! You can’t catch me, I’m the Gingerbread Man!”
He scurried down the road and passed a brown cow. “Stop, cookie! You look delicious!” said the cow. But the gingerbread man just ran faster and said, “I ran from an old woman and an old man, and I can run away from you, too!”
Next, a pink pig joined in. “Wait, tasty treat! I want a bite!” oinked the pig. But the gingerbread man kept going. “I ran from an old woman, an old man, and a cow, and I can run away from you, too!”
Soon, a horse heard the noise and called, “Come back here, little snack!” The gingerbread man only giggled and hurried on. “I ran from an old woman, old man, cow, and pig, and I can run away from you, too!”
At last, the gingerbread man reached a big river. He stopped. Gingerbread doesn’t like to swim! A fox appeared and said, “Hop on my tail, I’ll help you across.” The gingerbread man climbed onto the fox’s tail.
When the water got deeper, the fox said, “Jump on my back so you stay dry!” The gingerbread man moved up. “Now jump onto my nose—it’s the highest spot!” said the fox.
At the other side, the fox gave a little lift, and the gingerbread man landed safely on the grass. He stood up, waved at the animals, and said, “Trying new things can lead to fun adventures!”
Even now, the village remembers the day when a sweet little gingerbread man ran, jumped, and laughed his way into everyone’s hearts.
The old woman and old man chased him through their yard, but he laughed and shouted, “Run, run, as fast as you can! You can’t catch me, I’m the Gingerbread Man!”
He scurried down the road and passed a brown cow. “Stop, cookie! You look delicious!” said the cow. But the gingerbread man just ran faster and said, “I ran from an old woman and an old man, and I can run away from you, too!”
Next, a pink pig joined in. “Wait, tasty treat! I want a bite!” oinked the pig. But the gingerbread man kept going. “I ran from an old woman, an old man, and a cow, and I can run away from you, too!”
Soon, a horse heard the noise and called, “Come back here, little snack!” The gingerbread man only giggled and hurried on. “I ran from an old woman, old man, cow, and pig, and I can run away from you, too!”
At last, the gingerbread man reached a big river. He stopped. Gingerbread doesn’t like to swim! A fox appeared and said, “Hop on my tail, I’ll help you across.” The gingerbread man climbed onto the fox’s tail.
When the water got deeper, the fox said, “Jump on my back so you stay dry!” The gingerbread man moved up. “Now jump onto my nose—it’s the highest spot!” said the fox.
At the other side, the fox gave a little lift, and the gingerbread man landed safely on the grass. He stood up, waved at the animals, and said, “Trying new things can lead to fun adventures!”
Even now, the village remembers the day when a sweet little gingerbread man ran, jumped, and laughed his way into everyone’s hearts.