Gingerbread is an important part of many cultures’ holiday celebrations. The story of the Gingerbread Boy has been retold in many versions. It might be fun to make some gingerbread cookies and read the story.

Visit the Library!

• Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett.
• The Cajun Gingerbread Boy illustrated by Berthe Amoss
• The Gingerbread Boy by Richard Egielski
• The Gingerbread Boy by Paul Galdone
• The Gingerbread Man: An Old English Folktale illustrated by John A. Rowe
• The Gingerbread Man illustrated by Karen Schmidt
• The Gingerbread Man illustrated by Pam Adams
• The Gingerbread Man by Eric Kimmel
• The Gingerbread Man retold by Jim Aylesworth

Head for the Kitchen!
Make a batch of gingerbread and bake and decorate a tray of gingerbread boys. Read the story while they bake.

• Preheat the oven to 350 F.
• In a large bowl, sift together
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• In a smaller bowl beat together:
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 6 tablespons butter
  • 1 egg
  • 3/4 cup molasses
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Stir the dry ingredients into the creamed mixture. Cover and refrigerate for one hour. Roll out on a lightly floured surface and cut out cookies. Bake on a greased cookie sheet for 8-10 minutes. Place on a rack to cool. Decorate.