The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School by Laura Murray

My neighbor Michelle told me about this book. I'm not a huge fan of the Gingerbread Man because I find him arrogant, but this gingerbread man is different.

The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School written by Laura Murray and illustrated by Mike Lowery is about a gingerbread man who only wants to run after the school children so that he can be with him. Some pages are set up like a graphic novel, so it helps a younger child feel they are reading a book similar to one an older sibling may own.

The pictures are fun and the gingerbread man finds people in the school to help him, which shows children where they can go in the school to find a helpful adult. The story rhymes and is fun to read. I could see this being  used in a class that is going to have their gingerbread men escape.

When Matt was in kindergarten, his teacher had them make gingerbread men on construction paper, and we had relatives mail postcards showing where they saw his gingerbread man. In the classroom, you could read both versions of the story and allow the children to list the character traits of the gingerbread men from each story. This allows children to see that a story can be told in many ways and helps them see characterization.

Michelle also gave us eight more books for the NICU book project last week. Thank you, Michelle. Now we can give more babies the gift of reading.

If you haven't read Good Night, Gorilla, it is easy to read and will make your child laugh. Clap your hands is a fun action book that your child can act out while you read.

If you'd like to contribute to our book drive for NICU babies, here is how you can help:

1. You can order books for your own children from our online Usborne book party and the proceeds will go to purchase books for the NICU. I've received over $350.00 in free books for the NICU from people buying books for their own families through this web link. Usborne is really good to their hostesses, and they have great board books for babies. Click on the link: Usborne book sale to benefit NICU The books you order will be shipped directly to your home. You can then give them to your children, grandchildren, nieces, or nephews. The free books from the hostess benefits go to the NICU. Books make a great addition to your child's Easter basket. 

2. We have set up a baby registry at Amazon.com with many books listed for the NICU babies. Some of these books only cost $2.50. Many of these are classics that all children should have. Click on this link if you'd like to help provide books for the NICU: Catherine Crosby Building Lifelong Readers Book Registry. If you order books for us, they will be shipped to me, and I will package and send them to the NICU. 


Read to a child today even if that child is you.