This document provides an overview and teaching resources for the folktale "The Gingerbread Man." It summarizes the classic story of a gingerbread cookie that comes to life and outruns several pursuers before being captured. It also includes discussion questions, descriptions of notable retellings of the story, and a reproducible activity for students.
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“I don’t like cookies,” fibbed the clever fox.
“I just want to help you get across this river.
Hop on my shoulder! I promise you will not
get wet.”
CRUNCH! The fox munched the cookie
in one bite.
“My, what a tasty treat!” he said.
And that was the end of the poor
Gingerbread Man.
The Gingerbread
Man
A retelling by Violet Findley • Illustrated by Hector Borlasca
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But the naughty cookie jumped off the plate
and dashed out the door.
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B
“Don’t even think about eating me up. I ran
away from an old woman and a dog and
a cow. And I will run away from you, too!”
said the cookie.
“OK,” said the cookie.
So he did.
Once upon a time, an old woman baked
a gingerbread man. She put it on a plate
to cool.
“Run, run, as fast as you can. You can’t
catch me. I’m the Gingerbread Man!”
he sang.
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Folk
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Teaching
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“Run, run, as fast as you can. You can’t
catch me. I’m the Gingerbread Man!” sang
the cookie.
“Run, run, as fast as you can. You can’t
catch me. I’m the Gingerbread Man!” sang
the cookie.
After a while, the cookie came to a fox
standing by a river. The fox was licking
his lips.
The cookie was right. Try as she might, the
old woman was just too slow.
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Folk
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Easy
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Teaching
Guide
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The cookie was right. Try as he might, the
dog was just too slow.
After a while, the cookie came to a dog.
“I’m going to eat you up!” said the dog.
After a while, the cookie came to a cow.
“I’m going to eat you up!” said the cow.
The cookie was right. Try as he might, the
cow was just too slow.
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