The Gingerbread Man
An American Tale
Many cultures have a tale of Runaway food, but the Gingerbread is specific to the Americas.
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Retold by The Legendary Connection
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Once upon a time, in a small, cozy cottage at the edge of a quiet village, there lived a kind little old woman who loved to cook. One bright morning, after finishing all her housework, she decided to treat herself by baking a fresh batch of gingerbread. “There is nothing more delightful for lunch than a warm slice of gingerbread paired with a glass of milk or a cup of tea,” she thought. Everyone in the village praised her baking, and her gingerbread was known far and wide for its delicious taste.
The little old woman gathered all her ingredients—flour, butter, molasses, and milk—and began to mix them carefully. Soon, she had a soft, fragrant dough that she spread out on her worktable. As she prepared to pour the mixture into her baking pan, she suddenly realized that she had made too much dough. Not one to waste a single bit of food, she smiled and said, “I know exactly what to do! I will create a clever gingerbread man for the little boy who lives next door.”
She reached for her knife and rolled the dough out thinly on her countertop. With gentle precision, she cut out a round head, then shaped a slender neck, two tiny arms, a plump body, and a pair of legs that ended in little shoes. “He is turning out so nicely,” she murmured. Carefully, she decorated her creation, and finally, she sprinkled a touch of sugar and cinnamon over him and slid the tray into the warm oven.
Glancing at the clock, she noted it was half past eleven. “By noon, my gingerbread man will be perfectly baked and ready for the little boy when he comes home from school,” she thought, humming happily as she finished washing the dishes and setting the table for lunch.
At exactly twelve o’clock, the little old woman opened the oven door to check on her gingerbread man. To her astonishment, he had leaped from the pan and dashed across the kitchen floor!
“Hello there!” he called in a cheerful, confident voice. “I am off to see the world!”
Startled, the little old woman cried, “Stop, dear! You must not run away—you belong here with me!” But the gingerbread man only laughed and darted out the door. “Run, run, run as fast as you can! You can’t catch me! I am the gingerbread man!” he sang, his voice full of mirth as he ran off.
Outside, as he raced down the street, he soon encountered a group of workmen. “Help me catch that gingerbread man!” called the little old woman who had followed his trail. The workmen spotted him, and one of them shouted, “There he is! Let’s catch that mischievous fellow!” They ran after him, but the gingerbread man was far too quick. “Run, run, run as fast as you can! You can’t catch me! I am the gingerbread man!” he called joyfully, laughing as he sped away.
Not long after, a group of children, fresh from school, gathered in the street. “Children, children!” the little old woman called. “Look at the gingerbread man I made for the little boy next door! He is running away, and I cannot catch him!” One brave boy stepped forward and said, “I see him, and the workmen are chasing him too. Let me try to catch him for you.” The gingerbread man continued his merry song, “Run, run, run as fast as you can! You can’t catch me! I am the gingerbread man!” A little girl, already wearing her roller skates, added, “I will try as well!” But try as they might, none could match his swift pace.
The gingerbread man ran past the busy streets and soon reached a vast field where a farmer was working among golden wheat stalks. “Farmer, dear farmer, will you please help me catch the gingerbread man?” the little old woman called. The farmer agreed and hurried over. “There he goes!” the farmer said. “Stay away from my wheat, little fellow!” he warned as they joined the chase. Yet still, the gingerbread man laughed and sprinted on, his voice echoing, “Run, run, run as fast as you can! You can’t catch me! I am the gingerbread man!”
Eventually, he reached the edge of a deep, dark forest. “Oh dear,” sighed the little old woman, “he has vanished into the woods. No one here can catch him now.” With that, the villagers and farmer returned to their daily tasks, leaving the gingerbread man to his adventure.
Inside the forest, the gingerbread man felt free and exhilarated. “At last, I can explore all the wonders of the world!” he exclaimed happily as he skipped among the trees. However, hidden among the forest shadows was a sly, thoughtful fox who had been watching him closely.
The fox approached the gingerbread man with a gentle smile. “What an unusual little fellow you are,” he said softly. “You look so tasty, and I must admit, I am very hungry.” Still confident in his quickness, the gingerbread man replied, “Run, run, run as fast as you can! You can’t catch me! I am the gingerbread man!”
The fox, however, was very clever. “Please wait, dear gingerbread man,” he said in a calm, reassuring tone. “The ground of this forest is rough and uneven, and you might hurt your delicate body as you run. Climb onto my back, and I will help you cross the river safely.”
Feeling relieved and trusting the fox’s kind words, the gingerbread man climbed onto the fox’s back. Together, they reached the river, and the fox swam steadily across. As they reached the middle of the river, the fox’s hunger grew stronger. Gently, he began to nibble on the gingerbread man’s arm.
“Oh no, please let me go!” cried the gingerbread man, realizing too late that he was in danger. But the fox continued his meal slowly. “Mmm, this is quite delicious,” he murmured as he took a bite of the other arm, then a little of the leg. With each bite, the gingerbread man cried out, “I’m off!” until there was nothing left but his head.
At last, when even that final piece could not escape the fox’s clever plan, the gingerbread man was gone. The fox smiled and said, “What a delightful treat you have been, little gingerbread man. Your adventure may have ended, but you will be remembered by all who heard your song.”
In the days that followed, everyone in the village recalled the gingerbread man’s daring escape with excitement. The little old woman missed her special creation, and the story of his swift dash became a favorite memory, clear and unforgettable for all who had seen him run free. The End
Florence, Holbrook. “Dramatic Reader for Lower Grades.” Gutenberg.org, 2025, www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/27764/pg27764-images.html#Page_170. Accessed 24 Feb. 2025.