The Gingerbread Man

Quick Answer

Why This Story Works for Bedtime

It’s energetic, but the repetitive ‘Run, run’ pattern is predictable and engaging. For bedtime, it’s best for older kids and read with a calm voice, ending with a gentle lesson about listening and staying safe.

Story Synopsis

An old woman bakes a sweet little gingerbread cake—sometimes called a Johnny-cake—and leaves a child to watch the oven. But the moment attention slips, the oven door pops open and the Gingerbread Man leaps out, hot and lively. He dashes away, shouting his famous boast: “Run, run, as fast as you can—you can’t catch me, I’m the Gingerbread Man!” The old man, old woman, and child chase him down the road. Then he meets one creature after another—farm animals and people who also try to catch him. Each time, the Gingerbread Man outruns them, repeating his rhyme with growing confidence. At last he reaches a river and meets a fox. The fox offers help: he can carry the Gingerbread Man across. Proud and eager, the Gingerbread Man agrees. The fox wades in, but little by little he tells the Gingerbread Man to climb higher—onto his tail, his back, then his nose—until, at the very last moment, the fox snaps him up. It’s a lively cautionary tale: being quick is fun, but listening and caution matter—especially with strangers.

Story Excerpt

Once upon a time there lived an old man, an old woman, and a little boy in a small, cozy house. One morning, the old woman mixed flour and sweetness in a bowl and patted the dough into a round little cake. “ I’ll bake a Johnny - cake, ” she said, and she slid it into the warm oven. Then she wiped her hands on her apron and told the boy, “ You watch the Johnny - cake while your father and I go out to work in the garden. ” So the old man and the old woman went out with their hoes to tend the potato rows. The little boy stayed inside near the oven. At first he watched and listened. The oven ticked softly. The kitchen smelled warm and good. But a little while later, the boy’s eyes wandered. He thought about the garden and the bright day outside. He didn’t keep watching every moment. All at once — pop! The oven door sprang open. Out jumped the Johnny - cake, hot and lively, and away it went — rolling end over end across the floor, straight toward the open door of the house. “ Hey! ” cried the little boy, and he ran to shut the door. But the Johnny - cake was quicker. It rolled right through the doorway, bumped down the steps, and sped into the road before the boy could catch it. The little boy ran after it as fast as he could, calling, “ Father! Mother! It’s running away! ” Out in the garden, the old man and the old woman heard the shouting. They…

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