The Gingerbread Girl
by Lisa Campbell Ernst
AR Reading Level 4.4; 0.5 points
Available at Amazon.com
Summary: The gingerbread girl was made by the little old woman and man, who were feeling lonely. The girl runs off, just like her older brother, gathering a crowd behind her. When she comes to the river, she outsmarts the fox, using a piece of her licorice hair to tie his snout shut so he won’t eat her. She brings the whole crowd to the little old couple to keep them company.
Activities: Any age would enjoy this as a Read-Aloud, but primary students benefit most from the rhyme, repetition, and structure. I would use it for prediction on the first reading. I might give the kids a paper with the Gingerbread Girl’s rhyme, and let them practice it for fluency. If the kids notice the feminist angle, well, that’s good for them to see!