The Gingerbread Man

Kimmel, Eric. The Gingerbread Man. New York: Holiday House, 1993. Print.

Once upon a time an old man and an old woman decided to make some gingerbread.  They cut the dough into the shape of a man and put it into the oven to bake.  He baked and once he cooled the man and woman decorated him.  As soon as the last peppermint button was placed on the gingerbread he leaped off the table and ran out the door.  The man and woman called after, and chased, the gingerbread man.  The gingerbread man ran past the pig, the dog, a horse and a cow, who also followed in the chase.  The gingerbread man came to a river, stopped and wondered what to do.  Along came a fox who offered to help the gingerbread man cross the river.  By and by, the fox suggested to the gingerbread to climb on his tail, then his back, then his head, then his snout, and snapped the gingerbread man up in one bite.

Cultural Origin:

According to the SurLaLune Fairy Tale site, the Gingerbread Man first appeared in St. Nicholas magazine in 1875.  A similar tale titled Johnny Cakes was published by Joseph Jacobs in 1980.  The tale continues to be popular and versions have been cited from Ireland, Scandanavia, Germany, Russian and Slovenia.
Audience:

I think this story would be enjoyed most by preschool and elementary age youth in school and library settings. 

Adaptation:

The animals that are chasing after the gingerbread could be adapted.  I would also encourage audience participation during the gingerbread man's refrain.