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The Great Gingerbread Getaway

Did you know that gingerbread men secretly hate Christmas? Well trust me, it’s true! Your gingerbread man really wants to run away from you!

A gingerbread man with exaggerated eyes and mouth looking shocked and ready to run, in a cozy, Christmas-themed kitchen.

Your sweet little gingerbread friend is coming up with a master plan. To keep him from becoming Christmas Eve dessert for the jolly, fat man!

A scheming gingerbread man mapping out an escape plan on a cookie sheet with cookie crumbs as markers.

Every year around Christmas time, kitchens come alive! Children making and decorating gingerbread for when the toy guy arrives.

Children happily decorating trays of gingerbread men in a lively, colorful kitchen setting.

And every year it’s all the same: peppermints, gum drops, and icing of red and green. Dressing me up to be eaten is simply so mean!

Close-up of a sad gingerbread man being decorated with red and green icing and various candies.

So this year I’ll dress myself to not look so delectable. Maybe a cowboy will make me a little more undetectable.

Gingerbread man adorning himself in cowboy attire with a licorice lasso and a peppermint hat.

I could have a lasso made of licorice, a peppermint hat, and a pair of chocolate boots. That’ll be the perfect outfit to save me from this yearly abuse.

Gingerbread man styled as a cowboy, proudly posing with his licorice lasso and chocolate boots.

But how would a cowboy blend in on Christmas Day? I need a better costume to keep me hidden away!

Gingerbread man looking contemplative in his cowboy outfit surrounded by Christmas decorations.

An elf! Oh what if I disguise myself as one of Santa’s merry crew? I could hide among the presents without anyone having a clue!

Gingerbread man transforming into a tiny elf costume, complete with a green hat and pointy shoes.

But turning into an elf would require a hat of jellybean green, and shoes of licorice so lean, oh how keen!

Gingerbread man fitting a jellybean green hat on his head and sliding into licorice shoes.

Now with a sprig of mint as an elf's ear, I feel quite smart! No one will ever notice, not even those with candy hearts!

Gingerbread man with a winning smile, showing off his elfish appearance complete with mint ears.

On Christmas Eve, in a heap of cheer, he blended in, so very clear. The gingerbread man had made his escape without fear!

Elf-garbed gingerbread man hiding playfully amidst a pile of wrapped Christmas presents.

And so our festive friend learned a trick or two. With clever costumes, you can always find a way to start anew!

Gingerbread man waving goodbye near the fireplace, both relieved and ready for next year’s adventure.

Reflection Questions

  • Why do you think the gingerbread man didn't want to be eaten?
  • How did creating a costume help the gingerbread man find a solution to his problem?
  • Can you think of a time when you had to be creative to solve a problem?

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