The Gingerbread Monster

K-Gr 5–This clever and silly retelling of a classic tale delivers laugh-out-loud fun. Young Frank N. Stine wants to satisfy his sweet tooth. Running low on his favorite cookie mix, he improvises with extra ingredients, only to create something unexpected: a monstrous cookie come to life! Terrified, Frank flees, warning others along his path. But why is the cookie chasing him? Readers will enjoy finding out in this playful take on a fairy tale. Digital illustrations are both spooky and whimsical. The use of vibrant colors strategically contrasted against dark backgrounds adds energy and visual drama that perfectly complement the story. This book is a strong choice for upper elementary fairy-tale units, especially as an example of a fractured tale for comparison and contrast. It’s also perfect for Halloween collections, though the holiday is never explicitly mentioned.