The Horribly Hungry Gingerbread Boy: A San Francisco Story

PreS-Gr 1—In this book written in flowing rhyme, a young girl named Shirley bakes a gingerbread boy. At lunchtime, the gingerbread boy jumps out of her lunch box, having eaten all her food, and runs off, and Shirley gives chase. The wild cookie goes on a cultural journey within San Francisco, wreaking havoc in his path. The horribly hungry gingerbread boy, indeed ravenous, eats his way through places like Chinatown and grows larger with each bite. Now a human-size gingerbread man, he threatens to eat the world. Shirley tells him that he will pop if he doesn't stop. The two become friends and make amends to the people of San Francisco with baked treats. The end pages include a gingerbread recipe and a guide of San Francisco landmarks that are illustrated or mentioned in the book, including a numbered map and a brief description. The images lend themselves to dreamy immersion into detail and a rainbow of colorful splendor. Children familiar with the original "Gingerbread Man" tale should enjoy the happy reenvisioned conclusion of friendship and baked treats.