Rating: 
Summary: Great book, gorgeous illustrations
Review: This is a great book. It's the same idea as the Gingerbread Man but the little guy doesn't get eaten in the end. When Matti opens the oven door too soon, the ornery little critter hops out and runs all over town trying to get everyone and everything breathing to catch him. Well, Matti, not to be outwitted by a walking piece of molasses and flour, instead of chasing the fellow, spends the time in the kitchen making a gingerbread house. When the baby eventually is chased back to Matti's home, he "smells something familiar" and there in the snow, is Matti's gingerbread house. Of course the baby runs into his new house and Matti then takes him inside. All of the baby's "pursuers" only see some crumbs and a remaining piece of peppermint and subsequently think the gingerbread baby has been eaten. Only Matti knows that the Gingerbread baby is safe in his new house, laughing and giggling about how he outsmarted them all but the smartest one of all. Very, very cute book and especially so for the holidays. Great illustrations - they reminded me of Susan Winget's. Highly recommend this one, especially since the ending is a whole lot nicer!
Rating:
Summary: A New Twist on a Familiar Tale
Review: What happens if you open the oven before a gingerbread man is done cooking? You get a gingerbread baby that leaps out of the oven taunting all it comes in contact with.The gingerbread baby dare all it see to try and catch it. But the animated treat is too fast and slick. Always eluding capture and befuddling its pursuers. But as the whole town gradually joins in the chase, young Matti, who did the baking and opened the oven too soon, stays quietly at home and consults the cook book for a solution. So, as the townspeople think they have chased the gingerbread baby to its doom, young Matti knows differently. Another beautiful book from a talented children's author. As with most of Jan's books, you should pay attention to the decorative borders for more insight into the story.
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