Catch That Cookie!

by Hallie Durand
illustrated by David Small

In Catch That Cookie!, it's December and, like in many schools at this time of year, the smell of gingerbread is wafting down the halls of Marshall's school. He does NOT believe the multiple stories of runaway cookies that his class had enjoyed throughout the week, until a big surprise occurs during the class's gingerbread baking activity. Can gingerbread men really run, and do they need to be caught? Run to the library and catch this book to read about Marshall's topsy-turvy day in a delightful twist on the traditional runaway gingerbread man story. This is the perfect story to enjoy in the classroom or at home during the baking season.

In this Issue

Lifesize Gingerbread Me

Pinterest Picks: Gingerbread

Runaway Gingerbread Cookies

Lifesize Gingerbread Me

Make the holiday season even more magical and truly bring the book to life by helping your young readers turn themselves into a life-size gingerbread cookie (paper, of course). Use basic brown kraft paper to make your "cookie", then pull out all the odds and ends of art supplies to dress and decorate however your young readers' imaginations lead them.

Lifesize Gingerbread Me

Brown kraft paper

Pencil

Scissors

Glue

Markers, crayons, etc.

Decorating supplies: fun foam, colored cardstock or construction paper, sequins, beads, pompoms, yarn, ribbon scraps, any thing you can imagine!

Roll out kraft paper and have your young reader lie on it, in an action pose, if desired. Trace around their outline. Depending on scissors skills, you or your young reader can cut out the giant "cookie".

Let your young readers' imagination go wild and decorate as desired!

Pinterest Picks: Gingerbread

Keeping with the life-size gingerbread fun, make a life-size gingerbread house! It's sure to keep young readers busy during this exciting time of the year.

Gingerbread isn't just for cookies any more. Try gingerbread pancakes!

Yet another way to enjoy the delicious flavor of gingerbread: Gingerbread Dip!

Runaway Gingerbread Cookies

What better way to celebrate a story about gingerbread men than to your own! To keep things simple and the focus on the fun of decorating, we used Cookie and Kate's Healthy Gingerbread Cookie recipe, but feel free to use any favorite recipe or even store bought dough. We find this recipe particularly appealing because it is mixed entirely by hand, so young readers can be very involved without the concerns of kitchen appliances. As a bonus, these are 100% whole wheat; they reminds us of a gingerbread-version of a chewy, homemade graham cracker.

After they are baked, go to town with decorating with your favorite icing (we mixed 1/2 cup powdered sugar and 2 1/4 teaspoons water) and a variety of candies, dried fruits, and even cereal. Watch so they don't run out the door!