Common Sense Media Review
By Darienne Stewart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Friendship, kindness sweeten vibrant retelling of folktale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
THE HORRIBLY HUNGRY GINGERBREAD BOY starts out as a cookie Shirley bakes and packs in her lunch after nibbling his thumb. But when she opens her lunchbox, the gingerbread boy has eaten everything else she packed -- and he's still hungry! She implores him to stop, but he runs off, unhappy she hurt him by taking a bite out of him. The gingerbread boy romps through San Francisco, stealing and devouring sweets, steaks, crabs, and more. He grows huge, threatening to swallow the bay and even the sun. Shirley chides him, telling him it's rude to gobble everything. She assures him she'd like to be his friend, but he needs to be polite. The gingerbread boy, delighted, helps bake cookies to deliver to all the people he upset during his rampage.
Is It Any Good?
This charming take on the familiar Gingerbread Man folk tale is a candy-colored confection -- much like the city of San Francisco itself -- with a sweetened lesson about compassion and friendship. A sly fox encounters The Horribly Hungry Gingerbread Boy at Land's End, but he gets not a crumb: In Elisa Kleven's retelling, the self-centered cookie is redeemed thanks to the faith and generosity of his friend Shirley.
The rhyming text occasionally stumbles, but the gorgeous artwork makes up for it. Kleven's richly colored pages -- a blend of watercolor, ink, pencil, and collage -- overflow with detail, rewarding repeat readers. And the themes of forgiveness and kindness make it a terrific conversation-starter with young kids.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the misunderstanding in The Horribly Hungry Gingerbread Boy. Have you ever had a misunderstanding get in the way of a friendship? How is Shirley a good friend to the Gingerbread Boy?
How is this version of the story different from others you've heard or read? What's fun about setting a classic folk tale set in present-day San Francisco?
What does it mean to make amends?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Elisa Kleven
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Book Characters , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Heyday Books
- Publication date : September 1, 2016
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 40
- Available on : Hardback
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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