Gingerbread Baby Printables: Fun, No-Bake Activities for Jan Brett’s Holiday Classic
Christmas just isn’t Christmas at our house without gingerbread. Every year we set aside a whole day to bake gingerbread men and build lopsided gingerbread houses. But you don’t need flour on the counter to enjoy a little gingerbread fun. These Gingerbread Baby printables pair perfectly with Jan Brett’s sweet picture book and make an easy, mess-free addition to your holiday lessons.
What is Gingerbread Baby About?
Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett puts a fresh spin on the classic Gingerbread Man tale. A boy named Matti and his mother bake a gingerbread baby who pops out of the oven and leads the whole village on a wild chase. The story follows the familiar pattern, but with a clever twist at the end: this time, the gingerbread baby gets away. Kids love comparing the two versions and guessing what will happen next.
Don’t have a copy yet? Check your local library, or listen to a read-aloud of Gingerbread Baby on YouTube. You can also find the book on Amazon (affiliate link).
What’s included in these Gingerbread Baby printables?
- A story elements worksheet
- A “Catch Me If You Can” creative writing page
- A gingerbread sight word hunt game
- A following-directions house hunt puzzle
These activities work well for preschool, kindergarten and first grade, whether you homeschool or teach in a classroom.
1. Gingerbread Baby story elements worksheet
Start with reading comprehension. After you read the book together, your student fills in the main story elements: characters, setting, problem and solution. Early writers can draw each part, while confident writers can use words or sentences.
Talking through story elements helps kids retell the story in order and notice how the author builds the chase. It’s also a natural moment to compare Gingerbread Baby with the original Gingerbread Man.
2. “Catch Me If You Can” creative writing prompt
The surprise ending is what makes Gingerbread Baby so memorable. Once your student has heard it, invite them to write their own gingerbread baby story with a brand-new twist. Where does their gingerbread baby run? Who chases it? Does it get away, or does something totally unexpected happen?
This creative writing prompt builds sequencing and storytelling skills, and kids always come up with endings you’d never guess. Younger children can dictate their story to you and add a picture.
3. Gingerbread sight word hunt game
Get kids up and moving with their very own gingerbread baby chase. This sight word game turns reading practice into a hide-and-seek adventure.
How to play:
- Print and cut out the gingerbread babies. Each one has a sight word on it.
- Hide them around the house or classroom.
- When your student finds a gingerbread baby, they read the sight word out loud.
- They color the matching word on their recording sheet.
- Keep hunting until every word is colored in.
For extra practice, play again with a timer or have kids use each word in a sentence.
4. “Gingerbread Baby on the Run” following-directions puzzle
Can your student figure out which house belongs to the Gingerbread Baby? On this worksheet, kids read each clue carefully and use it to rule out houses until only one is left.
It’s a fun way to practice reading for detail, following multi-step directions and logical thinking, all skills that carry over to every subject.
More gingerbread fun this Christmas
Pair these printables with a gingerbread baking day, a gingerbread house build or a cozy afternoon of Jan Brett read-alouds. However you use them, I hope they bring a little extra holiday cheer to your lessons.
Gingerbread Man Shape Matching
Gingerbread Man Number Matching
Still shopping for the holidays? Browse my no-fail Christmas gift guide for great gift ideas.
Do you want these Gingerbread Baby Printables?
Click Below
Angela is the Homeschool Encourager for the Overwhelmed & Under-Caffeinated and the Chaos-to-Confidence Specialist behind Schooling with Grace. With a no-fluff approach, a dash of humor, and a whole lot of heart, she helps homeschool moms cut through the chaos, ditch unrealistic expectations, and teach with confidence.