The Gingerbread Man and the Leprechaun Loose at School

by Laura Murray, Mike Lowery (Illustrator)

Overview

A leprechaun is causing all kinds of trouble on St. Patrick's Day—but our popular Gingerbread Man is back to save the day!

After a mischievous leprechaun makes a mess of the band room, the Gingerbread Man vows to catch him. He follows the leprechaun's clues all around the building finding chaos everywhere—even in the library! But then he finds the worst clue of all. It says the leprechaun's next target might be a house made of gingerbread!

Luckily, the Gingerbread Man makes it to his classroom in time to set a trap for the leprechaun. He'll show that mischief maker that he messed with the wrong cookie this time.

"I'm on a mission! I've got a good plan.
I can catch him! I'm the Gingerbread Man!"

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781101996942
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	01/09/2018
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	498,434
Product dimensions:	8.40(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

Laura Murray was a teacher before becoming a writer, and she has had to deal with many an escaped gingerbread man in her time. She lives in McLean, Virginia.

Mike Lowery is a professor of illustration at the Savannah College of Art and Design and a children's book illustrator. His works include The Gingerbread Man Loose at Christmas and the Doodle Adventures series. He lives with his wife and their daughter in Atlanta, Georgia.

Editorial Reviews

11/13/2017
In his fifth outing, Murray’s Gingerbread Man—now fully integrated into the school where he was originally on the loose—goes from being chased to doing the chasing after a rascally leprechaun shows up on the scene on a “mess-making spree.” The Gingerbread Man and the other students follow a trail of clues to find the leprechaun, eventually setting up a Rube Goldberg–style trap that thwarts the creature’s plans to trash the school (“With a glint in his eye, he skipped through the door,/ not noticing glue that was spread on the floor”). Lowery tracks the unfolding action in commotion-filled panels and spreads, and Murray’s punchy rhymes deliver a energetic chase with a St. Patrick’s Day twist. Ages 3–5. Author’s agent: Marietta Zacker, Gallt & Zacker Literary. Illustrator’s agency: Lilla Rogers Studio. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

"The Gingerbread Man helps the kids . . . on a hunt for the mischief-maker . . . and sets a clever Rube Golberg-esque trap. Trading the hat for a mess-free school, the Gingerbread Man saves the day . . . After this test of his tracking and capturing skills, what will the Gingerbread Man tackle next?" —Kirkus Reviews

"A sneaky, tricky Leprechaun is turning things topsy-turvy at school, and the Gingerbread Man is determined to catch him and prevent him from making any more mischief. . . . With a nod to all of the funny and classic tricks teachers conduct on Saint Patrick's Day (green toilet water, shamrock footprints, and messy rooms) this book is sure to please readers of all ages. . . [A] fun and entertaining read-aloud." —School Library Journal

From the Publisher

02/01/2018
K-Gr 2—The latest installation in the "Gingerbread Man"series is a festive St. Patrick's Day tale. A sneaky, tricky Leprechaun is turning thing topsy-turvy at school, and the Gingerbread Man is determined to catch him and prevent him from making any more mischief. Following the wee man's clues and the messes he leaves behind, the Gingerbread Man devises a perfect trap and finally outwits the tiny nuisance, forcing him to put things back in order. The final page promises more shenanigans, as the Leprechaun declares that he will be back! With a nod to all of the funny and classic tricks teachers conduct on Saint Patrick's Day (green toilet water, shamrock footprints, and messy rooms) this book is sure to please readers of all ages. VERDICT A welcome addition to any library that has great potential to be a fun and entertaining read-aloud.—Jasmine L. Precopio, Fox Chapel Area School District, Pittsburgh

School Library Journal

2017-11-13
Murray and Lowery's cookie main character is back, this time doing his best to foil a March prankster."FO-FIDDLEY-FEE! / You can't catch me! / For I'm on a leprechaun / mess-making spree!" With this announcement, the tiny, green-suited imp dashes away, a trail of shamrocks in his wake. He also leaves notes on green paper: clues that the Gingerbread Man helps the kids decode and that lead the class on a hunt for the mischief-maker. Together they put the music room to rights, but then the kids head to lunch, and the cookie takes up the hunt alone. The leprechaun's next target is the library, where he accidentally leaves his hat. The Gingerbread Man beats the leprechaun to his next target and sets a clever Rube Golberg-esque trap. Trading the hat for a mess-free school, the Gingerbread Man saves the day. Lowery's artwork—pencil, screen printing, and digital color—combines full-page illustrations with comic-style panels. While the boxed text and speech balloons are easy to read and follow on the page, not all the pictures are as simple to parse, though there are humorous details that will tickle readers. The class is a diverse one with a white female teacher (wearing glasses, natch), but none of the humans have personalities. After this test of his tracking and capturing skills, what will the Gingerbread Man tackle next? (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews

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