John Rowe (1) (1949–)

This old Folktale is about the Gingerbread Man who we all loved reading about as a kid. From the time he jumps out of the mother mouse’s oven, the gingerbread man is on the run. He out runs father mouse, then the mouse’s children, and runs even faster than the hare. If it weren’t for a deep river and a smart old fox, the gingerbread man would still be on the run! This was definitely a childhood favorite of mine. I loved reading this story when it was winter time. The gingerbread man now always reminds me of Christmas.… (meer)

The gingerbread man does not think anyone can get to him. He escapes all of the different animals he meets and tells each one of them that they won't be able to catch him. Suddenly he encounters a fox who realizes he has to be smart and sly in order to catch the gingerbread man. The fox tells the gingerbread man that he will help him cross the river. So the gingerbread man jumps on to the fox's back as he begins to swim across the river. As the water gets deeper, the gingerbread man scoots farther up the fox, getting closer and closer to the fox's mouth. Then the fox jerks his head and eats the gingerbread man. This story is cute to read to children, but I do not think I would pick this book if i was trying to find one with a moral to teach children about. It is an Old English folktale that has taken on many forms over the years.… (meer)

See if you can share it with your child the way I read it, without knowing until the ending that Jack is dreaming. The distinctly un-lovely, un-sweet illustrations work much better as of dreams than as of a bizarre adventure. As is typical of Rowe, the text is, shall we, say, 'nicer' than the art, though this text is a little more odd than the others I've read. Original, fun, as are all 4 of Rowe's books that I've read so far. Interestingly though, despite some real similarities among his work, all you really know for sure when picking one up is that you need an open mind that's ready for an artistic departure from typical children's books.… (meer)