The goggle-eyed Gingerbread Man, star of Murray and Lowery's eponymous series, has a heartwarming holiday message to share. In comics-style panels, Gingerbread Man and his classmates ready some handmade gifts to distribute to their neighbors. Gingerbread Man carefully creates his own gift for a very special someone, and when he and his class embark on a neighborhood jaunt to spread holiday cheer, he tarries behind to deliver it. On the way, his cookie feet get soggy and crumbly, but, luckily, his special someone is the town baker, and after fawning over his gift, she fashions a pair of waterproof chocolate booties. Lowery's childlike figures playfully fill the panels with friendly faces, while the bouncy rhythm, particularly the recurring refrain that riffs on the classic "You can't catch me. I'm the Gingerbread Man!" will make read-alouds a treat. Though the holiday focus is solidly on Christmas, it sticks to fairly neutral themes of gift giving, good cheer, and showing appreciation for neighbors and teachers.

PreS-Gr 2 "I'll think of a present. I know that I can! I want to give, too. I'm the GINGERBREAD MAN!" It's Christmas, and the spunky Gingerbread Man is back. Last seen in The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School (2011) and The Gingerbread Man Loose on the Fire Truck (2013, both Putnam), this time Gingerbread Man and his class are preparing for the holiday season by creating cards and gifts of appreciation. What follows is a class trip through the town to pass these thank yous to the local community helpers, including a police lady, a garbage man, and a librarian. Gingerbread Man wants to deliver his gift to the community helper he appreciates most: the baker who helped the class bake him. But when the speedster's cookie feet meet the wet city sidewalks, disaster almost occurs. VERDICT With its fun, bouncy text and comic book panel-style illustrations, the smart cookies who appreciated the character's previous adventures will eat this one up. Brooke Sheets, Los Angeles Public Library