School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2-Not as substantial a story as that of the unfortunate gingerbread boy, Ernst's confectionary tale is, nevertheless, entertaining. Like her brother, this perky pastry, covered from head to toe in candies, bolts from the oven and outruns a farm family, a pig, an artist, a cow and her calf, a dog walker, and some children at recess-before jumping onto the same fox's back. However, by using a strand of her licorice-whip hair to lasso the hungry creature, the Gingerbread Girl proves that she is one sharp cookie who knows how to turn around a sticky situation. Large, pleasantly appealing cartoon illustrations are set upon pale backgrounds of blue, mauve, tan, and green gingham. Despite the forced rhyme of the protagonist's speech ("I can leap past piggy/Like all of the others./This story will not end/Like that of my brother's!") and a couple of unnecessary remarks made by the fox ( "Anyone could tell by looking at her that she was an airhead"), the story provides enough amusement to make it appealing-but not a first purchase.-Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Horn Book (Sun Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2007)

The lonely couple who lost their Gingerbread Boy to the wily fox tries again, this time fashioning a girl. And off she goes, her red licorice hair ablaze on the oversized pages, chanting a variant of her brother's mantra. While Ernst's happy ending may be too sweet for tradition to bear, this Gingerbread Girl, to quote the fox, is one cute cookie.

Kirkus Reviews

This cute and clever sequel is the story of the Gingerbread Boy's younger sister. Rationalizing that a sweet girl surely would not run away from them, the lonely old couple again attempts a gingerbread child. But she has other ideas: "I'll run and I'll run / With a leap and a twirl. / You can't catch me, / I'm the Gingerbread Girl!" As she runs through town, she captures the interest and appetite of many, but she just spouts witty poetry and sings her trademark refrain. At the river, she accepts a ride on the fox's tail, moves to his back as the water creeps higher and even climbs onto his head. But in one cunning move, she masters the fox and leads her entourage back to the old couple's house where they bake gingerbread for everyone and are never lonely again. Ernst's facial expressions are spot-on. Her illustrations reflect the country setting in both the muted colors and the gingham pattern of the borders and backgrounds. A wonderful addition to other happy-ending, empowered-girl, fairytale remakes. (Picture book. 4-8)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Ernst (Sylvia Jean, Drama Queen) offers a spry takeoff on the tale of the hapless Gingerbread Boy, starring """"his younger, wiser sister."""" Here, the woman and her husband, """"lonelier than before,"""" decide to bake a gingerbread girl and decorate her with candies (""""Surely a sweet little girl wouldn't run away!""""). Alas, the animated cookie does just that, declaring, """"I'll run and I'll run/ With a leap and a twirl./ You can't catch me,/ I'm the Gingerbread girl!"""" Pursued by the distraught couple, the speedy gal repeats this refrain as she encounters a parade of characters, from a family of farmers, to a pig, to a young dog walker and a playground full of children, all of whom join the chase. When she comes across the fox that devoured her brother, the smart cookie plays dumb, accepting his ride in apparent innocence. But she loops a strand of her licorice hair around the animal's snout and """"tied it off with a half-hitch knot."""" The tale ends at the no-longer lonely couple's home, where the heroine eagerly mixes up batter to bake cookies to feed the """"hungry, happy household"""" filled with parade participants. Infused with ample humor and set against appealing gingham-checked backgrounds, Ernst's art handily conveys the story's energy and the title character's sassy personality. Ages 4-up.

ALA Booklist (Fri Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2006)

Everyone remembers the ill-fated Gingerbread Boy, but few know about his smarter sister. After losing the boy, his elderly bakers are loath to try another cookie, but finally they create a gingerbread girl. Sure enough, she runs away with a leap and a twirl. You can't catch me, I'm the Gingerbread Girl. Inventive, though occasionally clunky rhymes describe the girl as she runs away from a dog walker, an artist, cows, and kids. Then she meets the fox, who slyly agrees to a safe trip ashore. It looks like Gingerbread Girl will go the way of her brother. But she turns out to be a smart cookie with a clever plan, a twist that's the most innovative part of the story. Ernst's familiar art, here placed against gingham-check backgrounds, utilizes the oversize format to best advantage, with large characters leaping out of their frames. On the cover, the candy-studded Gingerbread Girl with licorice-whip hair stares boldly out at readers. Kids won't be able to resist following her inside.