The Gingerbread Gift

The next morning, the gingerbread man picked up his friend and they drove to the forest together.

"Get your snoot out of that pail! That icing's not for you. Shoo!"

and added rafters to the gingerbread house.

The gingerbread man guided his friend to the front of the house.

"What are you doing here in the forest?" asked a curious deer.

"I'm building a gingerbread house for my best friend," said the gingerbread man.  "It's a surprise."

When the sun went down, he packed up his truck and headed home.

The gingerbread man added walls and windows

"Hey, Bear!" shouted the gingerbread man in a big voice.

"Surprise!" "It's the most beautiful house I've ever seen!" cried his friend.

"Take care of my gingerbread house!" he called to the deer.

"I will!" said the deer.  "Sweet dreams!"

'We're almost there!" he said excitedly.                                                                   "Here, put on this blindfold. No peeking!"

That night, the gingerbread man finished the gingerbread house and went home tired, but very excited.  Tomorrow was the BIG DAY.

1. What is the most special gift you've ever received? Why was it special? 2. What is the most special gift you've ever given? Why was it special? 3. Would you build a house in the woods, the mountains or by the sea? Why? 4. Are the gingerbread friends boys, girls... boys and girls? How do you know?

"Right now!" replied the gingerbread man. And they did.

He was nearly finished decorating, when a hungry bear appeared.

For Charlotte and Shirley, whose homes                                                                         are always warm and welcoming.

His hands trembled as he loosened the blindfold.                                                "Now count with me," he said. "One...two...three..."

The author wishes to thank Alyssa Kreilick and Carmen Marcet for their artistic and editorial assistance with this book.

Copyright 2011 by Morning Circle Media. All rights are reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photographing or capturing on any information or storage and retrieval system, without permission, in writing, from the author.

The next day, the little red truck came back,

"Thank you! Thank you! THANK YOU! When can we move in?"

Cynthia Kreilick grew up in a beautiful old stone house in the suburbs of Philadelphia. The Gingerbread Gift honors the gift that is home, as well as the relationships that grow and are nurtured in that special place.

On a crisp autumn morning, a little red truck

"Now if you'll excuse me," said the gingerbread man politely, "I have a lot of work to do."

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