Saving the Gingerbread House by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

saving the gingerbread house by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hansel and Gretel are on a picnic in the woods with their dad when they hear a tapping sound coming from nearby. Their dad tells them not to go far because there is a witch living in the woods nearby. He goes on to explain to Hansel and Gretel that the witch wants to enter the most beautiful house contest. Hansel and Gretel go off to explore where the sound is coming from and discover that it is only from a woodpecker. They try to return back to their picnic but now they are lost. As they wander through the woods, they stumble upon a gingerbread house with animals eating it. When they decide to start nibbling on the gingerbread house as well an old lady comes out and tells them to stop. Have the children ruined her chance to have the most beautiful house?

This was a cute, toned down version of Hansel and Gretel and I really enjoyed it. I loved that the children were on a picnic in the woods with their dad and exploring nature. It was definitely not as scary as the version I recall hearing as a child. The characters were wholesome and both Hansel and Gretel were typical, inquisitive children who needed to discover for themselves where a strange sound was coming from. The witch in this tale was only wanting to be rewarded for her hard work of making her house beautiful. Another fantastic story by this author with beautiful illustrations that really bring the story to life.

View all my reviews@tarab