At daycare one morning, Ms. Sarah baked a gingerbread man with a crooked smile and three red buttons. But when the timer went DING, he jumped right out of the oven!
"Tee hee hee!" he giggled. "You can't catch me!"
He ran past Squeaks the hamster in his wheel.
"Run, run, as fast as you can!
You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man!"
He zipped past Bubbles the goldfish.
"Swim, swim, as fast as you can!
You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man!"
Outside on the playground, Nora spotted him first. "Look, Josie!" she called to her best friend.
"Can you run fast?" asked the gingerbread man with his crooked smile.
"We're the fastest runners in daycare!" they said together.
Around the slide,
Through the sandbox,
Past the swings they ran!
Finally, Nora and Josie caught up and grabbed his hands.
"Oh no!" he laughed. "You really ARE the fastest!"
"And you're the yummiest!" giggled the best friends, sharing the still-warm, spicy treat.
Now whenever cookies bake at daycare, everyone remembers the cheeky gingerbread man and listens for his giggle...
"Run, run, as fast as you can!
You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man!"
The End

Nora & Josie's Great Gingerbread Chase!

A smiling gingerbread man with a crooked smile and three red buttons sitting on a baking tray in a daycare kitchen

At daycare one bright morning, Ms. Sarah decided to bake a special treat. She carefully mixed the dough and shaped a gingerbread man with a crooked smile and three red buttons. The children watched eagerly as she placed him in the oven. "He looks so funny!" giggled Josie. They all waited for the timer to go DING.

The Baking Surprise

A gingerbread man leaping out of an oven with a mischievous grin

When the timer finally went DING, something unexpected happened. The gingerbread man jumped right out of the oven! "Tee hee hee!" he giggled, running across the room. "You can't catch me!" he shouted to everyone. The children gasped in surprise.

The Great Escape

A hamster running in its wheel while the gingerbread man runs past

The gingerbread man ran past Squeaks the hamster, who was busy in his wheel. "Run, run, as fast as you can!" he taunted. "You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man!" He zipped by Bubbles the goldfish, who swam in circles. "Swim, swim, as fast as you can!" he laughed.

Squeaks and Bubbles

Nora with an excited expression pointing at something on a playground with slides and swings visible in the background

Outside on the playground, Nora was the first to spot the gingerbread man. "Look, Josie!" she called excitedly to her best friend. The gingerbread man noticed them and asked, "Can you run fast?" "We're the fastest runners in daycare!" they replied together. The chase was on!

Nora's Discovery

Josie running through a sandbox with determination on her face, chasing after something

Nora and Josie dashed after the gingerbread man with big smiles. Around the slide they went, their feet pounding on the ground. Through the sandbox, they hurried, kicking up a little dust. Past the swings, they ran as fast as they could. The gingerbread man was quick, but they were quicker!

The Playground Chase

A gingerbread man being held by two small hands against a playground background

Finally, Nora and Josie caught up to the gingerbread man. They reached out and grabbed his hands with a triumphant laugh. "Oh no!" he chuckled. "You really ARE the fastest!" The girls beamed with pride.

The Capture

Nora taking a bite of a cookie with a satisfied smile on her face

"And you're the yummiest!" giggled Nora and Josie. They shared the still-warm, spicy treat, savoring every bite. The other children gathered around, happy for their friends. The gingerbread man was delicious and brought smiles to everyone's faces. It was a sweet victory.

A Yummy Treat

A cookie jar in a daycare setting with children's artwork on the walls

Now, whenever cookies bake at daycare, everyone remembers the cheeky gingerbread man. They listen carefully for his giggle, just in case he tries to escape again. "Run, run, as fast as you can!" they all chant together. "You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man!" The memory of the chase brings laughter and joy to all. The End.