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    Gertrude and Toby Save the Gingerbread Man
    Gertrude and Toby Save the Gingerbread Man
    Gertrude and Toby Save the Gingerbread Man
    Ebook40 pages8 minutes

    Gertrude and Toby Save the Gingerbread Man

    By Shari Tharp

    3.5/5

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    About this ebook

    Gertrude and Toby Save the Gingerbread Man is an exciting adventure story for children who are transitioning from beginning readers to chapter books. This is the perfect book for the child who has been tasked with the usual 30-minutes-per-night reading homework. From the standpoint of reading progression, this title fills a specific niche that represents a gap in the children's book market--longer illustrated children's books that are more complex and challenging than typical picture books.

    Gertrude and Toby Save the Gingerbread Man incorporates traditional fairy-tale characters that will be immediately recognizable to many young readers. These characters include Hansel and Gretel, a flying carpet, an evil witch, the giant and the magic vine from Jack and the Beanstalk, and of course, the Gingerbread Man. The presence of these fairy-tale characters adds familiarity for young readers and keeps alive the old tales (e.g., those by the Brothers Grimm) that we have all come to know and love.

    The first and third books in the series, Gertrude and Toby s Friday Adventure and Gertrude and Toby Meet the Wolf, follow the same approach of adapting fairy-tale tropes using fairy-tale characters in a contemporary setting. These modern stories have more complex plots and wording than those of standard picture books, but without the daunting word count of typical beginning chapter books.

    We hope you love Gertrude and Toby and their series of adventure books as much as we do. Happy reading!

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAtlasPublishing
    Release dateJun 27, 2017
    ISBN9781945033148
    Gertrude and Toby Save the Gingerbread Man
    Author

    Shari Tharp

    Shari Tharp is a graduate of San Diego State University and a former teacher. She currently lives in Southern California with her husband and son. Her debut book, GERTRUDE AND TOBY'S FRIDAY ADVENTURE, won a silver medal IPPY award for Best Illustrated Ebook.The next two books in the series, GERTRUDE AND TOBY SAVE THE GINGERBREAD MAN and GERTRUDE AND TOBY MEET THE WOLF, were released in late 2016.In addition to writing, Shari enjoys playing chess, hiking, biking, and reading (of course!).

    Read more from Shari Tharp

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    Reviews for Gertrude and Toby Save the Gingerbread Man

    3.5/5

    32 ratings24 reviews

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 3/5
      Benny the Biplane was built to fly during the war. When the war ended, Benny was no longer needed. He was parked in a field until he was purchased by a man to use in a carnival. He was used to perform tricks which he enjoyed until the carnival ended and he was once again un-needed. Benny was then purchased by a woman who used him to drop toys and food to needy children all over the world. The book is appended with historical facts concerning the illustrations.
    • 5/5
      "Benny the Biplane" is a nice enough story and I quite like the photographs that go with. The children like it because Benny is happy in the end, and they like the idea that someone drops toys and food to children who don't have food and toys, as well as that one toy plane is actually named after Benny. So it's a keeper!Incidentally, our copy that we received via the EarlyReviewer program has been signed by the author. Bonus!
    • 3/5
      A cute but simple story of a plane who takes on several jobs in his lifetime. Realistic pictures enhance this story.
    • 5/5
      This charming early reader is sure to engage any child who is interested in military equipment or history. It is the heartwarming story of a biplane who serves many different roles after it is no longer necessary to the military. One of my favorite aspects of the book is the use of actual historic photographs for illustrations and the appendix which provides an overview of each photograph. I cannot wait to use this book in my classroom!
    • 4/5
      Although many children will be interested in the life of a bi-plane, somehow this book falls a little short. The abrupt changes in jobs, ownership, and especially the sudden ending, only created the longing for an actual story. It does, however, offer hope for those downcast times when all seems lost. The text is simple enough for beginning readers, and photos are appropriate yet give the book a more grown-up look that children will appreciate.
    • 3/5
      Benny the Biplane is about a plane that is built to fly during a war, and then has different jobs afterwards. It's illustrated with photographs of historical biplanes and doesn't have much of a story, the pictures are the main attraction. Because there isn't much of a plot, the story didn't hold my three-year-old's attention, but kids who are interested in planes will enjoy the pictures.
    • 2/5
      This book is a very short read. While it is suitable for an early reader with its simple sentence structures, it is not an enjoyable book to read aloud. I liked that the pilots were both male and female. However, like other reviewers, I was also bothered by the poor image resolution of some of the photographs.
    • 1/5
      *received as part of librarything's early review*This was... even worse than expected. Photos from wikimedia commons put through random instagram style filters, combined with a drivel of text that is neither a story, nor interesting, nor even just fun to read aloud.
    • 5/5
      This grandma loved it! Of course there is the nice simple story line, and verbiage well suited to an early reader. Here's what I envision happening next to my copy: aviation addict son will reluctantly share it with sons 8 and 6, and daughter 3 prior to the next air show in Ohio, then squirrel it away with his own collection of historical aircraft books. I am very fortunate to have won the book in a LibraryThing Giveaway!
    • 3/5
      Great potential with this story and lovely photographs make this a very appealing pick-up. The life cycle of a biplane would appeal to many kids and could be a great tool for parents to read with their children both from a history standpoint and to discuss the themes the book presents: loss, work ethic, perseverance, change, etc. Those themes are presented lightly but just enough to get some interesting dialogue going with prompted questioning. The book transitions quickly and those moments can be jarring to the flow which can make it difficult to read aloud. It also feels like the text is being restrained, that just a few more lines, details, or adjectives could have made this much more engaging. Nice visual appeal but text not quite up to same level.
    • 3/5
      While I appreciate the motive behind the story telling (job loss, new beginnings), I question whether this will in fact hold the interest of its intendend audience, beginner readers. It may work in a classroom reading centre but not so well in a bedtime story situation.
    • 2/5
      For a 3-7 year old who's been to an air show or museum or otherwise has interest in planes, Benny might be suitable. The story is written at a level that these kids can grasp. As an adult I was bothered by the lack of a defined plot curve, specifically the non-existent ending. More importantly to note: this book raises the topic of war, which may be tricky for the parent; the plot also repeatedly has Benny abandoned, which is not something I would want a child to dwell upon. From a technical perspective I had issue with the quality of a couple of the images that were obviously stretched too large for their resolution, resulting in poor image quality. On the other hand there was one cool photo that showed Benny in color and all the other planes in black & white. Overall I would consider reading this to a youngster but it wouldn't be my first choice. This is not a happy-go-lucky, upbeat tale. 2.5 stars rounded down based on the input of a parent of 2 boys, both now pre-teens.
    • 5/5
      Gertrude and Toby Save the Gingerbread ManWritten by: Shari TharpIllustrated by: Jim HeathI received an e-ARC of this book from NetGalley and Atlas Publishing in exchange for my honest review.This is book 2 in the Gertrude and Toby series and it is just as delightful as the first. I highly recommend both books!Author:I checked out Ms. Tharp's biography online and found that she is a former teacher. Of course, once a teacher, always a teacher. She really understands young people and knows how to engage their attention. Kids love to play around with traditional story structure such as what you find in fairytales. The author gives kids a playground for just this sort of word play. I guarantee that after reading these books, your little one will begin doing the same thing.Plot:We see several familiar characters from book one (the gingerbread man, the beanstalk - no Jack, and the shopkeeper). The beanstalk was an especially appreciated detail because in the first book, the reader only sees the seeds falling to ground. We don't hear anything more about them. Now, the plant has reached its intended (and fairytale level height) and its upstairs tenant (the giant) is creating mayhem by kidnapping the gingerbread man. Gertrude, Toby, the Flyng Carpet (from Aladdin), Hansel, and Gretel rescue him. As in the previous book, these characters are not named and their stories are not referenced. The rescue is full of action and peril and was very fun. Again, there was a delicious little twist at the end My only quibble was the use of Gertrude's earring to pick the lock. Let's all agree that we are suspending reality to allow a goat to use her hoof to open a lock. However, it is just a step too far outside of reality to believe that the tiny little wire in an earring could be strong enough to turn tumblers in a lock and open it. In fact, I've looked this up on-line and it can't really be done. There are earrings especially made for this task but your standard earring just isn't up to the task. Maybe goats have stronger wires? Ok, I've ranted and it is out of my system now. Wait ... I'm quibbling about lock picking skills not being real when we are riding a magic carpet up a magic beanstalk to rescue a gingerbread man. Maybe I should just relax and enjoy this little gem and so should you ?Characters:The two main characters Gertrude (the goat) and Toby (the tortoise) are back. Their interplay is even better and more pronounced in this book than the last. For instance, when the characters see the Gignerbread Man caught in the beanstalk Gertrude says, "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?". Ever practical and slightly oblivious to nuance Toby replies, "Indeed! He is a great climber." They do this sort of thing several times in the book and it is always funny.Conclusion:Such a fun series. Read this charming book series with your little ones. They will love it!.
    • 3/5
      This was the first Gertrude and Toby book that we've read. My daughter enjoyed it, but I think we'll need to read the 1st book in the series to understand the characters better. It was fun to see the Gingerbread Man and Hansel and Gretel mixed into the adventure. Fairy Tale characters that my daughter already knows about help make the story more interesting.
    • 4/5
      Gertrude and Toby Save the Gingerbread Man is the second book in the Gertrude and Toby Fairy Tale Adventure series. It is not necessary to have read the first book of the series to enjoy this book. Gertrude the goat and Toby the turtle leave the farm for an adventure. They discover their friend the Gingerbread Man in danger, and with the help of Hansel and Gretel and a flying carpet, they rush to his rescue. This is a colourful picture book by Shari Tharp with charming illustrations by Jim Heath. The dialogue between the main characters is humourous and children will enjoy the repetitive and quirky manner of speech. Children who are familiar with traditional fairy tales will have fun making connections to the characters and situations in this book. This would be a good book to incorporate into a fairy tale unit in a primary class.
    • 3/5
      This unexpected team of a goat and a turtle who leave their farm to search for adventure is both fun and quirky. The fairy tale stories that are weaved in add a touch of whimsy and humor however there was one story too many taking place,taking away from the main characters and their original story, while making them feel like supporting characters rather than the main. I received this a copy in exchange for a honest review.
    • 2/5
      I received this book as an Early Review book from Library Thing. I am always looking for Gingerbread Man story adaptations. I liked that the author chose to include some other fairy tale characters in this version. I thought the author incorporated the " Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" joke in a very effective way. A young reader will begin to anticipate the answer and then there is the light twist at the end.
    • 4/5
      I read this to my two boys, ages 5 and 6. The illustrations are very engaging. It is kind of lengthy for a small children's book but seems more appropriate for a slightly older child. My children loved to hear about the gingerbread man. At times it was hard for the kids to follow the story line, but overall they enjoyed it.
    • 5/5
      When I picked up this book, my 4 year old put down his tablet. What a feat! The story is delightful and it's the perfect length for a toddler. He loved the pictures and he made sure to count every plane that he could find.The ending is perfect and any book that prompts my son to think, is a good book in my opinion.
    • 5/5
      Hello, Benny,What an honor it is to meet you. Thank you for your service to our country in training Navy and Army pilots during World War II. After having such an important job, I'm sure it was frustrating to be out of work when the war ended. I would have loved to have seen the stunts you performed in the carnival where you found work. Better yet, I would have loved to have gone for a ride with you. I can imagine the wind blowing through my hair as we soared through the sky. I would have passed on any upside down aerobatics. Was the Navy Wave the one who flew you to towns around the world dropping candy and toys to needy boys and girls? The color photographs of you are terrific. I felt as though I were looking through a scrapbook of your pictures as I read your biography. Hey Benny, are you a reader? If you are, you might like to read Candy Bomber: The Story of the Berlin Airlift's "Chocolate Pilot" by Tunnel or Bessie Coleman by Hart. The planes in these stories reminded me a lot of you. I hope you are still spreading your wings and flying off to new adventures.
    • 4/5
      Benny loves to fly and is saddened when circumstances change and he loses his job. He remains grounded until his unique appearance is spotted and he's returned to the sunny skies he so loves. Fritz Carmichael delivers an important message to young readers by reminding them that perseverance, hopefulness, and a positive outlook are valuable traits to have. In a world of uncertainty and instability, many children can unfortunately relate to concepts of unemployment, sadness, and loss. A timely hero, Benny reminds us all to have hope as he delivers positive messages of encouragement, resolve, and optimism.Using simple text, historical photographs, and repetition, Benny the Biplane, Book 1 is a lovely reminder that there is always hope for tomorrow. The use of historical photographs is brilliant and provides additional discussion and learning experiences outside of the story's intended message. Children and adults alike are sure to enjoy viewing the old time photographs contained within this short story. Kudos to Carmichael for providing a list of illustration credits for biplane buffs who will want to seek out additional information on these vintage beauties!
    • 4/5
      Benny the Biplane loves to fly. He was made to fly in a war, then the war ended and he was grounded. Then he got to fly with a carnival where people did tricks, but the carnival closed down. Finally, a woman chose Benny for an important mission of delivering food and toys to children and Benny was happy. This is a wonderful story, perfect for children 2-6. Simple, short sentences paired with real photos of biplanes are able to keep the interest of children, especially ones that love things that go! I really liked that this book was able to introduce a little history of the biplane along with some real jobs that biplanes were used for. It also touches upon the subjects of having a purpose and fulfilment providing an easy way to introduce children to those topics. I would have loved a sentence about what makes a biplane special (I correctly guessed bi went with the two wings) so I could answer this inevitable question that my child asked me.This book was provided for free in return for an honest review.
    • 3/5
      I received a free copy of Benny the Biplane in exchange for an honest review.This simple story of a biplane who wasn’t happy to be parked on a field fits the bill of high interest book for new English learners besides young readers. The sentences are repetitive but the story as an underlining theme of having a good work ethic. It also has historical photos of planes and pilots as well as photo credits at the back of the book. There is also a nicely designed page where the text is laid out in the shape of a plane.
    • 4/5
      Benny loves loves to fly and any child who loves airplanes will love this book! Unfortunately Benny is grounded and finds himself in a field with other grounded planes. The good news is that he won’t remain there forever. I really liked the realistic illustrations and photographs.

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    Gertrude and Toby Save the Gingerbread Man - Shari Tharp

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