The First Gingerbread House, Library Edition

A beautifully illustrated, full-color picture storybook. Set in Medieval times, this story captures the essence of the culture and time that gave birth to one of our most beloved holiday traditions. The story is fictional, but the lessons about hope, kindness, and the joy they bring, resonate with people of all times.

In a land filled with troubles and bad-tempered kings, Hans and his father are commanded to make special gingerbread cookies for the king's Christmas feast. But the fancy cookie molds usually used for making special cookies have been sold. How can they please the king? Using his creativity, Hans devises a way to turn plain cookies into delightful treats that please the king and bring joy to the sad town. In the process, he starts a tradition that continues to this day.

While we don't actually know who built the first gingerbread house, we do know about when and where and under what conditions the tradition arose. So, while it might not have happened this way, it could have.

NOTE! This Library edition does not include the recipe and pattern section, "Heart-to-House Plans," which is part of the regular edition, ISBN: 978-1-958913-07-9.

T.B. Hickson has taught English to middle school students, lived among an indigenous tribe in South America, worked as a social worker, and has written and edited materials for an international non-profit.

Tomasz Pląskowski is an illustrator with more than ten years of experience specializing in children's illustrations. Throughout his career, he has had the opportunity to work on numerous projects, including animations, historical illustrations, and museum exhibitions. One of his greatest passions is creating illustrations for children books, as he firmly believes in the power of storytelling and its impact on a child's imagination and curiosity. Each illustrated book is an adventure from which he learns something new.