In our house, the gingerbread man shows up every December whether we’ve planned it or not. Somebody bakes, somebody reads the story, and somebody wants to know why the fox is allowed to do that. So these gingerbread man coloring pages come with the story too. It’s the only way I’ve found to answer the fox question once and move on.
There are 12 coloring pages at three levels, a blank gingerbread man template to decorate, and a set of story sequencing cards for the old folk tale. Everything’s in one free PDF, with no email form.
What’s in the Pack
| Part | Pages | What’s on them |
| Easy coloring (ages 2 to 5) | 4 | A big gingerbread man, a gingerbread girl, a gingerbread man waving, a gingerbread man with a candy cane |
| Medium coloring (ages 6 to 8) | 4 | The gingerbread man running across a field, a gingerbread family, a tray of gingerbread cookies, the gingerbread man and the fox at the river |
| Detailed coloring (ages 9 and up) | 4 | A gingerbread mandala, a patterned gingerbread man, a gingerbread village, “Run, run, as fast as you can” lettering |
| Blank template | 1 | One large gingerbread man outline and four small ones, to decorate or cut out |
| Story sequencing cards | 2 | Eight picture cards for the folk tale, plus a strip to glue them on in order |
Easy Gingerbread Man Coloring Pages (Ages 2 to 5)
The easy pages have one big cookie on each, with thick lines and lots of space. They’re perfect for chunky crayons, or for fingerpaint if you’re feeling brave. I’m usually not. Little ones love adding their own buttons and a smile, and nobody minds if the icing goes everywhere. It’s a cookie. That’s what icing does.
Medium Pages (Ages 6 to 8)
These have a bit more going on. The gingerbread man runs across a field with a fence behind him, a whole gingerbread family lines up, and there’s a page of the fox waiting at the river, which always gets a few gasps when kids know the story. The lines are thinner, but the spaces are still a good size for colored pencils. Nobody’s squinting.
Detailed Pages (Ages 9 and Up)
Older kids (and plenty of grown-ups) get a gingerbread mandala, a gingerbread man filled with patterns, a little gingerbread village and the famous “Run, run, as fast as you can” line in big outline letters. They’re best with fine-tip markers, and they’ll take a while. Put one out after a baking afternoon and you’ll see who sits down first.
The Blank Gingerbread Man Template
The template page has one big gingerbread man outline and four small ones, with nothing inside. Kids can design their own: stripes, polka dots, a superhero cape, whatever they like. You’d be amazed what they come up with. It also works as a cutting template. Trace it onto brown card for a paper gingerbread chain, or onto felt for a tree decoration.
If you’d like a gingerbread house to go with him, our gingerbread house template has the walls and roof to cut and fold.
The Gingerbread Man Story
Here’s the folk tale in a few lines, if you want to read it before handing out the cards.
An old woman baked a gingerbread man, but when she opened the oven, he jumped out and ran away. “Run, run, as fast as you can! You can’t catch me, I’m the Gingerbread Man!” he shouted. The old woman chased him. The old man chased him. A cow and a horse chased him too, but nobody could catch him. Then he came to a river and couldn’t swim. A sly fox offered to carry him across on his back, then on his nose, and then, snap. That’s where the gasps come in.
In the oldest versions, that’s the end of the gingerbread man. Lots of picture books finish more gently, with the gingerbread man escaping or making friends. Pick the ending that suits your kids; the cards work either way, and you don’t have to mention the snap at all if you’d rather not.
The sequencing cards show each part of the story in a simple picture. Kids cut them out, mix them up, and glue them on the strip in the right order. It’s a lovely way to practice retelling a story, and it’s sneaky reading practice, too. They won’t notice.
A Gingerbread Week for the Classroom
If you teach kindergarten or first grade, here’s a quick plan that uses the pack:
- Monday: read the story, then color an easy or medium page.
- Tuesday: do the sequencing cards in pairs.
- Wednesday: decorate the blank template and write the gingerbread man a name.
- Thursday: bake or decorate gingerbread cookies, if your school allows food. Check allergies first; it’s worth asking even if you think you know.
- Friday: hang the decorated gingerbread men on the classroom door as a “Run, run” parade.
Download the Free Gingerbread Man Printables
The free PDF has all 12 gingerbread man coloring pages, the blank template and the story sequencing cards. It prints in black and white on US Letter and A4.
Download the Free Printable
⬇ Download PDF (Free)More Christmas Printables
- Gingerbread house template
- Christmas coloring pages
- Christmas word search printables
- Christmas activities for kids
- Christmas crafts for kids
FAQs
Is this gingerbread man coloring page free?
Yes. All 12 coloring pages, the template and the story cards are in one free PDF with no sign-up and no email form. Print as many as you need for home or a classroom. Please don’t sell them or upload the PDF to another site.
What’s the gingerbread man story about?
It’s an old folk tale about a gingerbread man who jumps out of the oven and runs away from everyone who tries to catch him, shouting “Run, run, as fast as you can!” In the end, a clever fox tricks him at the river. Different versions end in different ways. Our sequencing cards follow the classic order and work with any ending.
How do you use gingerbread man sequencing cards?
Read the story first, then let kids cut out the eight cards and mix them up. They put the cards in the order the story happened and glue them on the strip. It helps young children practice retelling and remembering the order of events.
Can I use the template for a craft?
Yes. Trace the gingerbread man onto brown card, felt or craft foam and cut it out. Add buttons, ribbon or paint for icing, and hang it on the tree or a classroom wall. The small outlines are a good size for gift tags.
What age are the gingerbread man coloring pages for?
The easy pages suit ages 2 to 5, the medium ones ages 6 to 8, and the detailed pages ages 9 and up, including grown-ups. The sequencing cards are aimed at ages 4 to 7. Pick by your child’s confidence rather than strictly by age. They’ll let you know if it’s too easy.
Can I color the gingerbread man with real icing?
You can decorate a real cookie with icing, but not the paper page. For a real gingerbread cookie, use our blank template as a guide for shapes and patterns, then pipe them on with icing. It’s a fun way to plan a design before you bake, and it means there’s less arguing over the icing bag.
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