"...the story of an unsung hero of the Revolutionary War who changed the course of history - one delicious mouthful at a time."
Ages: 6 - 9
Grade Level: 1 - 4
Pages: 32
Time Period: 1700s
Gingerbread for Liberty! by Mara Rockliff is a whimsical picture book for young patriots and lovers of sweet things. It introduces Christopher Ludwick, a German immigrant who has made a life for himself in the 13 colonies. He opens up a bakery where he whips up delicious goods, like the rich German treat, gingerbread. When the American Revolution officially begins, Ludwick packs up his things and leaves to fight for the country he's grown to love so dearly. Yet what can an old baker do? This story serves to sweetly remind us that, no matter how small our part is to play, we can still make a big impact.
I enjoyed learning about this patriotic and humanitarian baker (especially from the author's note in the back which offers a more detailed summary of Ludwick's life). The whimsical and delicious paper-cutout art made me wish to create my own gingerbread soldiers, George Washingtons, King Geroges, etc.! There's a recipe included inside of the book's covers if you want to try and make your own "spicy gingerbread." If you try it, let me know! Gingerbread for Liberty! by Mara Rockliff is a real treat and I highly recommend it!
Resources:
You can find videos, activities, crafts and more that relate to this book on our Pinterest board!
See inside: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv0l6SqGalA
Content Warnings
Content that some individuals may find controversial or objectionable. Attention was given to include content which may offend people of a particular culture, race or religion and details which the sensitive child may find unsettling or troublesome.
"No Spoilers" offers a summary of content issues while avoiding spoilers. "With Spoilers" lists the potential content issues in detail.
No Spoilers:
None.
With Spoilers:
None.
I read your review and borrowed this book from our local library. I enjoyed it a lot, and I look forward to reading it to my younger sister as a part of her history program! (And hopefully we'll get to bake some gingerbread after reading it...)
Thank you for reviewing this sweet story!