The Gingerbread Monster

K-Gr 2–K-Gr 2–Frank N. Stine needs a sugary fix. Lacking enough gingerbread mix, he throws together moldy biscuits, pizza crust, old croissants gathering dust—and inadvertently adds some of his bubbling experiment. What crashes out of the oven, snarling “Frrr Frrr Frrruh!” causes Frank to flee, repeatedly shrieking “Run, run, run, if you want to survive, this horrible Frankenbread Monster’s alive!” Despite Frank’s warnings, the Monster’s delicious eau d’cookie entices the neighborhood werewolf, vampires, and the local mob. Before the villagers capture their just desserts, Frank must figure out what the Monster’s been trying to tell him all along. Enhanced with sinister soundscapes from start to finish, narrator Berman is an energetic marvel, mixing the perfect blend of scary, comical—and comforting. Even the ending recipe (adult assistance required) is a toothsome adventure.