A classic holiday folktale about the power of kindness. In a land filled with troubles and bad-tempered kings (not so different from our own time), Hans and his father are commanded to make special gingerbread cookies for the king's Christmas feast. But the molds needed for the fancy cookies are gone. Using his creativity, Hans devises a way to turn plain cookies into delightful treats that bring joy to his sad town. In the process, he starts a tradition that continues to this day. For those wanting to follow Hans's inspiration, recipes and patterns to make your own gingerbread houses are included.