"The Gingerbread Man" is a popular children's story about a gingerbread cookie that comes to life and runs away from various pursuers. The tale begins when a baker and his wife create the gingerbread cookie, which unexpectedly jumps off the baking tray and escapes. As the Gingerbread Man runs through the countryside, he encounters several characters, including a cow, a horse, and a fox, all of whom try to catch him. The story highlights themes of adventure and cleverness, culminating in a clever twist when the fox outsmarts the Gingerbread Man.