By: Aaron Morgan

A new look at a classic ... a book that will inspire readers to create new holiday traditions. The holidays wouldn't be the same without the rich aroma of cinnamon, molasses, ginger, and cloves wafting from the oven. Now -- at last! -- here's a construction manual for every style, from overly cute English cottages to rustic log cabins, from Frank Lloyd Wright moderns to painfully elaborate Victorian mansions. If building a gingerbread house has long been on your Christmas wish list, this is the year to pull out the mixing bowls and rolling pin and begin. The book starts with the basics of house building -- complete, easy-to-follow instructions and how-to photography for baking, designing, assembling, and decorating. Then comes an unruly settlement of 40 diverse houses to build. There are even a few non-Christmas surprises: a gingerbread birdhouse, a carousel, and a haunted Halloween house. Just for fun, there's a photo survey of a major Gingerbread House Competition, illustrating just how creative and wacky home bakers and professional chefs can be.