This is going "way back", about 40 years ...
When my children were young, I remember a magician performing an effect with a child's story book.
This story book told of a witch ... and as the performer talked about the witch ... the witch appeared from behind the book.
Creating much interaction from the children.

This effect was repeated with other items within the story ... but unfortunately, I can't remember any more than this.

Can anyone help?

I don't know the story of the witch, but I do know the story of the Gingerbread Man and you'll find it combined with my "Peek-a-Boo Who?" prop plans in The Wizard's Journal #32 and scroll down to item #8: https://www.magicnook.com/WizJournal/WJ-32ALL.htm It's a variation of the "Peek-a-Boo" effect with the prop turned into a story book with the characters popping up and down from behind the book as the story is read aloud. You print out all the parts using your computer printer and paste them on cardboard or chipboard to make them "come to life."

Thanks ... I will take a look at this to see if it is what I am after ...