Ginger Pye was awarded a well deserved Newbery Medal in 1952. It’s the story of siblings Jerry and Rachel Pye and their little dog, Ginger. Jerry and Rachel earn enough money to purchase a puppy from their neighbor, and little Ginger turns out to be a lovable and intelligent pup. However, tragedy strikes on Thanksgiving Day when Ginger is stolen, or at least comes up missing. Much of the story revolves around Jerry and Rachel’s attempts to get Ginger back. It’s a simple story, really, and not one in which a whole lot of action takes place. It’s more about the inner lives and workings of children, a theme I always find interesting, amusing, and instructive. Jerry and Rachel suspect a certain Unsavory Character, he of the yellow hat, as Ginger’s abductor, but unfortunately, this Mysterious Footstepper stays just on the periphery of their normal trek around their friendly little town of Cranbury. It’s just enough to make this story “deliciously frightening,” as Anne Shirley might say.
In addition to this book being a gentle mystery, it is also full of interesting and entertaining little vignettes. This characteristic places Ginger Pye squarely in the category of books I like best–those with stories-within-the-big-story. For example, there’s the story of the Vertical Swimmer, the Pyes’ friend who swims up and down under the water, rather than horizontally, on top of the water. Rachel Pye has the ability to make even the most mundane of occurences seem exciting, or at least interesting, so all of these little stories work together to create a rich overall story in which characterization is the real star. The Pye family is just cozy and interesting. I think this explanation of the family’s dependence on Mr. Pye, “a famous bird man,” says it best:
[Rachel] dropped her dishcloth and looked pleadingly at her mother. Her mother nodded her head. “Call in Mr. Pye,” she said, referring to the way the men in Washington always spoke. “Call in Mr. Pye,” they’d say whenever they got in a bird jam. This was not a bird jam. It was a dog jam and a dishwashing jam. But in this family it did not matter what sort of a jam it was. “Call in Mr. Pye” suited every occasion.
I really, really enjoyed reading this book aloud to my girls. I think they enjoyed it almost as much as I did. However, and this is a big however, especially if your listeners are young and/or fidgety, this book has L-O-N-G chapters and rather complex sentences. Perhaps it’s because it was written way back in the early 1950s when attention spans were longer. I don’t know. My girls actually don’t have trouble paying attention to long stories (maybe because I subjected them to my terrible British accent and The Wind in the Willows when they were practically babies 😉 ), but I think it helped a lot that they had already listened to the audiobook of Ginger Pye several, several times quite a few months ago (maybe last year?).
I tried to read The Moffats for my Reading My Library challenge a while back when I was searching for an E author, but I just couldn’t get into it. Ginger Pye has made me more willing to give Eleanor Estes another chance, especially since the Moffats make a cameo appearance in Ginger Pye. I understand that Ginger Pye has a sequel, too–Pinky Pie. Has anyone read it? I think my girls and I will definitely have to add this one to our TBR list!
Link your own Read Aloud Thursday posts up below! 🙂
I read this hoping all the way through that you’d say whether Ginger gets found. I’m assuming she does! — But like a seasoned reviewer, you don’t have any spoilers here. 🙂
I know I read some E.E. when I was younger, but I don’t remember which ones. This one doesn’t sound familiar, but it does sound engaging.
Totally understand what you’re saying about the long sentences and chapters…
I haven’t read this one yet, but I need to add it to my list. : ) The only Eleanor Estes book I’ve read is The Hundred Dresses which I loved and will definitely be reading to the girls one of these days. I think you/your girls would like that one, too.
Oh, I’m glad you wrote about this one being that I’ve been staring at it sitting on my shelf for awhile. I meant to get to it during the Children’s Mystery Challenge since you mentioned it was a mystery but obviously that didn’t happen. Now I look forward to it with even greater anticipation!
I’m random today, just as you like it. =)
I’m not sure my daughter would have the patience for Estes yet, but we’ll definitely look into her books in a few years.
Just found your blog and like the read-aloud meme. I’ll try to remember it.
I’m unfamiliar with this work (as I am of so many older Award Winners), but it certainly does sound fun. I’m always looking for a good read-aloud! Thanks-
-Dawn, 5minutesforbooks.com
I’m also unfamiliar with this but it does sound fun. Thanks for sharing!
Nancy @ 5minutesforbooks.com
We read through Ginger Pye twice, because the children liked it so much! And, it is a great read. This past summer we finally checked Pinky Pye out of the library. What a fabulous read as well! Our family thoroughly enjoyed this sequel, and recommend it.