Ginger Pye

Ginger Pye

Cover of Ginger Pye, written and illustrated by Eleanor Estes
Author Eleanor Estes
Illustrator Eleanor Estes
Cover artist Arthur Howard
Country United States
Language English
Genre Children's novel
Publisher Harcourt Brace & World
Publication date
1951
Media type Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages 306 pp
ISBN 0-590-45126-X
OCLC 28174884
Followed by Pinky Pye

Ginger Pye is a book by Eleanor Estes about a dog named Ginger Pye. The book was originally published in 1951 and it won the Newbery Medal for excellence in American children's literature in 1952.

Plot summary

This book is about a puppy named Ginger. Jerry Pye, a resident in Cranbury, Connecticut in 1919, bought a puppy he wanted from Ms. Speedy for a hard-earned dollar he made while dusting the pews in the church for Sam Doody. Jerry was pleased with the puppy and headed home. On the way home, Jerry and his sister Rachel heard footsteps behind them. When they turned back, they did not see anything. Jerry decided that if anyone was following them, then that follower was after his dog. After a few days, Jerry remembered that he hadn't given his puppy a name! Rachel, Uncle Bennie, and Jerry thought of a name but couldn't think of one. He asked his mother and his mother said Ginger because he looks like ginger and has quality of ginger. So they called him, Ginger or Ginger Pye. Ginger was a smart dog. He even located the school that Jerry goes to. Almost all his neighbors and friends knew Ginger. But then suddenly, Ginger disappeared!

Later on Thanksgiving Day, the dog was missing. Jerry and his sister Rachel tried to find him, but they could not. They go all around Cranbury and ask neighbors to help. They found out that Ginger had been tied up in a shed. Then they find out who the person was that stole Ginger (the unsavory character) was Wally Bullwinkle. At the end Uncle Bennie had found the dog. Everybody was very happy when they got Ginger back.

Sequel

Pinky Pye is a 1958 book by Eleanor Estes, the sequel to Ginger Pye.

Awards
Preceded by
Amos Fortune, Free Man
Newbery Medal recipient
1952
Succeeded by
Secret of the Andes