Ginger Pye

Ginger Pye

First edition
Author	Eleanor Estes
Illustrator	Louis Slobodkin
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 went missing. Jerry and his sister Rachel tried to find Ginger, but could not. They go all around Cranbury and ask neighbors to help, and later find out that Ginger had been tied up in a shed. They then discover the identity of the thief: Wally Bullwinkle. The book closes with Ginger home safe to a happy family.

Sequel

Pinky Pye is a 1958 book by Eleanor Estes, the sequel to Ginger Pye. In this book, the eponymous black kitten is adopted by the Pyes during their summer vacation on Fire Island.