The Pye's story begins when they finally get Ginger. From the beginning there are suspicions that an "unsavory character" may be watching the Pye's in order to snatch Ginger away and soon, he does. The rest of the story action revolves around the search for and eventual return of Ginger Pye. What I realized about half way through the book is that Ginger only takes center stage at the beginning and the end.
What is so clever about Ginger Pye is the way Estes gradually unfolds the story and character of the Pye family through their acquisition of and, later, search for Ginger. The story begins with the two children, Rachel, aged nine, and Jerry, aged ten discussing "Which is more important? A cat or a dog?" Rachel, who is very logical and a little stubborn, answers "both." Jerry, who has his eye set on one particular puppy, simply answers "M-m-m." Half the fun of this book is watching the relationship between Rachel and Jerry. (The other half is the suspense of waiting to find out who stole Ginger Pye!)
For younger kids, it is a lot of fun to hear the story of Ginger, to see the children with their special pet, and to follow them as they try to trail the "unsavory character" who stole Ginger. For older children (and adults) it is the story of the Pye family themselves that is both compelling and entertaining: Mrs. Pye (the youngest mother in town), Mr. Pye (who handles all the nation's important bird problems), the very reasonable (almost too reasonable) Rachel Pye, Jerry Pye (who wants to grow up to be a rock man), and Uncle Bennie (he's three).
*This book was published in 1951 and was the Newberry Medal Book for that year.
What is so clever about Ginger Pye is the way Estes gradually unfolds the story and character of the Pye family through their acquisition of and, later, search for Ginger. The story begins with the two children, Rachel, aged nine, and Jerry, aged ten discussing "Which is more important? A cat or a dog?" Rachel, who is very logical and a little stubborn, answers "both." Jerry, who has his eye set on one particular puppy, simply answers "M-m-m." Half the fun of this book is watching the relationship between Rachel and Jerry. (The other half is the suspense of waiting to find out who stole Ginger Pye!)
For younger kids, it is a lot of fun to hear the story of Ginger, to see the children with their special pet, and to follow them as they try to trail the "unsavory character" who stole Ginger. For older children (and adults) it is the story of the Pye family themselves that is both compelling and entertaining: Mrs. Pye (the youngest mother in town), Mr. Pye (who handles all the nation's important bird problems), the very reasonable (almost too reasonable) Rachel Pye, Jerry Pye (who wants to grow up to be a rock man), and Uncle Bennie (he's three).
*This book was published in 1951 and was the Newberry Medal Book for that year.
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