“Ginger Pye” by Eleanor Estes is bit of a quirky book. Written in 1951 and set in 1919, this Newbery winner (1952) traces the adventures of 10-year-old Jerry and his 9-year-old sister Rachel as they earn, buy, lose and eventually find their beloved puppy Ginger.
At its heart “Ginger Pye” is a mystery: who stole the smartest dog in Cranbury, Connecticut? Was it the man with the mysterious footsteps and mustard-colored hat?
Much of the book details the heartbreak of a very long search for Ginger. What is interesting here is how difficult it is for the children to find the lost puppy. They get stuck, as do the authorities, in visualizing the criminal to look one way, just the way they draw him in cartoons which they create about their imagined adventures, because of the clue of the yellow hat.
At its heart “Ginger Pye” is a mystery: who stole the smartest dog in Cranbury, Connecticut? Was it the man with the mysterious footsteps and mustard-colored hat?
Much of the book details the heartbreak of a very long search for Ginger. What is interesting here is how difficult it is for the children to find the lost puppy. They get stuck, as do the authorities, in visualizing the criminal to look one way, just the way they draw him in cartoons which they create about their imagined adventures, because of the clue of the yellow hat.
I’m not sure if the author intends young readers to understand that they should remain open to the world or not. The book could just as easily be read as a description of how easily it is for humans, even young ones, to confound themselves. Fortunately, it is Ginger, the very smart dog, and 4-year-old Uncle Bennie, who save the day.
Complementing the mystery is the simple language and stylistic choice of repeating long phrases. Together these create a slow-paced, old-fashioned, and simple experience which children should enjoy.
The book also reminds adults that loss for children does not go away as easily as we may think.
