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The Pyes #2
Pinky Pye
Meet Pinky, a furious black kitten who adopts the Pye family. The Pyes have some of the smartest pets around-there's Ginger the intellectual dog , and Gracie the clever old cat- but Pinky is more than smart enough to earn a place in the Pyes' hearts. She can box with Ginger, play games with Mr.Pye, and - Rachel and Jerry can hardly believe their eyes - even type out her life story!
258 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1958
65 people are currently reading
946 people want to read
About the author
Eleanor Estes
35 books275 followersEleanor Ruth Rosenfeld (Estes)was an American children's author. She was born in West Haven, Connecticut as Eleanor Ruth Rosenfield. Originally a librarian, Estes' writing career began following a case of tuberculosis. Bedridden while recovering, Estes began writing down some of her childhood memories, which would later turn into full-length children's books.
Estes's book Ginger Pye (1951) won the Newbery Medal, and three of her other books (The Middle Moffat, Rufus M., and The Hundred Dresses) were chosen as Newbery Honor books. She also received the Certificate of Award for Outstanding Contribution to Children’s Literature and was nominated for the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award. By the time of her death at age 82, Estes had written 19 children's books and one novel for adults.
Estes's book Ginger Pye (1951) won the Newbery Medal, and three of her other books (The Middle Moffat, Rufus M., and The Hundred Dresses) were chosen as Newbery Honor books. She also received the Certificate of Award for Outstanding Contribution to Children’s Literature and was nominated for the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award. By the time of her death at age 82, Estes had written 19 children's books and one novel for adults.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
February 22, 2022
We read about a third of the way through and gave up. What we read was 3 stars, if I had been reading this to young children it might have been more fun, this would be an ideal chapter a night story for small children. The start was good, a family goes to an island for the summer as their ornithologist father has been sent there to investigate a puffin sighting. After a good start we lost interest. Although the main characters in this book are kind and respectful to animals this comes from a different era when people had different attitudes.
This copy has beautiful Edward Ardizzone illustrations that are a lovely addition to the story. He is very good at drawing cats, dogs and children so he is perfect for this book. I always appreciate Ardizzone makes the effort to illustrate the story without mistakes, I know that if a story mentions someone has curly hair or straight hair, Ardizzone will have illustrated this correctly which isn't always the case with other illustartors!
Not as enjoyable as the first book we read about this family which focuses on their dog Ginger Pye.
This copy has beautiful Edward Ardizzone illustrations that are a lovely addition to the story. He is very good at drawing cats, dogs and children so he is perfect for this book. I always appreciate Ardizzone makes the effort to illustrate the story without mistakes, I know that if a story mentions someone has curly hair or straight hair, Ardizzone will have illustrated this correctly which isn't always the case with other illustartors!
Not as enjoyable as the first book we read about this family which focuses on their dog Ginger Pye.
August 20, 2018
No matter how many times I read this book, I come away renewed and re-charmed. It's an almost 60 year old book, but it's still crisp and enchanting, with its small mystery and chatty yet wry narrative; reading Pinky Pye - really, reading Estes period - arouses an overwhelming sense of nostalgia for a another time and place (albeit one most likely nonexistent outside of children's books and fuzzy memories). I hope there are still families like the Pyes out there, children who can still be fascinated by crickets and watching a man catch a 2 lb fish in the surf, who build wagons from junk drifted to shore after a storm, who teach their dogs to count, who are content (or even allowed) to sit on the roof and watch whatever needs to be watched. The last lines are poignant, as the Pyes (as far as I can tell) never appeared in print again: "'Well,' said Papa, 'since we have finished with the book and we have finished with the book report, what do we do now, Pinky Pye?' ... at the door, [Pinky] looked back at Mr. Pye... 'Woe,' she replied sadly."
September 16, 2017
An ideal family full of curious outdoor-loving children go on a summer trip with their mother, bird-man father, to Fire Island with the their five year old uncle and the family pets--for an adventure! This is a sweet old fashioned tale meant completely for children, which I found to be refreshing, yet the vocabulary and truisms of children and family life were humorous and laugh out loud for an adult. Did Father or the new-found adorable kitten who loves to type write the book? Let your children decide. I adored so much about this book and have found a new favorite author.
January 21, 2018
Another fun title by Estes! Cleanliness Report coming soon!
December 26, 2016
I really can't give this more than two stars. We have a saying in Spanish: Sequels are never any good. (Segundas partes nunca fueron buenas). That's certainly true of the Pye family story. I really enjoyed Ginger Pye; Jerry and Rachel are real kids, dealing with real kids' situations such as finding a lost pet. Unfortunately, in the second instalment Ms Estes is back to being "cute" and engaging in anthropomorphism. Nothing wrong with that if it's well done, but here it just grated on me. I'm a cat person myself of long standing, but Pinky was just obnoxious; not because of the cat-like actions but because of the "writing". It's not until near the end that we are let in on the secret--of course it's Mr Pye who's dabbling in a bit of fiction! However, "his" writing style reminded me of several animal books written by women in the 1950s--and that is not a compliment. I got very tired of Uncle Bennie, the four-year-old little old man. No wonder his parents shipped him off to Fire Island for the summer--so would I have done!
There is far too much felicitous coincidence in this story, too. The situations in "Ginger"'s story were at least believable, and well-told, but by the end of the book I was doing some serious eye-rolling. (That whole silly business with the seagull!)
If Estes had stuck to a happy summer outing, and maybe had Mr Pye find the owl in a more believable way--maybe on that visit to the sunken forest which is so disappointingly glossed over in two sentences after a long leadup--it would have made a much better read. As it is, I can't really recommend this to anyone. Kids would miss the "adult author winking over the child readers' heads" jokes such as the one about the GOP, and adults would find it tedious. I think if I had read this book as a child, it would have made me as twitchy with embarassment for the author as some of the sillier episodes of the Moffat stories did. As it is, I caught myself skimming, which is never a good sign.
There is far too much felicitous coincidence in this story, too. The situations in "Ginger"'s story were at least believable, and well-told, but by the end of the book I was doing some serious eye-rolling. (That whole silly business with the seagull!)
If Estes had stuck to a happy summer outing, and maybe had Mr Pye find the owl in a more believable way--maybe on that visit to the sunken forest which is so disappointingly glossed over in two sentences after a long leadup--it would have made a much better read. As it is, I can't really recommend this to anyone. Kids would miss the "adult author winking over the child readers' heads" jokes such as the one about the GOP, and adults would find it tedious. I think if I had read this book as a child, it would have made me as twitchy with embarassment for the author as some of the sillier episodes of the Moffat stories did. As it is, I caught myself skimming, which is never a good sign.
September 1, 2008
Surprisingly, I thought this book was awful. Previously, I read its predecessor, Ginger Pye, which was a Newbery Medal winner. Well, this one was not and it is clear why. The plot was so loosely constructed I found many of the chapters absolutely unnecessary which really should never happen in a book, much less a book for children. It was, altogether, boring. It's a shame because Eleanor Estes is a really great author and I love most of her novels. But with this one, in my opinion, she should have taken a break from her typewriter.
November 19, 2025
Read November 16, 2025
The Pye family are leaving Cranbury for their vacation, travelling to Fire Island so father can study the birds there at the behest of Washington. Once there, they find themselves the new owners of a special and unique kitten whom they name Pinky. With a personality as big as a much larger animal, she charms the family and the reader. The reader is also treated to various family adventures, from Jerry setting up a "taxi" company (there are no cars on the island), to Uncle Bennie's disappearing grasshopper pets; from father spraining his ankle to a little lost owl. Nothing seems to be outside of the imagination of what could happen in this novel.
This sequel to Ginger Pye was not nearly as good as its predecessor. I'm not sure whether the first novel anchored the Pyes so firmly in Cranbury that taking them outside of it rendered them rather flat, or that the happenings on Fire Island where not only incredible, but unbelievable. There was quite a bit of focus on father, and he seemed rather an odd sort. And the musings of Pinky, also tended to put me to sleep as I neared the end of the book. If it wasn't for the stellar writing in Ginger Pye, which still resonated within me, I might have even given it 2.5 stars. Yikes!
The Pye family are leaving Cranbury for their vacation, travelling to Fire Island so father can study the birds there at the behest of Washington. Once there, they find themselves the new owners of a special and unique kitten whom they name Pinky. With a personality as big as a much larger animal, she charms the family and the reader. The reader is also treated to various family adventures, from Jerry setting up a "taxi" company (there are no cars on the island), to Uncle Bennie's disappearing grasshopper pets; from father spraining his ankle to a little lost owl. Nothing seems to be outside of the imagination of what could happen in this novel.
This sequel to Ginger Pye was not nearly as good as its predecessor. I'm not sure whether the first novel anchored the Pyes so firmly in Cranbury that taking them outside of it rendered them rather flat, or that the happenings on Fire Island where not only incredible, but unbelievable. There was quite a bit of focus on father, and he seemed rather an odd sort. And the musings of Pinky, also tended to put me to sleep as I neared the end of the book. If it wasn't for the stellar writing in Ginger Pye, which still resonated within me, I might have even given it 2.5 stars. Yikes!
September 21, 2017
I read this just after Ginger Pye and loved it even more. I also remembered it more as I was going along. I probably read this just a couple of times as a young child, and the sequel three or four times. It's a very happy book, charming, graceful, with some humor that children might not catch the first time through.
June 16, 2015
I didn't even know there was a sequel to Ginger Pye until I looked up reviews after recently re-reading it, and then I thought I might as well pick it up and see if the author was able to maintain the nostalgic, if dated, charm that was so notable in her first book. I was surprised to find that I enjoyed the sequel much more than the first book!
Pinky Pye tells of the Pyes' summer in the northeastern US sea on Fire Island, and their discover of a remarkable and precocious abandoned kitten. Unlike its predecessor, this book features the titular character throughout, and she is hilarious. She's clever and a little bit bratty, and the family is soon delighted to discover that she can use a typewriter (or thinks she can). Poor Ginger and Grace-the-cat take a back seat to black-and-white Pinky, who steals the show with her meditations and instructions on how to play the best cat games and keep the humans interested. The story is a little less flimsy than the first book's, but the characters are much more realized--Jerry, Rachel and Uncle Bennie are still around and going strong, but Lucy and Edgar, Mama and Papa, are much more fun and interesting. There's still the feeling of nostalgia and a time long gone by, but this one seemed a little more engaging, and it also featured the title character more, who really did live up to her reputation as a cleverer than usual pet (poor Ginger).
I really liked this book, and it's rare when the sequel can live up to its predecessor, even if it's written by the original author (I'm looking at you, Dodie Smith). I would love to read this to my kids one day. It also really made me want a kitten.
Pinky Pye tells of the Pyes' summer in the northeastern US sea on Fire Island, and their discover of a remarkable and precocious abandoned kitten. Unlike its predecessor, this book features the titular character throughout, and she is hilarious. She's clever and a little bit bratty, and the family is soon delighted to discover that she can use a typewriter (or thinks she can). Poor Ginger and Grace-the-cat take a back seat to black-and-white Pinky, who steals the show with her meditations and instructions on how to play the best cat games and keep the humans interested. The story is a little less flimsy than the first book's, but the characters are much more realized--Jerry, Rachel and Uncle Bennie are still around and going strong, but Lucy and Edgar, Mama and Papa, are much more fun and interesting. There's still the feeling of nostalgia and a time long gone by, but this one seemed a little more engaging, and it also featured the title character more, who really did live up to her reputation as a cleverer than usual pet (poor Ginger).
I really liked this book, and it's rare when the sequel can live up to its predecessor, even if it's written by the original author (I'm looking at you, Dodie Smith). I would love to read this to my kids one day. It also really made me want a kitten.
August 8, 2021
I actually prefer this book to Ginger Pye. I thought this book was very humorous and I felt like the chapters weren’t as long winded and the story moved a bit quicker.
November 4, 2014
I love all the Eleanor Estes books, but particularly those about the Pyes and Moffats. This one is no exception. This is a charming and sweet tale, and a great follow up to "Ginger Pye," Estes Newbery Award winning book. This is a great read for both children and adults - kids will enjoy the adventure of the people and the pets, and adults will enjoy the charm and nostalgia for a simpler time.
September 27, 2007
I know, I know, "Ginger Pye" won the Newbery. But the sequel, featuring a family trip to Fire Island and an amazing black kitten named Pinky is funnier, far more creative and altogether delightful. This is one of those books I re-read at least once a year!
July 9, 2024
A wonderful reread for my summer reading. Couldn’t resist yet another reading.
November 27, 2021
Before reading this wonderful book with my five-year-old, we saw some reviews that suggested Pinky Pye is somehow boring in comparison to its better-known predecessor, Ginger Pye. We could not disagree more! Eleanor Estes' summer sequel is funny, sweet, and even more entertaining than the first book in the series. Lots of laughs await anyone who reads it. (My son adds: "It's fun!")
April 21, 2021
Cute & sweet story! I think we still prefer Ginger Pye best. ;-)
September 26, 2021
Charming, and I liked it better than Ginger Pye because
November 4, 2024
There is nothing objectional about this book however there is nothing compelling about it either. The literary quality isn't stellar. I consider this book/series to be mediocre.
August 29, 2013
I read and enjoyed Ginger Pye and have long awaited this sequel, Pinky Pye. It wasn't a bad book. It just could have been so much better.
Here's the problem: it's too simple. Which is why I put on my "for-younger-kids" shelf and not on my "middle-grade-juvenile- fiction". The writing was SO simplistic, even more so than Ginger Pye. And my other main complaint: there's no problem, no crisis that they have to resolve. It's kinda boring. The Pyes go to Fire Island for vacation because of Mr. Pye's work as an ornithologist. They adopted a kitten and name it Pinky. Pinky Pye. She's so smart, she can type! But, from there, the story gets SO boring. There's that whole deal with the owl, but it doesn't have anything to do with Pinky's ability to type. You know what would make a good story? If somebody found out about Pinky's typing skills, thought he could make some money, and kidnaps her for his own nefarious dealings. But, alas, that did not happen. I won't say anymore because I don't want to spoil everything, but it's just so boring!
This is a children's book, meant for readers 8 and up, so I guess my expectations were too high. I am older than the intended age group, after all. But I can't give it more than three stars. The rating reflects my own personal enjoyment, NOT the quality of the book. If you a) are in the intended age group, ages 8 and up, and b) read and enjoyed Ginger Pye, then I recommend Pinky Pye.
Here's the problem: it's too simple. Which is why I put on my "for-younger-kids" shelf and not on my "middle-grade-juvenile- fiction". The writing was SO simplistic, even more so than Ginger Pye. And my other main complaint: there's no problem, no crisis that they have to resolve. It's kinda boring. The Pyes go to Fire Island for vacation because of Mr. Pye's work as an ornithologist. They adopted a kitten and name it Pinky. Pinky Pye. She's so smart, she can type! But, from there, the story gets SO boring. There's that whole deal with the owl, but it doesn't have anything to do with Pinky's ability to type. You know what would make a good story? If somebody found out about Pinky's typing skills, thought he could make some money, and kidnaps her for his own nefarious dealings. But, alas, that did not happen. I won't say anymore because I don't want to spoil everything, but it's just so boring!
This is a children's book, meant for readers 8 and up, so I guess my expectations were too high. I am older than the intended age group, after all. But I can't give it more than three stars. The rating reflects my own personal enjoyment, NOT the quality of the book. If you a) are in the intended age group, ages 8 and up, and b) read and enjoyed Ginger Pye, then I recommend Pinky Pye.
February 7, 2017
This is a cute little story about a kitten named Pinky who is abandoned on Fire Island, and adopted by the Pye family while they are on vacation there. Pinky and the other family cat, Gracie, are the only ones who know the secret hiding in the attic of the Pye's vacation cottage. Pinky astonishes everyone on the island with her feline prowess and intelligence. The little family adventures keep the story interesting and fun!
The plot is fairly obvious, and the writing is nothing special; but the wholesome charm of this story kept me reading and enjoying it!
The plot is fairly obvious, and the writing is nothing special; but the wholesome charm of this story kept me reading and enjoying it!
April 23, 2019
I had read Ginger Pye (Newbery Medal winner) and thought I'd read this as well. I can't say that I ever really got into it. The Pye family finds a cat (Pinky) while on vacation where the dad will be bird watching. The story was slow, and I'm not sure that most older elementary kids will enjoy it either.
April 10, 2013
it was ok not the best. but good enough to read i guess. it never really hooked me in i guess i was reading it cause i didit have anymore books to read. like said if you had to pick a book out of that i wouldnt. no very good
April 24, 2020
The plot wasn’t nearly as interesting as it sounds, and by no means should it have needed 258 pages to tell it. I was bored, so I don’t know how this book would be capable of keeping a child’s attention.
June 12, 2012
SUPER BORING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Read
November 2, 2015WORST book ever,VEARY poorly written
November 21, 2023
2.5⭐
This is an OK story about a family who moves to an island so there father can study birds. It's a pretty basic storyline, I just wish I enjoyed more.
This is an OK story about a family who moves to an island so there father can study birds. It's a pretty basic storyline, I just wish I enjoyed more.
August 7, 2023
I thought this was a wholesome, if strange, book about a curious family and a kitten they "find" (have thrust upon them by a girl who has too many rescue cats to find forever homes), but toward the middle of the book, the story starts d-r-a-g-g-i-n-g o-u-t, and I found myself less interested in finishing the story, despite its length, which is unfortunate, because the story of a typewriting* kitten sounds cute and wholesome on paper.
*which shows just how dated this book is, that today's younger readers won't know what this is
It's a book 2, yet it feels like it can easily be read by itself (other than the fact it's SLOW-paced), although I'm actually a little disappointed that the cute cover art isn't replicated in the interior illustrations; that is, the (I assume) new cover design for this edition is much cuter than the more photorealistic inked drawings inside the book. The cartoony cover has much more personality than the rather dry sketches inside, which tend to depict Pinky as essentially a black blotch. The interior drawings are also framed from a distance, as though from a cameraperson keeping somewhat at arm's length, while the cover is more up-close and personal.
The fact of "Uncle Benny" is also a weird story element, to put this emphasis on how this 3-year-old going very quickly on 4-year-old is the mom's brother, so he is in fact the other children's uncle who is younger than they are. I don't know that it adds much to the story, other than the mother sort of coddles him, as her baby brother. Also, that he has a DEAD locust as a pet... o... kay...
I guess the main thing I don't like is how long the story takes to get to the point. They're on vacation, and it describes EVERY SMALL THING they do on this extended vacation, even when it's not exciting and doesn't really progress the plot, especially the parts that are completely predictable (the fact that they're reminded to close the window and don't until it's very late). Like, I could have done quite easily without the "nobody can sleep because a guy with a sleeping bag shows up, but here's what everyone thought while they couldn't sleep" chapter. Also, it's weird that the children are THAT interested in sleeping bags, like... they're just wraparound blankets? I guess I don't know the appeal that they would be so gung-ho about wanting to try out this guy's sleeping bag. (Okay, it WAS the 1950s, but... they really had THAT little entertainment, especially with multiple pets?? [TOTALLY not jealous or anything])
Not really recommended... I don't think it's BAD as such, but I just don't know who would be interested in this book... readers who liked the first book? I'm not sure, since I didn't read book 1.
*which shows just how dated this book is, that today's younger readers won't know what this is
It's a book 2, yet it feels like it can easily be read by itself (other than the fact it's SLOW-paced), although I'm actually a little disappointed that the cute cover art isn't replicated in the interior illustrations; that is, the (I assume) new cover design for this edition is much cuter than the more photorealistic inked drawings inside the book. The cartoony cover has much more personality than the rather dry sketches inside, which tend to depict Pinky as essentially a black blotch. The interior drawings are also framed from a distance, as though from a cameraperson keeping somewhat at arm's length, while the cover is more up-close and personal.
The fact of "Uncle Benny" is also a weird story element, to put this emphasis on how this 3-year-old going very quickly on 4-year-old is the mom's brother, so he is in fact the other children's uncle who is younger than they are. I don't know that it adds much to the story, other than the mother sort of coddles him, as her baby brother. Also, that he has a DEAD locust as a pet... o... kay...
I guess the main thing I don't like is how long the story takes to get to the point. They're on vacation, and it describes EVERY SMALL THING they do on this extended vacation, even when it's not exciting and doesn't really progress the plot, especially the parts that are completely predictable (the fact that they're reminded to close the window and don't until it's very late). Like, I could have done quite easily without the "nobody can sleep because a guy with a sleeping bag shows up, but here's what everyone thought while they couldn't sleep" chapter. Also, it's weird that the children are THAT interested in sleeping bags, like... they're just wraparound blankets? I guess I don't know the appeal that they would be so gung-ho about wanting to try out this guy's sleeping bag. (Okay, it WAS the 1950s, but... they really had THAT little entertainment, especially with multiple pets?? [TOTALLY not jealous or anything])
Not really recommended... I don't think it's BAD as such, but I just don't know who would be interested in this book... readers who liked the first book? I'm not sure, since I didn't read book 1.
March 9, 2025
This was so sweet and adorable! I thought initially that I hadn't read this book before, and had only read Ginger Pye, but when I started reading it, pieces of it started to come to me. I had entirely forgotten how cute and fun this book was, and I actually like it far more than Ginger Pye!
In this book, the Pyes travel to Fire Island so that their ornithologist father can study the birds there. While they are there, they adopt a cat, Pinky Pye, and this book details the first few months of Pinky's life.
This book details the summer of three children--Jerry, Rachel, and Uncle Bennie--as well as three animals--Gracie, Ginger, and Pinky Pye--and it was just so wholesome and normal. They get to sleep in sleeping bags, run a wagon taxi business, and go on day trips. Bennie was really into collecting crickets, and Jerry and Rachel were having a true summer vacation, and everything is just a great time.
Part of the book is narrated from Pinky's point of view, which is so quintessentially children's book and makes this book so fun to read. There is an aspect of a mystery in this book: Mr. Pye's friend Hiram Bish has a pygmy owl that disappears then is found. The illustrations are so adorably charming, and the way the art was done was so unique yet portrayed the story so well.
All in all, this book was so cute and fun, and I would definitely recommend. Of course it is nearly 80 years old now so there are some dated references, but nothing overtly racist or otherwise bad that I picked up on.
In this book, the Pyes travel to Fire Island so that their ornithologist father can study the birds there. While they are there, they adopt a cat, Pinky Pye, and this book details the first few months of Pinky's life.
This book details the summer of three children--Jerry, Rachel, and Uncle Bennie--as well as three animals--Gracie, Ginger, and Pinky Pye--and it was just so wholesome and normal. They get to sleep in sleeping bags, run a wagon taxi business, and go on day trips. Bennie was really into collecting crickets, and Jerry and Rachel were having a true summer vacation, and everything is just a great time.
Part of the book is narrated from Pinky's point of view, which is so quintessentially children's book and makes this book so fun to read. There is an aspect of a mystery in this book: Mr. Pye's friend Hiram Bish has a pygmy owl that disappears then is found. The illustrations are so adorably charming, and the way the art was done was so unique yet portrayed the story so well.
All in all, this book was so cute and fun, and I would definitely recommend. Of course it is nearly 80 years old now so there are some dated references, but nothing overtly racist or otherwise bad that I picked up on.
December 30, 2021
Pinky Pie is a busy black kitten. The Pye family found her on the stoop of the Eyrie, the cottage they were staying at on Fire Island for the summer. Pinky had been abandoned, but decided she could live with the Pyes.
The Pyes are not your average family. Papa is a well-known and respected ornithologist with a wife, son – 10 year-old Jerry, daughter – 9 year-old Rachel, Ginger the dog and Gracie their cat. Along with the family is 3 year-old Uncle Bennie – Mrs. Pye’s brother. Each has their own unique intelligence and Pinky with her own is a perfect fit.
Uncle Bennie has a love of crickets and grasshoppers and keeps a few as pets. He puts them up in the secret room in the eaves to keep them safe from the cat and dog. After a big storm, he find them missing in the morning. He catches more and the same things happens again. Very strange.
Rachel is intent on discovering a new species of bird, to help her Dad.
Meanwhile, Pinky is secretly writing her meditations on Papa’s typewriter.
Written in the 1950s, it is a simple and entertaining read from another time. Eleanor Estes is known for her award winning books for children, but adults can enjoy them too…taking a break from the adult world of books.
The Pyes are not your average family. Papa is a well-known and respected ornithologist with a wife, son – 10 year-old Jerry, daughter – 9 year-old Rachel, Ginger the dog and Gracie their cat. Along with the family is 3 year-old Uncle Bennie – Mrs. Pye’s brother. Each has their own unique intelligence and Pinky with her own is a perfect fit.
Uncle Bennie has a love of crickets and grasshoppers and keeps a few as pets. He puts them up in the secret room in the eaves to keep them safe from the cat and dog. After a big storm, he find them missing in the morning. He catches more and the same things happens again. Very strange.
Rachel is intent on discovering a new species of bird, to help her Dad.
Meanwhile, Pinky is secretly writing her meditations on Papa’s typewriter.
Written in the 1950s, it is a simple and entertaining read from another time. Eleanor Estes is known for her award winning books for children, but adults can enjoy them too…taking a break from the adult world of books.
November 29, 2021
Another sweet gem of a book. Exactly as childhood should be. Adopting kittens, catching crickets, jumping waves, building wagons, sleeping on a summer porch, waking to the boom of the ocean crashing on shore.
The Pye family is taking a summer vacation courtesy of father’s job as a preeminent ornithologist. Fire Island being close to home provides a summer escape and new adventures.
I can’t wait until Bran and Wee-Wy are just a smidge older to share this book with. And we need to find our own summer beach adventure.
The Pye family is taking a summer vacation courtesy of father’s job as a preeminent ornithologist. Fire Island being close to home provides a summer escape and new adventures.
I can’t wait until Bran and Wee-Wy are just a smidge older to share this book with. And we need to find our own summer beach adventure.
August 13, 2025
This is another sweet book by Eleanor Estes! Pinky Pye, the 1958 sequel to the excellent Ginger Eye, had excitement, fun, and intrigue. Estes never dumbs down the writing for her audience, and while I (an adult) figured out part of a mystery in the book before it was revealed, there were still plenty of twists and turns to make the book interesting. The story takes place in 1919 or 1920, but it is just as relevant now. It's refreshing to read a story in which children are allowed to be children, exploring, imagining, wondering, etc...
4.3 stars.
4.3 stars.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews