Red and the Egg Pie by Donna Gingery
As Black children, it makes a huge difference when the images they see in books and the stories they read feature characters who look like them. Growing up with such books as Further Adventures of Dick and Jane, where nary a person of color was in sight, I know it did for me as a child. This is still a problem in the traditional publishing world, so I give a hat tip to the independent authors like Donna Gingery and her children’s book, Red and the Egg Pie.
Our story opens with Red, a young girl who was so red when she was born that her family called her Red. She has an older sister, Kitty, who loves reading, and she is very close to her Granny. We are taken through her morning, and we learn that she has a habit of going to neighbors’ houses to eat, despite already having a hearty breakfast.
This morning, Red’s off—again—to her best friend’s house, where her BFF’s granny has made a pie and offers some to Red. Red, of course, has little if any self-control, and quiche doesn’t set well with her. If only Granny doesn’t find out…
I loved reading this book, and I thoroughly enjoyed Gingery’s hilarious rendition of it at the Minnesota Black Authors Expo. When it comes to Granny, I think of my own. She was a woman who cooked everything from scratch, which made for tantalizing scents from her kitchen. On top of that, nothing got past her. As for Red, she reminds me of myself and some of my cousins when we thought we were getting away with something, only to discover we hadn’t.
Gingery was born in Selma, Alabama. Despite a high school counselor telling her she’d never make it to college, she now holds a bachelor’s degree in theater, a master’s degree in educational leadership, and a K-12 administration license. She loves storytelling and has a big imagination—my kind of sistah! In addition, she is a sister, mother, grandmother, wife, and friend to many. Red and the Egg Pie can be purchased through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Strive Publishing. Also, kudos to Letizia Rizzo for the wonderful illustrations.
Thank you, Donna, for a fun story, and I will always remember the way you call out “Red!” in your storytelling!
W.D. Foster-Graham
W.D. Foster-Graham is a native son of Minneapolis, Minnesota. He received a B.A. in psychology from Luther College, and he was an original member of the multi-Grammy-Award-winning ensemble, Sounds of Blackness. He has also been recognized by the International Society of Poets as one of its “Best New Poets of 2003,” is a guest writer for journalist/author/entertainer Wyatt O’Brian Evans.
