Author: Kate Dicamillo
Title: Because of Winn-Dixie
Illustrator: Kate Dicamillo
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Year: 2000
Genre: Newbery
Format: Hardcover
Reading level: Advanced
Interest Level: late elementary- middle school- high school
Topics: Friendship, trust, family, and faith
Summary: This book is about a 10 year old girl named Opal who has blond hair and a bright and chipper personality. Opal and her father move to Naomi, Florida for her father's job. Opal's dad is a preacher so Opal is often at church. One day Opal decides to check out the local grocery store called Winn-Dixie. While she was there, she came across a big ugly dog who smiled at her with big white teeth. Opal knew right away this dog would become hers and it did. She brought the dog home to her father and named him Winn-Dixie. After finding Winn-Dixie, opal no longer felt lonely in this new town she was in. Winn-Dixie was her new best friend and they did everything together. Winn-Dixie opens Opal's heart and helps Opal meet new people. Opal spends her summer with Winn-Dixie and collects stories about her new friends. This is a heart-warming funny novel that won the 2001 Newberry Honor Award.
Extension Activity: The teacher would have children make a story book of their own life. They could share one or more people who have changed their life just like Winn-Dixie changed opal's life. The teacher would supply hole punchers, paper, yarn, markers and what ever else is needed to create a book from scratch. Each page could describe that one person or many people who have touched the children's life in one way or another. They could then share their finished products to the class.
