India Opal is ten years old. She misses her mother even though she can’t remember her leaving, as she was only three. She constantly wonders about her mama and hopes she’ll come back one day.

Opal and her preacher dad are new in the small town of Naomi Florida. One day as she walks in the door of the town supermarket, there is a great ruckus. The owner is yelling the place down like it’s on fire, when all there is, is a large, scruffy dog in the produce section.

Call the pound, says the store-owner. Opal won’t be having any of that, and pretends she owns the dog. After all, it has the best smile she’s ever seen on an animal. He isn’t any trouble, he is just extra friendly is all. The store is called Winn-Dixie and it’s the first name that pops into Opal’s head. She calls the dog and he follows her, just like he was in on her plan.

Winn-Dixie has patchy, dull, fur, smells awful, is scrawny and has large yellow teeth. Still, it doesn’t take much to convince Opal’s dad to let her keep him. After all, it’s their christian duty to look out for lost souls. Soon, under her care, Winn Dixie is looking much healthier. His friendly nature has him accepted into church, the pet store and the library, collecting friends along the way.

Because of Winn-Dixie, Opal meets and makes friends with the town librarian – Miss Frannie Block. She likes telling stories and Opal and Winn-Dixie like listening.

Because of Winn-Dixie escaping into the town ‘witches’ yard, Opal meets Gloria Dump – a woman with a past she’s not proud of, but has reminders of it hanging in her yard.

Because of Winn Dixie, Opal gets a job in the local pet store, meets Otis – the shy, guitar strumming ex-con, and a bird called Gertrude.

Because of Winn-Dixie, these and other folks with their own private hurts and sorrows come together on a summer’s evening to a party Opal and Gloria have planned. Even a ‘pinch-faced’ snooty girl called Amanda and the annoying Duberry brothers are invited.

The night arrives, but so does a storm. Winn-Dixie is suddenly nowhere to be found. Despite meeting so many other folks in their new town, Winn-Dixie is still Opal’s best friend. She is frantic to find him. She just can’t lose another special love in her life.

As Opal and her dad search the town for her dog, they discover more than they expect on the way. All the while, the rain pours down, and their fear and worries build for Winn-Dixie. A dam bursts in Opal and her questions and anger about her mama finally spill over into the world.

Because of Winn-Dixie is Kate DiCamillo’s first novel, which went on to win a Newberry Award (US). It has been made into a movie which follows the book (mostly).

The author calls this novel “..a hymn of praise to dogs, friendship and the South.”

It’s a simple story set in a simple town. This scruffy dog helps bring some of the lonely people of Naomi together in friendship, from 10 yr old Opal to elderly Gloria and Frannie, two raucous brothers and a and a lonely ex-con who hates locking up the animals in a pet store. Gorgeous.

Author – Kate DiCamillo

Age – 7+

Quick Review

Opal is a ten year old girl new to the small town of Naomi, Florida. She has no friends, but after saving a large, smelly, scruffy dog from the pound, soon has a best friend.

Named after the local grocery store where she saved him, Winn-Dixie is a catalyst to making more friends, and revealing what Opal really wants to know. Why did her mama leave her at only age 3?

A gorgeous award winning tale set in a simple town in the south (US). Animal lovers will love this American Classic.

Classroom Discussion questions here  

More books by Kate DiCamillo

(Animals, Friendship, Family, Grief, Growing up, Historical, Small town, Florida, Single parent, Dog, Classic, Newberry Medal, Award winner)