Because of Winn-Dixie

Such a great book. I still have this book from when I was a child. I think I like it most because of the dog Winn-Dixie and the connection he and Opal make.

Great book for kids. Great lessons about not judging people and making friends. Teaches people that others may not know how to approach or treat others until they are shown. In my opinion, it teaches people to make judgments based on their own experiences and not others. ( )

This is a great book for the dog lovers. It follows the story of Opal and her new dog Winn-Dixie. Winn-Dixie isn't a normal cute dog. Winn-Dixie is a big ugly dog. But Winn-Dixie has a big heart and helps Opal learn to make friends and to be open to forgiveness. Opal comes a long way throughout this story. This is a great story for kids to realize that sometimes the greatest things in life come from the most unexpected places. Children's Lit, Realistic Fiction. ( )

A classic and heartwarming story that beautifully describes a young girl's life of friendship, hardships, loss, and love. India Opal Bulloni, or Opal, moves with her father (a preacher) to Naomi, Florida and struggles immensely with loneliness as she settles into the new town because of the absence of her mother. One day, while she is shopping in the Winn-Dixie market, she meets a stray dog who she later rescues and names Winn-Dixie. A blossoming friendship between the two leads Opal to meet new friends, face the past, and learn how to cope. When I read this in my middle school class, I immediately fell in love with DiCamillo's enchanting story and learned some valuable lessons from the book. Impactful messages of not judging people based on appearances to the power of love connecting and healing people bring life to the story. I would definitely recommend this book in an English class with students who are a bit older and mature to handle some of the heavy, dark themes that are explored in the book. ( )

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