Genre: Bluebonnet
Author: Kate DiCamillo
Awards: Newbery Medal (2001)
Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award (2002)
Indies Choice Book Award for Children's Literature (2001)
Age Group: 8 to 10-year-olds
Teacher Evaluation: I think this book would be a great class book to read together. I think this book best fits a fourth-grade classroom because of the content within the book. I think the book has excellent writing and is relatable for many types of students.
Summary: This is a story of a young girl, India Opal and her dog Winn-Dixie. The story begins with Opal at the grocery store. There is a huge commotion at the store because a dog came into the store and was running everywhere knocking things down. Opal tells the manager of the shop that the dog is hers because she doesn't want them to send it to the pound. She names the dog Winn-Dixie after the grocery store and takes it home with her. Opal talks to the dog telling him how they just moved there, her mom left when she was little, she doesn't have any friends, and her dad is a preacher. Opal is scared that her dad will reject Winn-Dixie, but after the two meet her father says Winn-Dixie can stay. The story goes on talking about Opal caring for Winn-Dixie like bathing and grooming him. Opal takes Winn-Dixie everywhere with her because he starts to howl if he cannot see her or her dad. When they go to the library, Winn-Dixie scares the librarian because she thinks he's a bear and he stands on his hind legs to look at Opal. Opal explains to the librarian that Winn-Dixie is her dog, a very special dog. Opal gets the librarian to agree to let Winn-Dixie in to hear her story about a bear coming into the library. After listening to her story about the bear and how she feels lonely since everyone she knew has died already, the three of them become close friends. Opal decides that Winn-Dixie needs a collar and leash but she cannot afford one so she asks the owner if she can work for it. At first, the man at the pet shop was hesitant because Winn-Dixie would have to come inside with Opal and the parrot at the shop didn't like dogs. Opal suggests that the man lets her try to have Winn-Dixie inside to show that he won't scare the bird. The parrot takes a liking to Winn-Dixie, so the man agrees to let Opal work at the shop for the collar and leash. Outside the shop, five-year-old Sweetie Pie Thomas is waiting to tell Opal she saw the parrot sitting on her dog's head. Sweetie Pie then invites Opal and Winn-Dixie to her birthday party in September. Opal is happy because even though she is 10, Sweetie Pie was the first person to invite her somewhere and it felt nice. The story continues on talking about different people Opal meets and befriends because of Winn-Dixie. At the end of the book, there is a rainstorm which terrifies Winn-Dixie but Opal doesn't realize he is gone immediately because she was hosting a party with her new friends. After realizing that Winn-DIxie is gone Opal and her father goes looking for him all around town in the rain. They don't find Winn-Dixie after having a hard discussion in the rain, the two return to their party. At the party, they find that Winn-Dixie has been there the entire time. And Opal realizes how grateful she is for all the new friends she has made because of Winn-Dixie.
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