Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
A 2001 Newbery Honor book, Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo was a cute, fun, and thoughtful story. Opal Buloni recently moved to a new town, doesn’t have any friends, is lonely and in the middle of one boring summer. Sent to the grocery store by her father, the local preacher, for a box of macaroni-and-cheese, some white rice, and two tomatoes, she instead comes back with her newly adopted dog Winn-Dixie.
Winn-Dixie changes everything! Because of Winn-Dixie Opal makes all kinds of new and interesting friends. There were many thoughtful and tender moments in this book as friendships are formed and Opal comes to terms with her feelings about her mother who left her. Opal learns, ” . . . that you can’t hold on to anything. That you can only love what you’ve got while you’ve got it”
I didn’t even know they made Because of Winn-Dixie into a movie. After watching the movie trailer today, I may just have to check it out. Here is a touching scene in which Opal asks her father for ten things about her mother, one thing for each year that she’s been alive:
Edited to add: that video no longer available on YouTube. How about the trailer instead?
Opal even makes a list of ten things about Winn-Dixie:
Number one was that he had a pathological fear of thunderstorms.
Number two was he liked to smile, using all his teeth.
Number three was he could run fast.
Number four was that he snored.
Number five was that he could catch mice without squishing them to death.
Number six was he liked to meet people.
Number seven was he liked to eat peanut butter.
Number eight was he couldn’t stand to be left alone.
Number nine was he liked to sit on couches and sleep in beds.
Number ten was he didn’t mind going to church.
I thought it would be fun to make a list of ten things about me. Opal says, “But at the same time, I thought of something I had never thought of before; and that was that a list of things couldn’t even begin to show somebody the real Winn-Dixie, just like a list of ten things couldn’t ever get me to know my mama. And thinking about that made me cry even more.”
So even though my ten things won’t even begin to show you the real me, ten things about me are:
- Number one is that I love being a mother to two wonderful little boys and wife to one great husband.
- Number two is that I am a Master Gardener.
- Number three is I love to snack on sunflower seeds.
- Number four is that I enjoy playing Nintendo.
- Number five is that I got my degree in Photography.
- Number six is I love to read.
- Number seven is that I’ve been keeping a journal since I was eight years old.
- Number eight is that my favorite garden vegetables are zucchinis and tomatoes.
- Number nine is that I come from a family of six brothers and sisters.
- Number ten is I’ve met dozens of celebrities.
Visit Kate DiCamillo’s website here to learn more about her and her books.
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Tags: A-D Author, A-D Title, banned, book to movie, female author, Fiction, movie trailers, Newbery, Newbery Honor, published 2000, Publisher: Candlewick, videos
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That’s an impressive list!
on March 15th, 2008 at 5:45 amGreat post. I loved this book and your review brought back great memories. It was also fun to read ten things about you.
on March 15th, 2008 at 6:54 amI followed you from Semicolon. Winn Dixie is great, but my favorite is her second, The Tiger Rising, though it’s much darker. My 4yo also loves her Mercy Watson series.
on March 15th, 2008 at 8:42 amThanks everybody! I look forward to getting to know all of you more, as well. When I went to her website, the book cover of Tiger Rising looked good and I thought, oh no, one more book that I’m interested in!
on March 15th, 2008 at 9:34 amNever heard of Winn Dixie before, but I sure enjoyed reading about it- and the lists of tens- here. I’m going to read both her books, now.
on March 16th, 2008 at 4:40 amHi, Natasha! This post brought back good memories. I’ve also read and reviewed (and loved) Because of Winn-Dixie. We both quoted the same line from Opal and I also made a “ten things list” – but about the movie. Hahahahaha!
It’s so great getting to know you through your ten things list!
) How did you get to meet so many celebrities? 
)
on March 17th, 2008 at 5:51 amI loved both the book and the movie. My nine year old couldn’t put the book down.
on March 17th, 2008 at 6:21 pmJeane – I’m glad I was able to recommend this great book for you.
Tarie – I’ll have to make my way over to your blog and erad your Winn Dixie review. At the moment, my computer has CRASHED!!! I’m currently at my public library (gotta love the library) and blogging (nothing can keep me away!). But I’ve only got 20 minutes left on this computer, I’ll make my way over when I get my home one up and running! Anyways, I’ve managed to meet a lot of famous people because I grew up with a Dad in the entertainment industry and then I later worked for two different ticket offices for at least 8 years. I’ve meet mostly country western singers such as Patty Loveless, Trisha Yearwood, among many many others. I’ve also meet Gregory Peck, Carrot Top, Richard Simmons (who pinched my cheek by the way) and others that I also can’t remember right now.
BookGal – I look forward to renting the movie. Hey, I’m at the library right now, I should check to see if they have it.
on March 17th, 2008 at 6:43 pmGreat list! How is a Master Gardener different from a regular gardner?? Just curious!
on March 17th, 2008 at 9:12 pmLisa – A Master Gardener takes a gardening class, which is equivilant to a college course, from their local extension office. This was twice a week for several months for me. You are required to take a final exam and then give back 40 hours of community service to receive your certificate. It’s fun! One of my next goals is to become a Advanced Master Gardener which is a four year class. But with two little ones I barely managed the first class!
on March 19th, 2008 at 7:36 pm[...] reviews Because of Win Dixie by Kate [...]
on March 21st, 2008 at 8:48 amOh I absolutley loved this book!!! I got teary when i finished reading it i didn’t want it to end. The movie was actually pretty good I don’t remember the book exactly i read it a couple of years ago.
on April 11th, 2008 at 10:14 amI saw the movie a while ago and thought it was pretty good but didn’t have much desire to read the book (I didn’t know about the book until recently anyway) until now. You do a great job with your reviews.
on April 22nd, 2008 at 9:00 pmCayla – I keep forgetting to request the movie from the library. You’ve reminded me that I still need to check it out.
Kim – I’ve been reading my way through the Newbery’s which is why I picked this one up. I’d recommend it. It was opposite for me. I read the book and had no idea that there was a movie until I did a YouTube search (which I always do when starting a book review).
on April 22nd, 2008 at 10:45 pm[...] Rising is the fourth book that I’ve read this year by Kate DiCamillo. The two others being Because of Winn-Dixie, The Tale of Despereaux, and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (click on links to be taken to [...]
on July 14th, 2008 at 7:21 pmthis is the best book i read it in school
on February 26th, 2009 at 5:08 pmBECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE IS A GREAT BOOK AND MOVIE.
on March 13th, 2009 at 6:41 pm[...] Of Kate’s books I’ve reviewed Great Joy, The Tale of Desperaux, Tiger Rising, Because of Winn Dixie, and The Miraculous Journey of Edward [...]
on September 26th, 2009 at 2:34 amlove thiis book readin it right now
on November 12th, 2009 at 3:54 pm