Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
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Book Reviews of Because of Winn-Dixie
Book Review: Heart -warming book
Summary: 5 Stars
In "Because of Winn-Dixie", Kate DiCamillo tells a story of a young girl searching for her place in a new town; when she discovers a dog that needs her as much as she needs him. DiCamillo invites you to share in the adventures of India Opal Buloni and Winn-Dixie as they explore the town of Naomi, Florida and learn to love the people who live there.
Opal's father "the Preacher" as she refers to him as, received a new job which requires them to leave their home and move to Naomi, Florida. Opal realizes that in this new town without any of her old friends she has never felt more lonely and desperate to know her mother. Her mother left when she was a young child, and left her and "the preacher" to try to take care of each other. Through their mutual love for Winn-Dixie "a dog that smiles using all of his teeth" they begin to mend their broken past and grow closer than ever before.
Through the eyes and voice of Opal, DiCamillo welcomes you into the sunny small town in Florida. DiCamillo grew up in a small town in Florida, and used Opal to bring her back to those warm summer days, while she was living and writing from up north. Opal and Winn-Dixie walk rather run you through the grocery, book and pet stores, trailer parks, and the church of the community. By the end of the book it feels as though you have visited Naomi and you are eager to return there.
Opal encounters and befriends many people in Naomi whom all seem to have some "melancholy" in their past. She meets Miss Franny Block, who owns a book store and shares her life stories with Opal and Winn-Dixie. Then she meets Otis, who has a criminal past, but when he plays his guitar can soothe the animals of Gertrude's Pets. She also works for Otis at Gertrude's Pets in order to get Winn Dixie a collar and leash. I believe that Opal helps Otis come out of his shell. Opal also meets someone who I found to be most influential in Opal's quest for her place in the world which was Gloria Dump, the assumed to be witch. In their adventures Opal and Winn-Dixie also meet Dewberry Boys, Sweetie-Pie Thomas, and Amanda.
Gloria Dump shares with Opal that sometimes she believes "the whole world has an aching heart." In the book, Opal reminds you to give people the benefit of the doubt, and that nobody is unworthy of love. One of my favorite quotes that show this is when Opal first meets Gloria and because that she can not see well she says, "Why don't you go on and tell me everything about yourself, so as I can see you with my heart." This shows us not to judge a book by its cover; we should love everyone and see the best in people. Gloria Dump has to do this because she has very bad eyesight. I enjoyed the book and the sense of family and togetherness it left you with when it was over. Winn-Dixie and Opal came together in an amazing friendship and ended up bringing a community of hurting people together as well.
Book Review: Fannie Flagg for kids
Summary: 5 Stars
"Because of Winn-Dixie" is a southern charmer of a story by Kate DiCamillo (Candlewick Press, 2000). Ten-year old India Opal Buloni is new to Naomi, Florida. She misses her old home, her friends and most of all she misses her momma who took off when she was three. But things start turning around for Opal when her daddy, the preacher, sends her to the Winn-Dixie grocery store for some produce. But instead of groceries, she brings home a bedraggled dog instead. This dog is big and ugly and smells like yesterday's garbage, but he has a heart of gold and the ability to make people love him. His goofy doggy grin brings her daddy right out of his "turtle shell" and the preacher lets Opal keep him.
Winn-Dixie melts the hearts of everyone he meets, even a dog-hating parrot named Gertrude and the entire congregation of the Open Arms Baptist Church. But he's not only sweet, he is good luck too. Because of Winn-Dixie, Opal lands a job at the local pet store where she meets Otis, a kindly ex-con who charms the animals with his magical musical abilities. It's because of Winn-Dixie that Opal meets the neighborhood "witch" who is actually the nicest person Opal's ever met. It's because of Winn-Dixie that Opal gets invited to her first birthday party in Naomi. But most importantly, it's because of Winn-Dixie that the preacher finally opens up and tells Opal ten whole things about her mother.
"Because of Winn-Dixie" is so doggone heart-warming that my face still hurts from smiling. The character of Opal is funny, insightful and sympathetic. The setting and tone is pure Fannie Flagg for children. Animal lovers of all ages will adore this tail wagging tale which is as sweet and sad as a Litmus Lozenge.
Book Review: review of because of winn dixie
Summary: 5 Stars
Review of Because of Winn-Dixie
Sometimes it takes a canine to show us what it really means to be human. Winn-Dixie is a stray dog who steals and heals the hearts of the south Florida townspeople in Kate DiCamillo's novel, Because of Winn-Dixie (Candlewick, 2000). India Opal Buloni, a ten-year-old "exception(al)" preacher's kid, narrates the moving, yet often hilarious, events with the wisdom of a sage and the spirit of a child. India is lonely--she is mother-less, friendless in a new town, and her father, "the preacher," is often "too distracted with sermons and prayers and suffering people to go grocery shopping," or to be the father that she needs.
When she adopts Winn-Dixie, the dog who smiles, India's life becomes fuller and more exciting than she ever imagined it could be. Winn-Dixie catches a mouse in church, leads his owner into a witch's yard, and lands her a job at a pet store run by an ex-criminal animal charmer and a parrot who screams "Gertrude!" But just when India's life has improved and her loneliness subsided, Winn-Dixie's pathological fear of thunderstorms leads him to run away! Will she find him? This beautiful novel will have you moved to tears by the end of the second chapter (and nearly every subsequent chapter) and just as in love with Winn-Dixie as the rest of the town!
Book Review: lyrical story of friendship, loneliness, and acceptance
Summary: 5 Stars
"I lay there and thought how life was like a Littmus Lozenge, how the sweet and the sad were all mixed up together and how hard it was to separate them out. It was confusing."
Opal, a 10-year old preacher's daughter, is feeling lonelier than ever in Friendly Corners Trailer park in Naomi, Florida. They have moved there because of her dad's job, leaving all Opal's friends behind. But one day something interesting happens - Opal stumbles upon a big stray dog who wondered in Winn-Dixie supermarket. The girl decides to bring the mutt home and persuades her father to take in a "Less Fortunate" dog (she named him Winn-Dixie).
And it's because of Win-Dixie, Opal learns 10 things about her long-gone mother. Because of Winn-Dixie, she makes new friends and faces the sadness left by her mother's abandonment. She learns from one of her new friends that "there are ain't no way you can hold on to something that wants to go."
This lyrical story of friendship, loneliness, and acceptance will stay within reader's hearts long after they put the book aside. A must-read novel!
Julia Shpak
Author of "Power of Plentiful Wisdom". Available on Amazon.
For more reviews on children's books visit my blog "Julia's Library" at: ForwardQuoteDOTcom
Book Review: Great Book
Summary: 5 Stars
Because of Winn Dixie is a great story about a little girl named Opal who moves to Naomi, Florida with her father, the preacher. Opal's mother left when she was 3 years old and this has left her wondering about her mother. While in the local Winn Dixie, Opal finds a dog and names him Winn Dixie. The little girl soon makes friends with other lonely people in the town. She finds out through their conservations that these other people have endured hurt and loneliness just as she has. The story is filled with themes such as hope, sorrow, friendship, accepting others for who they are, and new beginnings. This book addresses some of the modern day problems facing children today.
I am a teacher who included this book in literature circles choices. My 4th grade students really enjoyed this book and watched the movie afterwards. These students found the book to be funny, sad, and encouraging. It is an easy read and can be read by most 4th graders on their own. My students participated in the book study and eagerly read it daily until it was finsihed.
Brenda Jones author of "Standing Up" and "No, I Don't Want to Play Today"Standing Up