Because of Winn-Dixie

“You can't always judge people by the things they done. You got to judge them by what they are doing now.”
 

Because of Winn Dixie

Written by Kate DiCamillo
Published by Candlewick Press, 2000

Coming of age, Supermarket, Summer, Friendship, Acceptance

 

Awards:

Newbery Medal (Nominated, 2001)

Mark Twain Award (Nominated, 2003)
Flicker Tale Children's Book Award (Nominated, 2002)
California Young Reader Medal (Won, 2003)
Sunshine State Young Reader's Book Award (Won, 2002)
Wyoming Indian Paintbrush Book Award (Nominated, 2002)
Iowa Children's Choice Award (Won, 2003)
Young Hoosier Book Award (Won, 2003)
Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award (Nominated, 2002)
Virginia Reader's Choice Awards (Won, 2003)
Land of Enchantment Book Award (Nominated, 2003)
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (Won, 2002)
Bluegrass Award (Nominated, 2002)
North Carolina Children's Book Award (Nominated, 2002)
Volunteer State Book Award (Won, 2003)
Arizona Young Reader's Award (Nominated, 2002)
Book Sense Book of the Year (Won, 2001)
Colorado Children's Book Award (Nominated, 2003)
Golden Archer Award (Wisconsin) (Nominated, 2002)
Golden Archer Award (Wisconsin) (Won, 2003)
Golden Sower Award (Won, 2003)
Nevada Young Reader's Award (Nominated, 2002)
SCASL Book Award (South Carolina) (Won, 2003)
Garden State Children's Book Awards (Nominated, 2003)
Massachusetts Children's Book Award (Won, 2002)
Young Reader's Choice Award (Won, 2003)
American Library Association Notable Books for Children (Won, 2001)
Nutmeg Children's Book Award (Won, 2003)
Maine Student Book Award (Won, 2002)
Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award (Won, 2002)
Publishers Weekly Best Children's Books (Won, 2000)
ABC Children's Booksellers Choices Awards (Won, 2001)
Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award (Nominated, 2002)
Maryland Children's Book Award (Nominated, 2002)
Sequoyah Book Award (Won, 2003)
Minnesota Book Awards (Nominated, 2001)
Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award (Won, 2003)
Prairie Pasque Award (Won, 2003)
William Allen White Children's Book Award (Won, 2003)
Bluebonnet Award (Won, 2002)
Great Stone Face Children's Book Award (Won, 2002)
Sasquatch Reading Award (Won, 2003)
Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award (Nominated, 2002)
West Virginia Children's Book Award (Won, 2003)
Emphasis on Reading Award (Won, 2002)
Nene Award (Nominated, 2002)
Nene Award (Nominated, 2004)
Nene Award (Won, 2005)
New York State Charlotte Award (Won, 2002)
Rhode Island Children's Book Award (Nominated, 2002)
Judy Lopez Memorial Award (Women's National Book Association, Los Angeles Chapter) (Nominated, 2001)

Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award (Nominated, 2003)

Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance Book Awards (Won, 2001)

Summary:

This unforgettable novel is the story of India Opal Buloni and the beautiful relationship she has with a dog, Winn-Dixie, named after the supermarket where she found him.  Over the summer, Winn-Dixie made all sorts of friends with Opal.  This includes, Miss Franny Block, the librarian, Gloria Dump, an older woman outcasted and considered a witch by the local children, and Otis unique pet store owner.  Together they accept one another and readers witness their blooming friendship. 

Reading Level: Lexile Measure: 610L

Suggested Delivery: Independent Reading

Key Vocabulary: Opal, Produce, Lozenge,

                                    Convict, Preacher, Litmus

Teaching Strategies:

a) This may naturally occur without any prompting, but as a class, examine the front cover of the novel and read the inside jacket.  Encourage students to share stories of their 4-legged best friend.

b) It is important to acknowledge Opal’s lack of a mother.  How does this impact her? Do you think her bond with Winn-Dixie would have been the same if she did have an active mother in her life?

c) Discuss what qualities are found in realistic fiction.  How does it differ from fiction?  What makes this novel realistic fiction, do you ever think this could happen to you? - point out that Winn-Dixie never speaks, only smiles which is possible for some dogs

Comprehension Strategies:

Pre-Reading:
Ask students to individually read the first sentence of the first five chapters.  As a class, come to the consensus that the story is told from a first person point of view.  How can we tell? –Look specifically at the author’s use of first person pronouns (my, me, I, etc.).  Further your examination by looking at the cover (depicts a girl and a dog) and make predictions about what may occur in the novel.

During Reading:

While reading, students should record information about each chapter.  This includes their physical appearance, personality traits, and typical behaviors.  This can be expressed through illustrations, or writing.  In addition, students can use the list below of descriptive adjectives to define the character in three words.

Post Reading:
Immediately after reading, have students describe their reaction.  Ask students to write a short response, in the form of an exit slip, explaining their reaction and what specific event enacted this feeling inside of them. 

Writing Activity:

India Opal is the narrator of the story, therefore we hear the story through Opal’s eyes.  Consider another prominent character and their point of view, such as Franny Block, Otis, Gloria Dump, or even Winn-Dixie and write a scene through that character's point of view.

Electronic Resources:
A list of 75 examples of descriptive adjectives can be found at the link below.  If students do not understand the definition of any of the words they can find out on their own using a dictionary!
http://www.literacylane.org/pdfs/characterdescriptive%20wds.pdf

The comprehensive official teacher's guide that accompanies the novel is can be found at:
http://www.candlewick.com/book_files/0763607762.btg.1.pdf

DiCamillo, K. (2000). Because of Winn-Dixie. Cambridge, Mass.: Candlewick Press.