Because of Winn-Dixie: Kate DiCamillo’s Small-Town Florida Classic
A lonely girl, a scruffy stray dog, and a sleepy Florida town: Kate DiCamillo’s Because of Winn-Dixie is one of the most beloved children’s books ever set in the Sunshine State.
Published in 2000 and a Newbery Honor winner, Because of Winn-Dixie follows ten-year-old Opal, newly arrived in the small Florida town of Naomi, who adopts a big, goofy stray dog she names after the grocery store where she finds him. Through the dog, Opal befriends a cast of lonely, lovable townspeople and slowly comes to terms with her own family’s sadness. DiCamillo, who lived in Florida, captures the heat, the bugs, and the quiet ache and warmth of a small Southern town perfectly.
Gentle, funny, and deeply kind, it is a wonderful read for kids and grown-ups alike, and a reminder of how much heart can hide in a small Florida town. A modern classic.
