About the Author

Kate DiCamillo says of writing BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE, "I was living in an apartment where no dogs were allowed. As a result, I was suffering from a serious case of 'dog withdrawal.' One night, before I went to sleep, I heard this little girl's voice (with a Southern accent) say, 'I have a dog named Winn-Dixie.' When I woke up the next morning, the voice was still talking, and I started writing down what India Opal Buloni was telling me. The book is (I hope) a hymn of praise to dogs, friendship, and the South."

Reviews

Poignant and delicately told.
--New York Times Book Review, The A heartfelt story that is sure to touch a chord with readers.
--School Library Journal Best Books of the Year ...[E]xquisitely crafted first novel. Each chapter possesses an arc of its own and reads almost like a short story in its completeness; yet the chapters add up to much more than a sum of their parts. . . This bittersweet tale of contemporary life in a small Southern town will hold readers rapt.
--Publishers Weekly, starred review This well-crafted, realistic, and heartwarming story will be read and reread as a new favorite deserving a long-term place on library shelves.
--School Library Journal, starred review Brush strokes of magical realism elevate this beyond a simple story of friendship to a well-crafted tale of community and fellowship, of sweetness, sorrow, and hope. And it's funny, too. A real gem.
--Kirkus Reviews, starred review The books' truthfulness is what makes it so powerful. People can identify with the fact that everyone sort of isolates themselves because of a misconnection or a loss or whatever is in their lives.
--Newsday It's the kind of book people love and tell their friends to read.
--Washington Post DiCamillo doesn't shy from bad things, and while she validates a child's sense of grief and loss, she also hold open life's possibilities.
--Star Tribune Both kids and grown-ups love it . . . it's a great read-aloud book . . . it has scooped up numerous awards . . . it's an unforgettable story about making friends . . .
--Orlando Sentinel . . . carefully touches on big issues: abandonment, loneliness, empathy and belonging.
--San Francisco Chronicle an enchanting little book with a touch of magic, a cast of great characters, and a lot of real life and wisdom.
--Star Tribune A gentle book about good people coming together to combat lonliness and heartache--with a little canine assistance.
--Horn Book Guide, The Children will enjoy Opal's abiding humor and Winn-Dixie's disarming and endearing ways, and the funny and important things that happen when the two of them get together.
--Five Owls, Book of Merit It's rare to recommend a book for all ages but here we have BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE by Kate DiCamillo.
--Teaching K-8 A tale not just about a dog found in a grocery store; it's also about the healing power of truth.
--Boston Globe

DiCamillo's debut novel, a 2001 Newbery Honor Book, percolates with heartfelt emotion and eccentric Southern color as superbly performed by Tony Award-winning actress Jones. Ten-year-old Opal, lonely in the Florida town where she has just moved with her preacher father, instantly takes a shine to a scraggly stray dog she encounters in the local Winn-Dixie supermarket. The pooch, named for their meeting place, becomes a trusted companion with whom Opal can share her thoughts and fears, and her hurt, confused feelings about the mother who left the family when Opal was three. Winn-Dixie is soon helping Opal in other ways, too. The dog's "smile" and sweet temperament act as ice breakers that allow Opal to meet a whole new group of friends who grow to be an unusual extended family. Jones imbues her depiction of Opal with a tone of youthful, hopeful wonder and skillfully transforms her voice to distinguish the other older, life-weathered characters. A Tennessee native, she never sounds hokey as she adopts a Southern accent, and she effortlessly slips into a compelling storytelling rhythm. This is a top-notch treatment of an award-winning tale. Ages 8-up. (Mar.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Poignant and delicately told.
--New York Times Book Review, The

A heartfelt story that is sure to touch a chord with readers.
--School Library Journal Best Books of the Year ...[E]xquisitely crafted first novel. Each chapter possesses an arc of its own and reads almost like a short story in its completeness; yet the chapters add up to much more than a sum of their parts. . . This bittersweet tale of contemporary life in a small Southern town will hold readers rapt.
--Publishers Weekly, starred review This well-crafted, realistic, and heartwarming story will be read and reread as a new favorite deserving a long-term place on library shelves.
--School Library Journal, starred review Brush strokes of magical realism elevate this beyond a simple story of friendship to a well-crafted tale of community and fellowship, of sweetness, sorrow, and hope. And it's funny, too. A real gem.
--Kirkus Reviews, starred review The books' truthfulness is what makes it so powerful. People can identify with the fact that everyone sort of isolates themselves because of a misconnection or a loss or whatever is in their lives.
--Newsday It's the kind of book people love and tell their friends to read.
--Washington Post DiCamillo doesn't shy from bad things, and while she validates a child's sense of grief and loss, she also hold open life's possibilities.
--Star Tribune Both kids and grown-ups love it . . . it's a great read-aloud book . . . it has scooped up numerous awards . . . it's an unforgettable story about making friends . . .
--Orlando Sentinel . . . carefully touches on big issues: abandonment, loneliness, empathy and belonging.
--San Francisco Chronicle an enchanting little book with a touch of magic, a cast of great characters, and a lot of real life and wisdom.
--Star Tribune A gentle book about good people coming together to combat lonliness and heartache--with a little canine assistance.
--Horn Book Guide, The Children will enjoy Opal's abiding humor and Winn-Dixie's disarming and endearing ways, and the funny and important things that happen when the two of them get together.
--Five Owls, Book of Merit It's rare to recommend a book for all ages but here we have BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE by Kate DiCamillo.
--Teaching K-8 A tale not just about a dog found in a grocery store; it's also about the healing power of truth.
--Boston Globe