Because of Winn-Dixie

Author/Illustrator: Kate DiCamillo

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Awards: Texas Bluebonnet Award, Newberry Award

Grade Level: 3rd-5th

This book is about a young girl named Opal. Opal lives with her dad who is a preacher in a small town, her mother left them years ago. Opal is missing what used to be her home she is struggling to fit in to this new small town that she is now a part of. The kids judge her, her dad is too busy to spend time with her, and she feels alone. One day she found a dog in a grocery store, and named it after the grocery store Winn-Dixie. This became her new best friend. Throughout the book Opal meets new people from around the town and starts to answer the questions she hasn't been able to figure out. She learns so much about her mom and why she could have left to begin with.

This was one of my personal favorites growing up. This book focuses on heavier topics and I feel it would be best suitable for students from 3rd to 5th grade. I might use this book during a guided reading book club session. I have already purchased this one for my future classroom.