Because+of+Winn+Dixie

__Because of Winn-Dixie__  by Kate DiCamillo  Realistic Fiction  nominated by Derek Chalmers

India Opal Buloni is a 10-year-old girl who wants her mom more than anything. She lives with her dad, the preacher, and they moved to a new town.The problem is that her mom left when she was little and now she wants to learn more things about her. There are some people who try to help her who she meets in the town. The first character is a dog she finds in a grocery store that she names Winn-Dixie. Otis is a worker at a pet shop, Gloria Dump is a gardener and town “witch,” and Ms. Franny owns a small library. Opal finds a dog, Winn Dixie in her new town and she is excited to keep the dog and have a new friend. She meets other new friends like when she needed to get a new collar for Winn-Dixie. She meets Otis in the pet shop. Otis used to play music but he has a secret and only Opal can get him to talk about it. Opal makes friends with Gloria and Franny and they spend a lot of time together telling stories and it keeps Opal’s mind off of missing her mother. Opal realizes in meeting her friends that everyone misses someone. Opal comes up with a great idea to have a party for all her friends to help them in each of their own ways.

The main reason I am nominating this book is because it teaches you, you can get help from anybody even a dog. Winn-Dixie made Opal happy even though her mom was gone and helped her to meet friends that helped Opal to be happy without her mother. If she hadn’t found Winn-Dixie she wouldn't have met Otis and been able to help him. Winn-Dixie also made her happy, except when she lost him! My second reason is because I think a lot of people will like this book because it is interesting, funny, sad and a lot of fun to read. It is sad because her mom left her and her dad and they don't get to see her. It is a page turner and a nice story. The book received the Newberry Honor award and A Parent’s Choice Gold Award Winner. There is also a movie made about it.