Joan Singleton

The heartwarming "tail" of a young girl whose life is changed by a scruffy, fun-loving pooch she names Winn-Dixie. The special bond between them works magic on her reserved dad and the eccentric townspeople they meet during one unforgettable summer.

Substance: Feel-good story about grade-school girl who makes friends because of "adopting" a lovable mutt. Suitable for 9-12 year olds but may not interest older teens ages (adults will enjoy the nostalgia).
Style: Good production, but fairly superficial story-line.

Because of Winn-Dixie is a great read for girls that love story's about dogs. A little girl name Opal and her father which is a preacher that moves to a small town in Florida. Winn Dixie is a name of scruffy stray dog which she becomes the owner of. Thanks to Winn-Dixie's easygoing nature, he manages to introduce Opal to new friends. She realizes that her mom isn't coming back, but she has a father who loves her, friends who love her, potential friends to love her, and she'll be okay. This show more is a heart warming story that is a must read! show less

When a little girl named Opal and her preacher father move to a small southern town, she adopts a fun-loving pooch named Winn-Dixie. The special bond between them works magic on her Dad and the eccentric townspeople they meet during one unforgettable summer.