Because of Winn-Dixie

Because of Winn-Dixie

Book By: Kate DiCamillo, 2000

Movie By: 20th Century Fox, 2005

A young girl named Opal finds herself meeting friends and finding adventures in the story Because of Winn-Dixie. Soon after finding a stray dog in a local Winn-Dixie supermarket, Opal finds her life changing quickly all because of the dog. She claims the stray dog as her own and names him Winn-Dixie. Although, Opal's father is somewhat hesitant, he agrees

to let Opal keep the dog. Winn-Dixie becomes the first friend that Opal makes in her new town of Naomi, FL. Not long after meeting Winn-Dixie, Opal becomes friends with lots of people throughout the town because of Winn-Dixie's friendliness.

I was very excited to see that the movie follows very closely with the flow of the book. I noticed very few differences between the two. I was surprised that the movie went along so well with the book. Usually, when movies portray books, several things are changed or added to make the

movie more theatrical. However, with the exception of a few things being moved to different spots in the film, the book and movie are nearly identical, even the characters' dialogue was the same.

The book begins by telling the story of how Opal got Winn-Dixie. Although, the movie begins with a little more background of why Opal is in Naomi than the book, it doesn't take long to pick up on the story of how Opal gets Winn-Dixie. Opal's father is not fond of the idea of her getting a dog in either story, but in the movie the landlord, Mr. Alfred plays a big role in trying to get Opal's father to get rid of the dog. A big part in both stories is the issue of Opal's mother being gone. She left Opal when Opal was a young girl. In the book, Opal gets her father to tell her the ten things about her mom soon after she gets the dog. In the movie, her father waits to tell her the tenth thing about her mom until the end. The relationship between Opal and her father is portrayed the same in the book and the film. In both, Opal refers to her father as a turtle that keeps in his shell. This is portrayed very well in the film as well. The adventures of meeting Miss Franny Block and Gloria Dump are the same in the film as in the book. However, in the movie they happen in a different order. In both, Franny tells the same two stories the first one is about the bear that came into the library and the second is about her great-grandfather being in the war, and she shares Littmus Lozenges. Gloria plays the same visually impaired woman, who loves peanut butter, and who had a drinking problem (which is evident by her tree of old alcohol bottles). In the book and the film, Opal befriends Otis, a worker at Gertrude's Pet Shop. He allows her to work at the pet shop to help her make money to buy Winn-Dixie a collar and a leash. Otis enchants the animals of the pet

shop in both stories with his guitar playing. The only difference with Otis, is that in the book he immediately tells Opal about being in jail, but in the movie she finds out from a police officer. The story lines of Sweetie Pie Thomas, Amanda Wilkinson, and Stewie and Dunlap Dewberry are the same in the book and the movie. Opal stays clear of Amanda because she always has a "pinched" face. However, Opal soon feels sorry for Amanda when she finds out that she has a pinched face because she went through a tragedy. The boys, Stewie and Dunlap, tease Opal in the book and the movie. Sweetie Pie Thomas is the same sweet little girl in the book as in the movie that follows Opal around from time to time. Sweetie Pie loves Winn-Dixie in both too. At the end of the book, Opal plans a party with Gloria. In the movie, Opal's dad does not come to the party, in the book he does. However, in both party scenes from the book and the movie Winn-Dixie disappears because he gets scared during the thunderstorm. I don't want to spoil the end, but in both stories, everything comes together again.

I loved the book and the movie. The book is a classic that every child should experience. As a matter of fact, it was a Newbery Honor book in 2001. The story of Opal and her dog, Winn-Dixie, is a touching and a sweet tale of overcoming the sourness that life sometimes holds to find the sweetness that's in there too. I would recommend them both.