Because of Winn-Dixie

“Take one disarmingly engaging protagonist and put her in the company of a tenderly rendered canine and you’ve got yourself a recipe for the best kind of down-home literary treat. Kate DiCamillo’s voice in Because of Winn-Dixie should carry from the steamy, sultry pockets of Florida clear across the miles to enchant young readers everywhere.” — Karen Hesse, author of the Newbery-award winner Out of the Dust “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)“[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)“A gentle book about good people coming together to combat lonliness and heartache–with a little canine assistance.” – The Horn Book “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)“ Poignant and delicately told.” – The New York Times Book 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“An enchanting little book with a touch of magic, a cast of great characters, and a lot of real life and wisdom.”–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

Kate DiCamillo is the beloved author of many books for young readers, including the Orris and Timble, Mercy Watson, and Tales from Mercy Watson’s Deckawoo Drive series. Her books Flora & Ulysses and The Tale of Despereaux both received Newbery Medals. A former National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, she lives in Minneapolis.