Because of Winn-Dixie
By:
Kate Di Camillo
Characters
• India Opal Buloni-10 year old girl who goes by the name
Opal. She is the narrator of the story. She has red hair
and freckles.
• India’s father-she calls him “Preacher” because that is
his job
• Winn-Dixie- a dog
• Franny Block-an old lady who runs the town library
• Stevie and Dunlap Dewberry-kids around Opal’s age
• Amanda Wilkinson-a girl Opal meets at the library
• Otis-works at the pet store
• Gloria Dump-an older lady that Opal becomes friends
with
setting
• The story takes place in Naomi, Florida where
Opal and her father have just moved.
• It is summertime.
• The story takes you to different parts of the
town (library, Opal’s house, Gloria’s house)
Chapters 1-5
• We learn how Opal found Winn-Dixie.
• Opal takes Winn-Dixie home with her and her
dad says she can keep the dog.
• We learn that Opal’s mom left when Opal was
three and she has not seen or heard from her
mother since.
• Opal asks her father to tell her ten things about
her mother.
• We learn that Winn-Dixie does not like to be left
alone so they take him everywhere they go.
Chapters 6-11
• Opal tells us about the library where she meets
Franny Block.
• They become good friends and Opal spends a lot
of time there.
• We meet Otis when Opal goes to the pet store.
• Opal makes a deal with Otis that she will sweep
and organize the shelves of the pet store if he will
give her a collar and leash for Winn-Dixie.
• Opal meets Gloria Dump and they become
friends as well.
Chapters 12-17
• Opal helps Otis put all of the animals back
in their cages.
• We learn that Otis has been in jail but
don’t learn why.
• Gloria tells Opal to be nice to the Dewberry
boys.
• Miss Franny tells Opal and Amanda about
her great grandfather and the Civil War.
• Opal reads a book to Gloria since she
cannot see that well.
Chapters 18-25
• We learn that Amanda has a brother who drowned and
that is probably why she looks so sad all of the time.
• Opal asks Otis why he was in jail and he tells her.
• Opal decides to throw a party at Gloria’s house and
invites everyone she knows.
• It starts to rain at the party and Opal realizes that WinnDixie is gone.
• Opal and her father go out to find Winn-Dixie and do
not so they go back to Gloria’s house.
• Winn-Dixie had been at Gloria’s house the whole time.