Written by: Kate DiCamillio
DiCamillio, Kate. (2000). Because of Winn-Dixie. New York: Candlewick Press.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Recommended grades: 5th – 7th grade
Awards: 2001 Newbery Honor
Summary: The protagonist, Opal, and her father, a preacher, had just moved to a small town in Florida when she meets a stray dog in the local grocery store, Winn-Dixie. She quickly names him Winn-Dixie. Winn-Dixie has something special about him that makes everyone want to open up. The two of them spend the summer making friends and sharing stories.
Personal Reflection: This book should be used in classrooms to show how people grow and change throughout their lives. Opal resents her mother’s abandonment years before, but through Winn-Dixie she learns to forgive and forget. This is an important lesson of which all children and adults need to remind themselves.
Recommendation: I would highly recommend this book for library purchase, because of its important lesson of forgiving.
The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread
Written by: Kate DiCamillo
Illustrated by: Timothy B. Ering
DiCamillo, K. (2003). The tale of Desperaux: Being the story of a mouse, a princess, some soup, and a spool of thread. New York: Candlewick Press.
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended ages: 3rd – 6th grades
Awards: Newbery Award 2004
Summary: DiCamillo divided this story into four books. The first three happen over the course of years and lead up to the fourth book. This book is mainly about Despereaux, a castle mouse, as he tries to save a beautiful Princess.
Personal Reflection: This is a great story to compare and contrast against E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web. Both protagonists, Despereaux and Wilbur, are runts of the litter’s but both have a belief that they can be special.
Recommendation: I would highly recommend this book for library purchase.
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