Club du Livre Reads and Discusses Because of Winn Dixie -- Guest Post!

Our resident Book Club Girl Jr. book club, Club du Livre des Filles has sent in their latest post (along with a great photo of the group!) about their discussion this past weekend of Kate diCamillo's Because of Winn-Dixie. I remember reading this book to my daughters, and having a little trouble reading aloud through the tears at points. Here is an excerpt and the reading guide. Read Club du Livre's review of Judy Blume's Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, here.

In attendance: Abigail, Stella, Sage, Natasha, Sylvie, Jacquie, Jenny, Kate, Zoe

BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE

Introduction by Sylvie, Kate, and Zoe

Today, April 27, 2008, our book club discussed the book Because of Winn-Dixie. We also watched three scenes from the movie. We all agreed that the movie is not as good as the book. We also chose who will host the book club and picked the next book.

Summary of Because of Winn-Dixie by Stella and Jacquie

Because of Winn-Dixie is a touching story about a girl named Opal and her dog, Winn-Dixie. One day Opal receives a note from her Dad, asking her to go to a grocery store called Winn-Dixie. Soon she finds herself looking at the shaggy face and black eyes of a stray dog, soon to be called Winn-Dixie.

Opal and Winn-Dixie soon find themselves becoming best friends. They go on many adventures and make a lot of new friends together.

Just as Opal and Winn-Dixie are at a party prepared by them, a fierce thunderstorm occurs.

Opal soon recruits her dad to help look for Winn-Dixie, after he supposedly ran away during the thunderstorm. When they have no luck finding Winn-Dixie, they return to the house, where Winn-Dixie is waiting for them under the bed.

As you can see, Because of Winn-Dixie is an intriguing book that many young readers will enjoy.

Five Things Different From the Book in the Movie – by Abigail and Natasha

1)      Winn-Dixie is hiding under the bed in the book, and he ran away in the movie.

2)      Mr. Alfred, Opal’s neighbor, is not a character in the book.

3)      In the book, Otis does not give Opal a dog collar for Winn-Dixie at the party.

4)      In the book, Stevie Dewberry races Opal, not his brother, at the party.

5)      In the book, Opal and her father do not look for Winn-Dixie using a car.

A Summary about the Main Character, Opal – by Sage and Jenny

Opal is a very open and imaginative girl. She’s also very brave. She makes the best out of a bad situation. She loves Winn-Dixie and her father more than anything. Opal shows her courage by trusting herself that Gloria Dump is not a witch. Opal is able to befriend many people such as Gloria Dump, Mrs. Franny Block, the Dewberry boys, Amanda Pinkleton, Otis, and Sweetie Pie Thompson. All in all, we think everyone should have a friend like Opal.

Next Meeting

Sylvie will host the next meeting; she selected Then Again, Maybe I Won’t, by Judy Blume.

Comments

[Jenne]

I recently saw that movie on TV. It was pretty good. I will have to take a look at the book now. Thanks for the review!