Because of Winn-Dixie (novel)

I have a colorful, shiny cover. When you open me, my pages are thin and papery. They make a soft whisper sound when you turn them. Shhh, shhh, shhh. Inside, a story is waiting just for you. It is a story about a special friendship. A girl and a big, smiling dog find each other. They have so many adventures together. They make the world a happier place. I am the storybook, Because of Winn-Dixie. I hold their whole story right here inside my pages for you to read. It's a happy, sunny story.

A wonderful writer named Kate DiCamillo made me. She used her big imagination to dream up my story. She thought about a girl named Opal who felt a little bit lonely. Kate wanted to give Opal a special friend. So, she imagined a big, funny-looking dog. One day, Opal went to the Winn-Dixie supermarket. And guess who she found there. A big, smiling dog making a mess. Opal loved him right away. She took him home and named him Winn-Dixie. My story was all ready. On a sunny day, March 1st, 2000, I was shared with the world so children everywhere could read about Opal and her new best friend.

Now, I travel to new places. I live in libraries with other storybooks. I live in cozy homes on bookshelves. I wait for little hands to pick me up. Every time someone opens my cover, the happy adventure of Opal and Winn-Dixie begins all over again. You can meet them too. I show all my readers that new friends can be found anywhere, even in a supermarket. And a special friend like Winn-Dixie can make the world feel sunny and bright, just like a warm hug. My story is a story about love and friendship.