# Because of Winn-Dixie

**Author:** Kate DiCamillo
**Lexile:** 610L
**Grade range:** Grades 3–5
**Age range:** 8–11
**First published:** 2000
**Page count:** 182
**Genre:** Middle Grade Fiction
**ISBN-13:** `9780763644321`
**ISBN-10:** `0763644323`
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/book/because-of-winn-dixie
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.

## About this book

Ten-year-old India Opal Buloni moves to a small Florida town with her preacher father and befriends a stray dog that changes both their lives. DiCamillo's Newbery Honor novel is a 3rd-5th grade staple and Common Core Appendix B exemplar.

## Themes

- loss
- friendship
- mother absence
- small-town community
- second chances

## Content notes

- alcoholism (supporting character)

Common Sense Media age recommendation: 8+

## Where this book is assigned

### Common Core State Standards (ELA)

- **recommended** · 4th grade — [source: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 4-5 Newbery Honor](https://achievethecore.org/page/2699)
- **recommended** · 4th grade · Florida — [source: FL B.E.S.T. Standards — Florida-set novel](https://www.fldoe.org/)

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