Because of Winn-Dixie is an enchanting story that grabs the reader's attention from the first page. Unless said reader insists on action, magic, or war that is… Oh wait, on second thought, Winn-Dixie has bits and pieces of all that, too. In other words, there are ample opportunities for your students to connect with this text because there's pretty much something for everyone, from friendship to battles.

Hey, Shorty

Part of what makes this book so unique is that it reads almost like a collection of short stories—so if your students aren't grabbed by one chapter, they simply have to wait until the next to meet someone new. As we read along, getting to know each character by hearing their story (or, in the case of Miss Franny, their stories), Opal comes to realize that in hearing people's stories, she is actually befriending them—and solving her loneliness problem at the same time. It's pretty convenient for her, and a pretty good lesson for your kids.

In a way, this "short story" feel of the book is an open door to lots of great teaching opportunities. You can use Winn-Dixie as an introduction to a unit on short stories, and then return to it and explore how this book actually fits in the same category. See if your students can come up with other books that are similar—reading more like a short story structured around a common character than a traditional novel.