Book-Themed Activities for Because of Winn-Dixie
By Lily | Published 7 February 2023 | Goodreads Rating 4.08 | This post may contain affiliate links.
We’ve curated a list of fun games and activities inspired by Because of Winn-Dixie. Be sure to try some (or all!) of these ideas while creating special memories for your family along the way!
Because of Winn-Dixie is a heartwarming children's book by Kate DiCamillo, telling the story of a young girl who finds friendship and healing through her relationship with a scruffy dog named Winn-Dixie. Kids will love reading this book because of its relatable characters, touching themes of love and loss, and its message about the power of friendship and community.
Continue the reading fun with these book-themed activities when you’ve finished the book! Be sure to visit the book summary for Because of Winn-Dixie to share why this book is a must-read with your child!
10 Activities to Extend the Reading Fun for Because of Winn-Dixie
Activity 1: Throw a dog party in honor of Winn-Dixie!
Invite friends and family over for a dog party. Many children love animals, and hosting a dog party can be a fun way to celebrate the book's canine protagonist, Winn Dixie! Your child will also learn about responsibility & organization! If you don’t have a pet, ask a neighbour or family member if you can “pamper” their 4-legged pooch for the day! Here are some tips for hosting a dog party:
Invite guests: Be sure to invite friends and family members who have dogs or who love dogs. Make invitations that look like dog tags.
Decorate: Use dog-themed decorations like paw prints, dog bones, and pictures of dogs. Create a photo booth with dog-themed props like dog ears, noses, and tails.
Plan activities: Plan dog-friendly activities like a dog parade, a dog obstacle course, or a game of fetch. Have plenty of toys & treats on hand for dogs to enjoy.
Serve dog-themed snacks: Serve dog-themed snacks like bone-shaped cookies or dog biscuits. For humans, serve hot dogs, burgers, or other picnic foods.
Provide water and shade: Make sure to provide plenty of water for dogs to drink, and set up a shaded area where they can rest and cool off.
Consider safety: Be sure to supervise dogs at all times, and make sure all guests are comfortable around dogs. And, remember to have fun and enjoy the company of your furry friends and their families!
Here are some ideas from Petsmart to help your child get started in organizing an event for man’s best friend!
Activity 2: Make homemade lollipops!
In the book, Littmus Lozenges play an important symbolic role. This candy represents the bittersweet experiences of life and the importance of finding sweetness even in difficult situations. Though they are a fictional candy created by author Kate DiCamillo, you and your children can create your own homemade candy! This recipe from @Kelly Senyei only requires two ingredients and is very easy to make as well as delicious!
Activity 3: Visit an animal shelter
Visit an animal shelter with your child so that he/she can learn more about animals without homes. Children are capable of great compassion and when they can understand what is happening, they can often come up with creative ideas to make a difference!
See what happens when this teacher and her students from St Michael’s Episcopal School in Richmond, Virginia come together to make a difference in their local dog shelter. What started off as a way to teach her children about “persuasive writing”, turned into a bigger and more meaningful life lesson about unconditional love!
Activity 4: Organize a family movie night.
Put a date in the calendar for the family to watch the movie-version released in 2005, starring big names like Jeff Daniels, Cicely Tyson, Dave Matthews and Elle Fanning! The movie adaptation is generally faithful to the book, but there are some differences between the two. The movie leaves out some minor characters and subplots from the book, including Amanda Wilkinson. Sweetie Pie Thomas is given a more prominent role in the movie, and Opal's father is portrayed as more distant and reserved than he is in the book.
The movie puts more emphasis on the theme of forgiveness and reconciliation, particularly in the relationship between Opal and her father. Overall, while the movie adaptation takes some creative liberties and simplifies some aspects of the story, it remains a faithful and heartwarming interpretation of the book that captures its themes of friendship, community, and healing.
Activity 5: Make a list of “ten things” for each family member.
Just like Opal’s mom and Winn-Dixie had a Top 10 list, have each family member write a list of the “ten things” that each person is grateful for or that makes them happy. Turn them into posters and display them prominently in your home! The below journals are also a great way to capture special moments between parent and child!
RELATED: If your child loves dogs, be sure to check our our book list of bark-tastic books to read!
Activity 6: Make a dog collar or upcycled dog clothing!
Use craft supplies like beads, ribbon, and bells to create your own dog collar or dog clothes for a pet or stuffed animal. This is a great way to personalize your furry friend's look. For inspiration, checkout this video of Ava and Corbin from @Sunny Side Up who have a super easy tutorial on how to make DIY upcycled dog clothes!
Activity 7: Donate to your local dog shelter.
Gather items around your home - food, treats and toys - to donate to the local dog shelter, and help dogs like Winn-Dixie who haven’t yet found a home! Get ideas from Jessica who started up Paws in Needs to help shelter animals when she couldn’t adopt herself.
Activity 8: Get free resources to build reading comprehension of this book!
This Teachers’ Guide by Candlewick Press includes a comprehensive discussion guide to probe more into this classic novel.
This is a condensed version of the discussion guide by Candlewick Press.
Vocabulary.com is a great resource to test your child's spelling acumen of words learnt from Because of Winn-Dixie.
Download this free activity booklet from Reading Quests to help with your child’s comprehension of this book and to make reading fun especially for struggling readers!
Activity 9: Create a memory box of your child’s most favorite people.
In the novel, Opal struggled to recall memories of her mother. Help your children to recall special memories of their most favorite people. Then, have them decorate a shoebox and fill it with objects that remind them of the most special people in their lives, such as photos or small gifts or cards received from them.
Activity 10: Read more stories by Kate DiCamillo, storyteller-extraordinaire.
The Tale of Despereaux: A brave mouse, a covetous rat, a wishful serving girl, and a princess named Pea come together in Kate DiCamillo's Newbery Medal–winning tale. These characters are about to embark on a journey that will lead them down into a horrible dungeon, up into a glittering castle, and, ultimately, into each other's lives.
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane: A china toy rabbit named Edward Tulane goes on an extraordinary journey, from the depths of the ocean to the net of a fisherman, from the bedside of an ailing child to the bustling streets of Memphis. Along the way, we are shown a miracle — that even a heart of the most breakable kind can learn to love, to lose, and to love again.
Flora & Ulysses: Flora is a natural born cynic who loves to read comic books. Ulysses is a squirrel who gets superpowers after he is sucked into a vacuum cleaner. Together, they are hilariously captivating and readers with big imaginations will love it. Overall, the book was quirky, and funny. Highly recommend for those ready for random adventures and in need of a good laugh!!
REWARD: Celebrate the book!
When your child has finished the book and completed any (or all!) of the above activities, download this FREE book-themed artwork to hang or frame in your child’s room as a reminder of this special book!
