Because of Winn-Dixie

The questions inside

One per chapter, across all 26 chapters — every question is editable before you print.

1. Chapter 1: Why does Opal decide to claim the stray dog in the grocery store, and what does this choice show about her?
2. Chapter 2: How does Winn-Dixie begin to change the way Opal and the preacher act with each other?
3. Chapter 3: Opal says the preacher is like a turtle hiding in his shell. What do you think this comparison means, and why does it fit him?
4. Chapter 4: Which of the ten things Opal learns about her mother seems most important to her, and why?
5. Chapter 5: How does Winn-Dixie affect the church service, and what does this show about the people in the church?
6. Chapter 6: Why do you think Opal feels less lonely when Winn-Dixie is with her, even in a new town?
7. Chapter 7: How does Opal meet Miss Franny Block, and why is their first meeting unusual?
8. Chapter 8: What does Miss Franny’s bear story help you understand about her character and her life?
9. Chapter 9: Why does Opal want to buy Winn-Dixie a collar and leash, and what does her plan show about her sense of responsibility?
10. Chapter 10: Opal meets several children in Naomi. How do her first impressions of them affect the way she treats them?
11. Chapter 11: Why is Opal nervous about Gloria Dump at first, and what begins to change her mind?
12. Chapter 12: Gloria Dump asks Opal to tell her everything about herself. Why is being listened to so important for Opal?
13. Chapter 13: What lesson does Opal begin to learn about judging people by what others say about them?
14. Chapter 14: Winn-Dixie is terrified of thunderstorms. How does this new problem help Opal understand fear in a different way?
15. Chapter 15: What is special about Littmus Lozenges, and how do they connect sweetness and sadness?
16. Chapter 16: How does tasting the Littmus Lozenge help Opal think about her mother and her own feelings?
17. Chapter 17: When different characters taste the Littmus Lozenges, what do their reactions reveal about them?
18. Chapter 18: How does Otis’s music affect the animals in the pet store, and what might this show about him?
19. Chapter 19: Opal learns something surprising about Otis’s past. How does this change the way she sees him?
20. Chapter 20: Why does Opal want to have a party, and what does this tell you about what she needs in her life?
21. Chapter 21: Gloria Dump shows Opal her tree with bottles hanging from it. What do the bottles symbolize, and what lesson does Gloria want Opal to learn?
22. Chapter 22: How does the party bring together people who might not normally spend time with one another?
23. Chapter 23: When the storm comes and Winn-Dixie disappears, how do Opal’s actions show what he means to her?
24. Chapter 24: What important feelings do Opal and the preacher share while they are searching for Winn-Dixie?
25. Chapter 25: How does the group’s reaction after Winn-Dixie is found show that Opal has made a community?
26. Chapter 26: By the end of the book, how has Opal changed because of Winn-Dixie and the people she meets?

Example answers

Printed at the front of the booklet, so your reader can see what a strong answer looks like.

Chapter 4: Which of the ten things Opal learns about her mother seems most important to her, and why?

I think the most important thing Opal learns is that her mother loved stories and could make people laugh. This matters because Opal wants to feel close to her mother, even though she is gone. The details help her picture her mother as a real person instead of just someone missing from her life. I think the list gives Opal something to hold on to.

Chapter 15: What is special about Littmus Lozenges, and how do they connect sweetness and sadness?

Littmus Lozenges are special because they taste sweet, but they also make people feel a little sad. I think this shows that life can have happy and sad feelings at the same time. The candy reminds the characters of things they have lost or people they miss. To me, the lozenges are like a small lesson about growing up.

Chapter 24: What important feelings do Opal and the preacher share while they are searching for Winn-Dixie?

While Opal and the preacher search for Winn-Dixie, they both show fear and sadness. Opal is scared she has lost someone she loves again. The preacher also shows how much pain he still feels about Opal’s mother leaving. I think this chapter helps them be more honest with each other.