Family
The Super-Market Dog
Joy Basdeo
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Joy Basdeo, also known as "Mrs B" is an educator, formerEnglish teacher, an avid reader and storyteller, mother of fourgrown children and grandmother of Zoë. Her weekly columnis intended to assist parents and children select books whichentertain and build character.
_________________________________________________
Here is a good story for eight to twelveyear olds who are mad about dogs. It's also a good read-aloudstory for younger readers.
Ten year old Opal Buloni moves to Floridawith her Baptist preacher father. She misses her hometown, buteven more she misses her mother who has run off before Opal wasold enough to get to know her. Opal finds a stray-dog creatinghavoc in her local Winn Dixie and rescues him from going to thepound.
Winn Dixie is a remarkable dog. Apart fromthe fact that he smiles, he seems to wave a magic spell over allthe people he meets, starting with the preacher. He even mesmerizesthe parrot Gertrude who oversees the pet shop where Opal getsa part-time job. Gertrude is just one of the unusual friends Opalmakes with the large friendly dog at her side.
Soon with a little help from Winn Dixie,the lonely little girl and her emotionally distant father beginto realise that although they have been through rough times, theystill have a lot to be thankful for.
Winner of the Newberry Prize, "Becauseof Winn Dixie", by Kate Di Camillo published by CandlewickPress in 2000 is available at the George Town Public Library,and through our favourite bookstore.
Don't forget to check the Book Loft runby the Humane Society on North Sound Way for this and other books.There are shelves of children's books available for just a fewdollars each.
If you would like to sponsor this book anddonate it to a government school as part of our Character EducationProject, please email me at
Joy.Basdeo@gov.ky, ask your bookseller tosend it to me at the Ministry of Education, 4th Floor GovernmentAdministration Building or drop it off at the Ministry.
Until next week, anda new story Happy Reading!
Mrs B
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed inthis column are those of the writers, and are not binding on anyindividual or organization. They are intended solely as guidance,parents should always use their own discretion in selecting readingmaterial for their children).