Tag: kate dicamillo

Because of Winn Dixie • Kate DiCamillo

Published on by Kendall6 Comments

“All of a sudden it was hard for me to talk. I loved the preacher so much. I loved him because he loved Winn-Dixie. I loved him because he was going to forgive Winn-Dixie for being afraid. But most of all, I loved him for putting his arms around Winn-Dixie like that, like he was already trying to keep him safe.”

Kate DiCamillo: Because of Winn Dixie

Opal doesn’t have any friends in her new Florida hometown, and she is lonely. While running errands at the local Winn Dixie, Opal claims to own the dog that is running loose and crashing through the store. She names him Winn-Dixie on the spot and meets a new, smiling and sneezing friend. With the help of her new friend, Opal meets the the people in her town and learns that everyone has a past that needs to be heard with kindness and without judgement. Together, they gather the town’s stories while piecing together the story of Opal’s mom who left her at a young age.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Because of Winn Dixie is one of my favorite summertime books. Although it is still technically spring, Alabama has been very hot lately, and I have been in the mood for lighter reads. This classic introduces readers of all ages to concepts like forgiveness, friendship, and just taking the time to understand one another. Opal’s curiosity and Winn-Dixie’s friendliness are the perfect conduits for larger conversations such as ones about people coming in and out of lives, past mistakes, fears, the complexities of loving someone, and more.

The aforementioned discussions in this book are heavy, but they are very approachable and kid friendly. While this book is small, it packs such a punch that I believe it can be enjoyed by any age group. The audiobook was around two hours long, and it was excellent. I recommend giving that a listen. Get in touch with your inner Opal, and open your heart to one of literature’s favorite dogs!

Thanks for reading.

The Tale of Despereaux • Kate DiCamillo

Published on by KendallLeave a comment

“Stories are light. Light is precious in a world so dark. ”

Kate DiCamillo

Despereaux was not born like any of his multiple brothers and sisters. He is tiny with very large ears and doesn’t appear to be afraid like a mouse should be. Instead, he is curious and wants to learn about the honey that he hears and the humans that he sees. After daring to be in the presence of the human king and his beautiful daughter, Princess Pea, the small mouse is cast out from his kind as an outsider. His fate is to be marked by red thread and to disappear into the dark dungeon that is full of skeletons and conniving rats. Down below, in the cold and winding dungeon, Roscuro the rat dreams of the light that slips below the crack of the door. He uses his cunning to craft a plan, which entails befriending the downtrodden Miggery Sow who dreams of being a princess, that will bring him to the bright world above that refuses his kind. It is up to Despereaux to brave a mouse’s greatest fears of death and the dark in order to save his beloved princess.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

It has been about a decade since I last read this book, and I am so glad that I gave it a listen. (I read this in the last few days of 2020 and wanted to say a few things about it.) The Tale of Despereaux has such heart and that is the only way that I know how to put it. Both the light and dark in this book carries such weight that I was in awe throughout my entire listen. Despereaux’s story teaches us about acceptance, forgiveness, and bravery. Roscuro realizes the meaning of kindness and honesty. Princess Pea practices generosity and Mig Sow learns to express herself and demand agency. All of these themes that can be intimidating otherwise are covered so flawlessly in Kate DiCamillo’s third book. I will definitely be reading this book again, and I highly recommend listening to the audiobook version.

Thanks for reading!

Kendall