Transcript for March 2003

With the guidance of discussion questions, students and teachers talked about Kate DiCamillo’s humorous and touching book Because of Winn-Dixie, and then Kate Dicamillo herself joined in the conversation. The discussion took place in March 2003.

You can also read the transcripts from more recent interviews with Kate DiCamillo.

Let's Talk with Kate DiCamillo

About Because of Winn-Dixie
General Questions for Kate DiCamillo

About Because of Winn-Dixie

Discussion Question:
Given the chance, would you try a Littmus Lozenge? Why or why not?

• Kate DiCamillo's response: I would eat a Littmus Lozenge. Good books have the same effect on me as Littmus Lozenges. They make me feel happy and sad at the same time
• Student response : I think I would try a Littmus Lozenge. I am very curious what it would taste like. What does sadness taste like? I would also like to find out what sad part of my life it would make me think about. I hope it won't be too sad!
• Student response : Yes, I would try a Littmus Lozenge because in the book they make it sound so good.
• Student response : I don't think they make it sound good.
• Student response : Yes. I wonder if it would taste like it did in the book.
• Student response : Yes, because they sound mouthwatering. They also sound delicious.
• Student response : Yes, I would like to try a Littmus Lozenge because I like candy, plus I love strawberries and root beer. I don't think I would like the melancholy part.
• Student response : Yes, because Littmus Lozenges taste like strawberries, root beer, and sorrow and I want to think of my cat that died.
• Student response : I agree with you.
• Student response : Yes, I would try a Littmus Lozenge because they look good and I want to taste the sad.
• Student response : No, I would not want one because I don't want to be reminded of the sad stuff that happened to me. Like when my cat died.
• Student response : No, I wouldn't try it because I don't want to remember my past about a little kid I knew who had cancer and died.
• Student response : I would try one, because if the librarian would offer one to Opal they must be good. I think they would taste like strawberries.
• Student response : I would not want to try a Littmus Lozenge because it would remind me of my real dad.
• Student response : I would not want to try a Littmus Lozenge because they make you feel bad and unhappy and make you think of bad things. P.S. You did a very good job on this book.
• Student response : Yes! I would love to try one. I think that life is full of bittersweet moments. Like I loved reading this book but I was sad when it was over.
• Student response : I would not like to try a Littmus Lozenge because it might not taste too good to me, but maybe I would try one and see if I can taste the sorrow in it!
• Student response : I would eat a Littmus Lozenge because I like candy, and also I am curious to find out if I would taste any sadness.
• Student response : Yes, I would like to try a Littmus Lozenge because I like to try new things.
• Student response : I would eat a Littmus Lozenge because if spinach is okay, I will try anything that is on earth!
• Kate DiCamillo's response : I can almost guarantee that a Littmus Lozenge would taste better than spinach.

Discussion Question:
Have you ever had a pet like Winn-Dixie? In what way?

• Kate DiCamillo's response: Aren't pets (cats, too) the best thing ever? Especially when they sleep on your head!
• Student response : My dog is like Winn-Dixie because he gets on my mom's bed when she is not looking.
• Student response : My dog is also like your dog; it lies on my dad's head.
• Student response : I have a pet like Winn-Dixie because she smiles.
• Student response : I have a dog named George; he likes food. I think he smiles too.
• Student response : Yes. My dog likes to sleep on my bed. She also is afraid of thunderstorms.
• Student response : I have a dog named Pepper; she also likes to sleep on my bed.
• Student response : My dog Penny is like Winn-Dixie because my dog is also scared of thunderstorms.
• Student response : I suppose that I'm like your dog then because I am scared of thunderstorms.
• Student response : Our dog Rocky used to smile too. People used to think that he was growling, but we knew he was just smiling.
• Student response : Yes, I did have a pet named Edison. She was a very good dog and she would smile and listen to me.
• Student response : No, I have never had a dog like Winn-Dixie, but I did have a dog. I have two cats like Winn-Dixie.
• Student response : My cat is also afraid of thunderstorms!
• Student response : Yes, I have a dog. My dog has fits when there are thunderstorms.
• Student response : My dog is like Winn-Dixie; he is very nice.
• Student response : I had a dog before, but not like Winn-Dixie. My dog was a golden retriever and he couldn't smile.
• Kate DiCamillo's response : I think that there are a lot of dogs afraid of thunderstorms. I myself have known a few.

Discussion Question:
What do you think Opal's life will be like after the end of the book?

• Student response : I think that Opal's life will be easy because she will always have a friend to play with. And she will know her father better!
• Student response : Me, too. I think Opal will have a better life with the preacher, and meet her mom.
• Student response : I think Opal will find her mama and spend more time with her dad.
• Student response : I think Opal's life will be fun because now that she has friends like Gloria Dump and Otis she won't be that lonely.
• Student response : Me, too. Do you think Opal's mom will come back?
• Student response : I think she will grow up and she will get married to Dunlap.
• Student response : I think that there will be a sequel to the book and that Opal's mom will come back and they will spend a lot of time together. I also think that Opal and the Dewberry brothers will become better friends.
• Student response : I think Opal's life after the book would be a happy life because Opal threw a party and invited a lot of people that were her friends so she would have something to do.
• Kate DiCamillo's response: I think that last post sums it up beautifully.

Questions for Kate DiCamillo

Our class is reading Because of Winn-Dixie with our librarian. The children really love the book and have talked about the characters and how alive they are. Would you like to see Because of Winn-Dixie made into a movie?
The movie rights for Winn-Dixie have been optioned; and so the book may well become a movie someday; and it will be an amazing thing, I think, to see the characters I have imagined up on the big screen.

What are your most famous books and what is your favorite thing to write about? You are my favorite writer and I hope this will inspire you (even though I am only 13).
I don't think I have any famous books. As for my favorite thing to write about, I find that almost all my stories are about the same thing: learning how to deal with loss and finding ways to love again. And of course it inspires me to know that I am your favorite writer. Thank you.

What made you think of the story?
I wrote Because of Winn-Dixie because I was homesick for Florida (where I grew up) and because I wanted a dog and couldn't have one — so I made one up.

Where did you get the idea to write about a stray dog?
I've always been haunted by the thought of stray dogs. All dogs should have a home and be loved. I can't make that happen in real life. But I could make it happen in a book.

Do you like Winn-Dixie? Do you have or ever had a dog like Winn-Dixie? Will you write a second book about Winn-Dixie?
I love Winn-Dixie. I have had many wonderful dogs, but I have never had a dog like Winn-Dixie. I don't think that there will be a sequel.

Oh, how sad. I don't even need a Littmus Lozenge -- I taste it already. I would love to read more about Opal, Winn Dixie, and their wonderful friends. I do hope you will reconsider writing another book about them.
If there's one thing I've learned in this life, it's "never say never." So... we'll see. How's that?

What was your inspiration for your books?
I get the inspiration for my stories in lots of different ways: by listening and looking and reading and imagining.

What is your favorite book that you are not the author of?
I have lots of favorite books. Some of them are: The Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963; Bridge to Terabithia; Abel's Island; Wringer; Letters From Rifka.

Your book moved me to tears and then laughter! It was such a pleasurable read. You were our pick for the Bluebonnet! I would like to know your personal writing process. (Librarian, Kendall Elementary School, Boerne, Texas)
Tears and laughter — exactly what every storyteller wants to hear. Thank you. My personal writing process is this: I get an idea. I sit down. I think: "I'll never be able to make this work. I shouldn't be a writer. I can't write." And then I start to write. I write the rough draft two pages at a time. Two pages a day. And then when I'm done I put it away for at least two weeks and I come back to it and start over again and write the second draft. And then, later, I'll do a third draft. And then a fourth. And a fifth. And with each draft I think: "I'll never be able to make this work." But somehow, the story (after enough drafts) gets told.

Hi, Kate, I'm a fourth grade teacher. My class will be duplicating the party that Opal throws for all of her new friends. We'll have PB sandwiches, egg salad, a guitar-playing Otis, lots of pictures of dogs, pink streamers, and hopefully some students in costume. Wish you could come!
Lovely! I wish I could come, too. Drink some dump punch for me.

Out of all the books you've written, which one is your favorite? Thanks.
It's impossible for me to pick just one book that's my favorite. To me, they seem like my children. I see their faults and their strengths. I am proud of them and love them like the individuals they are. Different books are important to me for different reasons — because they make me understand my own heart better, because they make me laugh, because they have kept me company during a hard or lonely time. I can't pick a favorite.

What is your favorite part of the book?
I guess my favorite part is toward the end of the book, at the party when everybody is gathered together and the preacher says a prayer.

Hi. I was wondering why you choose to write books.
I write books because I love stories. I love being told a story. And I love telling a story, too.

I love the book Winn-Dixie. I would love to have him for a dog. You must be tired every day from writing books and everything. Thanks for listening!
I would like to have a dog like Winn-Dixie, too. And you're right! Some days I am very tired after writing. Thanks for understanding.

You must be a great writer because the book Winn-Dixie is great. I have my own copy. I read it all the time. We are reading it right now in school. It's a great book. Do you like writing books? I don't think I could write a book. It seems too hard. I mean you write all day then make the book covers. I hope you make another.
I do like writing books. You could write a book if you wanted to. All you have to do is write a little bit at a time (I write two pages a day).

Around how long does it take you to write your books?
The first book (Winn-Dixie) took me about eight drafts and six months to do. The Tiger Rising took me about six drafts and eight months. The third book (due out this October) took me about a year. I'm getting slower and slower, instead of faster.

My daughter Gracie (who is 10) highly recommended your book. When I asked her why, she replied, "Just read it, Mom, and you will know what I mean." She was right. Your book is incredible -- and I didn't put it down until the last page. I was wondering why you chose to include topics such as alcoholism in the story. Also, why did you choose to write Opal's mother out of the story? You wrote about these subjects with such grace and sensitivity. I was wondering if any of your family members or friends had to face these topics (if that is not too personal a question). Anyway, I hope that you consider writing a sequel to Because of Winn-Dixie. It is truly a special story. I look forward to hearing from you -- and we both thank you for the wonderful literary experience! (Topeka, Kansas)
I'm so glad that you enjoyed the book. I have not had to deal with alcoholism in my own life, but I have had to deal with a missing parent (my father left when I was five years old). But I didn't sit down to write a story about myself or any topic in particular. Instead, I just wanted to write a story. There are parts of me in it (the missing parent) and parts that have nothing to do with me.

I just wanted to know what books you write. I really want to know because I LOVE LOVE LOVE reading. My dad is always telling me to ease on the reading, but NO WAY! I LOVE LOVE reading!
I'm so glad that you love, love, love to read. I love, love, love to read, too. My books are Because of Winn-Dixie and The Tiger Rising. And I've got a third book coming out this October called The Tale of Despereaux — being the story of a mouse, a princess, some soup, and a spool of thread. Keep reading, reading, reading.

Are there any ties from the book to your own experiences?
I know what it's like to love a dog and I know what it's like to be new to a town and I know what it's like to have a librarian as a friend; so yes, some of the experiences in the book are my experiences, too.

Is the story behind the Littmus Lozenge true?
Nope, I made up the Littmus Lozenge and the story behind it.

Does this book make you feel happy about your life? Where did you get the idea for the story? Is Because of Winn-Dixie a true story? Did you enjoy writing this story? Did you really have a dog named Winn-Dixie? We are a 4th-grade reading group. We loved your book.
I'm glad that you guys loved the book. Thank you. Yes, this book makes me feel happy about my life (no one has ever asked me that question before; it's a good one). Because of Winn-Dixie is not a true story, but I sure had a good time telling it. And alas, I do not have a dog named Winn-Dixie. Keep reading, you guys.

Did you ever have a dog like Winn-Dixie? Did you ever have a friend like Opal?
When I was growing up I had a wonderful standard poodle named Nanette. And I've never had a friend quite like Opal, but I do have lots of wonderful friends. :)

Does India Opal's mom ever come back?
I don't really know if she does or not. What do you think?

Does Opal have a fun time at Sweetie Pie's birthday party? Does Opal ever find her mom? How's Winn-Dixie? Do they move again? Does she make more friends? Is her heart still filled up?
I don't know the answer to all of those questions... if I did, I would write a sequel. But I do believe that Opal's heart will stay filled up. She has so many friends now.

I love your book! In my class we read it and we LOVED it so much. The book reminds me of my next-door neighbor's dog and my aunt's dog. Did you have a dog like Winn Dixie? If you did, did he smile a lot? I really loved the book Winn-Dixie!
I have never owned a dog that smiles. But I have known several smiling dogs and loved them all.

I really like the book Because of Winn-Dixie. Opal was a good character. Did you live in Naomi, Florida?
No, I didn't live in Naomi. Naomi is a fictional town. I grew up in Clermont, Florida, which is very close to Orlando. Thanks for reading!

What was the first book you wrote and when did you write it?
The first book I wrote is Because of Winn-Dixie. I wrote it in 1997 and it was published in 2000.

How did you think of such a talented dog like Winn-Dixie?
He is talented, isn't it? I just closed my eyes and imagined the best dog possible.

Do you wish to live in Opal's environment?
I think that Opal is very lucky to be in the community she is in. I grew up in a town that is very similar to Naomi.

Who is your favorite character?
My favorite character is probably Gloria Dump. I would like to sit in her yard and eat peanut butter sandwiches and tell her my stories.

What other books do you think are important ones to expose young readers to? Winn-Dixie had many positive messages for my students. I especially loved the STRONG female character India Opal. (Loved that name too!) Where did you come up with that? (4^th-grade teacher)
Other books: I love The Wolves of Willoughby Chase; Harriet the Spy; Letters From Rifka, Bridge to Terabithia; Bud, Not Buddy; To Kill a Mockingbird; The Watsons Go to Birmingham; and all Beverly Cleary books (Ramona is wonderful). As for how I came up with Opal's name. I don't know. It's one of those mysteries of writing; sometimes the name and the character just appear. It's not like I make them up. It's more like I discover them.

We already read that your dad left you when you were five. Were there any other ways that you were like Opal? You have a librarian friend. Did any of the other characters come about from your knowing someone like them? Otis? Gloria?
I am like Opal in that I love dogs and stories and libraries. But she is, in many ways, a different and better person than I am. She is kinder, less judgmental, braver. It was a pleasure to spend time in her company. I learned a lot from her. All the other characters are like Opal: they are made up, not based on people I know, but they seem so real to me.

I love the image of a tree filled with tinkling bottles. Where did this idea come from? Have you seen such a tree?
If you drive through the back roads of the rural south, you will see trees hung with bottles. They are a beautiful sight, especially when the sun is shining.

You have some difficult subjects in your book, such as a five-year-old drowning. Did this happen to you? Did you have a family member or friend that lost their life in this way?
No, I have (mercifully) never known anyone who lost a sibling due to drowning. But I have known lots of people who have had to learn how to deal with great sorrows.

What is your connection with the preacher in the story? Was your dad, or another relative or friend, a preacher?
When I wrote the book, my best friend's husband was in school studying to be a preacher. I think that's how Opal's dad ended up being a preacher.

When did you start reading a lot as a child? My teacher says we HAVE TO CATCH FIRE with reading this year or else. Thanks for sharing some other good book ideas with us. What kind of help at home did you have with reading? What is your favorite book from childhood?
I was a kid who loved to read. And I'm an adult who loves to read. My mom read a lot to us when I was growing up. There were a lot of books in the house and the library was close by. I was blessed. It's impossible for me to pick just one favorite book from childhood. I have so many. Did you ever read The Twenty-one Balloons?

My teacher told us that the pain and joy that people feel aren't really opposites — it's more like they interact side by side. He said the Chinese have a saying: "Sorrow carves the cup that holds my joy," which means feeling pain or sadness allows us to be more alive to feel love and joy. Your book expresses this in a beautiful way. Could you tell us something about your other two books — do they also have characters that feel pain or sorrow and get by that to feel joy?
Your teacher is a very wise man. I have never heard that quote before, but I love it and will post it above my desk. It's impossible to know sorrow without knowing joy and vice versa. And yes, the other two books deal with these same issues, sorrow and joy and how closely they are linked. It seems to be a theme that I keep returning to.

We've been studying similes in our class. Turning the pages of your book is like watching a river of fish, jumping up and flashing ideas and images. Wow! Your book is loaded with similes! How do you write them? Do you throw some out because you're using too many?
I'm not even aware of using similes. I didn't know that there were so many similes in the book until teachers and students started pointing them out to me. I love your simile. Keep writing. And keep reading.

When you say you write "two pages a day," would these be workable drafts or your best effort (in order to maintain a habit) on any given day knowing that some of it will flourish and bear fruit and some not?
When I'm working on the first draft of a story, the two pages are single-spaced and almost stream of consciousness. I don't worry about spelling, punctuation, anything except finding the pulse and arc of the story. When I'm done with that first draft, I put it away for two weeks (at least). I come back to it and start the second draft, which is double-spaced and which abides by the basic rules of grammar, but which is still very, very rough. Things continue in this manner until I am working on the fourth, fifth, sixth draft. Sometimes the stories bear fruit. Sometimes they don't. I usually know by the second draft whether or not a story is working.

Why does Opal say "me and Daddy" instead of "Daddy and I"?
Opal talks like the kids I grew up with.

Why did you make Opal's mother and father separated?
That's just the way the story happened.