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Showing posts from October 28, 2012

Following the Lead of Gloria Dump

In Kate DiCamillo’s sweet little chapter book, “Because of Winn-Dixie,” ten-year-old Opal takes home a stray dog from her local supermarket and decides to name him after the Winn-Dixie store she found him in. Opal is new in her small town in Florida and is lonely and the ragamuffin dog clearly has been abandoned so the two become a cozy team of shared acceptance, fun and love. Eventually Opal meets the local “witch,” as the neighborhood brats call her.  But Opal, who is not afraid of witches or nearly anything else, delights in Miss Gloria Dump and makes fast friends with her. They are first acquainted when Opal chases Winn-Dixie through the overgrown grass in Miss Dump’s yard.  He had sped away from Opal but she finally finds him in the backyard eating peanut butter out of Gloria Dump’s hand. They greet one another and after sharing a peanut butter sandwich together they sit down to visit.  Miss Dump, who had put in her false teeth so she could eat, finishes her