Because of Winn-Dixie — Chapter 4

About This Passage

This short passage is a small, perfect example of a child turning a memory into a plan. The first sentence — 'I wanted to know those ten things inside and out' — is about hope: Opal is turning a list into a treasure she can carry. The second sentence — 'if my mama ever came back, I could recognize her' — is about a kind of careful waiting. Notice the word 'if.' Opal does not say 'when.' She says 'if.' A small word like 'if' can tell us that Opal is not sure her mama is coming back, even though she is still getting ready. Copying the sentence helps a young reader feel how one little word can hold a whole big feeling.

Narration Prompt

Tell the story of this chapter. Which of the 10 things do you think tells us the most about Opal's mama, and why?

Discussion Questions

1. Look back at the 10 things the preacher tells Opal about her mama. Which of the 10 things are about HAPPY parts of her mama, and which are about SAD parts? Why do you think the preacher told Opal both kinds?
2. Number nine is that Opal's mama drank too much. That is a hard thing to tell a ten-year-old. Was the preacher right to tell her, or should he have kept that one a secret? What in the story makes you think so?

+ 2 more questions in the complete study guide