One summer's day, ten-year-old Opal Buloni goes to the supermarket for some groceries - and comes home with a dog.
Winn-Dixie is no ordinary dog. He's big and ugly and smells a little, but he also has the biggest smile.
Because of Winn-Dixie, Opal gets to know some very surprising people and starts to make new friends.
In fact, almost everything that happens that summer is because of Winn-Dixie.