Because of Winn-Dixie is a children's novel written by Kate DiCamillo, which was published in 2000, and was the winner of a Newbery Honor distinction the following year. In 2000, the book won the Josette Frank Award, and in 2003 won the Mark Twain Award. It was adapted as a 2005 family film directed by Wayne Wang, produced by Walden Media and Twentieth Century Fox, and starring AnnaSophia Robb as Opal Buloni.