Because of Winn-Dixie — Kate DiCamillo

When ten-year-old India Opal Buloni moves to Naomi, Florida, with her father, she doesn't know what to expect -- least of all, that she'll adopt Winn-Dixie, a dog she names after the supermarket where they meet. Before long, Opal and her father realize -- with a little help from Winn-Dixie -- that while they've both tasted a bit of melancholy in their lives, they still have a whole lot to be thankful for.