Module 2, Book 1: The Hundred Dresses

The Hundred Dresses

By Eleanor Estes

Estes, E. (1944). The hundred dresses.  New York, NY: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.

Is Wanda telling the truth?

Summary:

The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes is a small book that packs a big punch.  It follows a young girl named Maddie as she struggles with being accepted and standing up for what is right.  Maddie and her friends harass a classmate, Wanda, who wears the same dress every day.  They tease her mercilessly about the hundred dresses she claims to have at home.  As Maddie's conscience begins to prick at her to do the right thing, she realizes that she has to do something, but she doesn't know where to begin, as she herself feels like an outcast.  To stand up to the cruelty around her may mean that she will be excluded too.  As the story progresses, Maddie and her friends learn the truth about Wanda and what it means to seek and receive forgiveness.

Impressions:

This book is a wonderful, tender read about bullying.  Its simple message will strike a chord with young and old readers alike.  As the book moved along, the reader began to identify more and more not only with Wanda, the offended, but also with Maddie who feared standing up for her.  Most readers have been in both positions: the coward and the bullied.  Estes created well-rounded characters in both girls, and evoked empathy for each of their plights.  This book is a timeless, easy read that will resonate with readers. 

Reviews:

From Publishers Weekly:

Classic titles return in time for the gift-giving season. For a new generation of readers, Eleanor Estes's long-treasured title, The Hundred Dresses (1944), illus. by Louis Slobodkin, appears in its 60th anniversary finery with newly "restored color" in the artwork. Wanda faces mockery at school, both because of her "funny" last name (Petron-ski) and her claims that she has 100 dresses at home even though she wears the same one to school each day. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Citation:
Publishers Weekly. (2004, September 1). The hundred dresses. Publishers Weekly, Retrieved September 13, 2013, from http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-15-205170-9

From Book Links:

This long standing favorite tells the story of Wanda, a Polish immigrant who is teased by her classmates for her differences and her claim that she owns a hundred dresses. Estes skill with language shines in this tale as she uses just the right or phrase to vividly catch the emotion and the moment, but still keeps the text natural sounding and accessible.  The story serves as a classic example of outstanding use of language in transitional literature.

Citation:
Liang, L. & Graves, B. (2006). The hundred dresses. Book Links, 15(3), 51. 

Library Activity:

This book could be used in the library to provide a springboard for discussion on cyber-bullying.  Librarians are often the front line of defense for appropriate technology use.  Using The Hundred Dresses to promote sensitivity and connect it to today's realities will spur thought-provoking discussions about the far reaching affects of name calling and bullying.