The Hundred Dresses Book Review

Book Title: The Hundred Dresses

Author: Eleanor Estes
Illustrator: Louis Slobodkin

Publish Date: 1944
Publisher: Scholastic

The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes

Awards: Newbery Honor Book

Suggested Grade: 4th, 5th, 6th

Suggested Format: Read Aloud, Whole Group, Small Group, Independent Reading

Synopsis: 

Maddie is friends with the nicest, most popular girl in her class, Peggy. She knows that Peggy would never do anything wrong, so when Peggy wants her to have fun with Wanda, she doesn't think anything of it. That is, until she starts to wonder if having fun with Wanda is really making fun of Wanda. But Wanda, the poorest girl in school, shouldn't lie and say she has 100 dresses in her closet! After all, Maddie has only ever seen her wear one dress, every single day of school. 

Teacher's Notes: 

A+! Maddie is scared to stand up to the unintentional bullying, but she realizes that her cowardice is even worse! By the time she decides to do the right thing, though, it may be too late.

Perfect as a read aloud or for whole group instruction, this short tale crafts a powerful message about bullying. It addresses the issue of not thinking about how words can hurt others, as well as learning to voice an unpopular opinion in order to do what is right. 

If I could choose, EVERY 5th grade student would have to read this book!

Overall: 10/10

How I Got the Book: Purchased for Classroom

Suggested Interests: Fiction, Realistic Fiction