The Hundred Dresses

It's a nice story about a little girl with 100 dresses. I chose this book to fill a prompt in the 52 Book Club Challenge 2025.

I absolutely loved this book. There is so much to think about and discuss and most importantly, a great lesson to be learned.

A great lesson to share with children. A quick and easy read for even the youngest of listeners. My five year old enjoyed it (as did I).

I bought this story for my niece because I love "The Witch Family" by the same author, Eleanor Estes. In the process, I discovered another gem! What a touching tale about acceptance and understanding. A timeless tale that discourages bullying and stereotyping. I think all young girls should read this, so that (1) girls who have been bullied will realize that they are not alone, and (2) girls who are making fun of or bullying others will recognize that they should change their behavior. The illustrations are lovely as well.

I got this book for the class but also for myself. I remember the book from elementary school and went hunting for a copy of it. It brings back so many memories. The art is precious, the moral of the story is humbling, as is the story behind the story. Hands down, great book!

I listened to this with my 11 year old on the way to an appointment out of town. We both enjoyed the story telling and the way the author portrayed each character. It was definitely a story to read with your kiddos about treating others kindly no matter their background.

This story is about Maddie, a poor girl who happens to be friends with Peggy, the most popular girl in school. Maddie is very insecure because of her poverty. When her friend Peggy begins teasing Wanda, a new girl with a funny last name who always wears the same dress to school, Maddie joins in. She knows it's wrong, but Maddie is too afraid of losing Peggy's friendship and having the girls turn on her. Then one day, the class learns that those hundred dresses Wanda claimed to have were beautiful drawings of dresses. Moved to apologize, Maddie and Peggy find that Wanda has moved away, and they learn from her father's letter to the teacher that it is because his children were being made fun of. Too late to make amends, Maddie regrets deeply her part in making Wanda unhappy, and vows never to stand by again while someone is being picked on.The moral lesson of this story is obvious. What isn't necessarily obvious from my summary is that the story is written in an incredibly moving manner. Maddie's thought processes are revealed to us, and most who are honest will be able to understand her hesitance to speak up. And, we can grieve with her as she realizes that she cannot make amends for her wrong. This is a very powerful and evocative story. I read it to my three oldest children (ages 9, 7, and 5) who were able to grasp the message and to sympathize both with Wanda and Maddie.It's 96 pages, but with large print and many illustrations (which honestly weren't my style), it's a pretty quick read. It could be read in one long sitting, but I chose to spread it out over three days to give me more time to discuss it with my children.I would highly recommend this book for any child. It's a classic that has endured for years because of its quality writing and its timeless message.

As a teacher, I recommend this book to boys and girls alike. I hold it up to the class and tell them I will read a little bit of it to them. As always, the boys say "Yuck!" or cringe. Everyone thinks this is a story about a fashion show judging by its cover. Next, I tell them it's about bullying. Then, they all stop and stare. By the time I finish reading the first chapter, and I tell them we have to go on to the next lesson, ALL of the students are begging me to continue reading! Even the boys! I do have to note, however, that there are some things in it that may need to be explained since it was written so long ago (1940's). For example, I usually have to explain about the significance of the snide remark from a student/narrator made about Wanda having mud on her shoes. She comes from the "poor side of town" where the streets aren't paved and has to walk to school everyday; there isn't a school bus to take her to school. Or explain the reason why Wanda's dress isn't properly ironed (no mother to show her how to do it). But please do NOT let that keep you from purchasing it! It is a wonderful opportunity for the students to learn about the "culture" of the times! Students are enthralled by learning about those times through these discussions and love to compare and contrast it with their lives! I noticed some reviews said it was boring but parents and teachers might have missed the opportunity to have a wonderful discussion as I mentioned above. Most importantly, we discuss how the importance of Forgiveness is mentioned in the book not just the bullying.