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Publication
HMH Books for Young Readers (2004), Edition: 1-Simul, 96 pages
Description
At the heart of the story is Wanda Petronski, a Polish girl in a Connecticut school who is ridiculed by her classmates for wearing the same faded blue dress every day. Wanda claims she has one hundred dresses at home, but everyone knows she doesn?t and bullies her mercilessly. The class feels terrible when Wanda is pulled out of the school, but by that time it?s too late for apologies. Maddie, one of Wanda?s classmates, ultimately decides that she is "never going to stand by and say nothing again."
Local notes
0000-0561-3834
User reviews
LibraryThing member Whisper1
Many thanks to AMQS (Anne) for recommending this incredible book.
This 1945 Newbery honor publication packs a powerful message in a mere 81 pages. Perfectly written and illustrated, there was no need for the author to continue; she was able to send a clear, strong, effective message without
Written in 1944, as Europe was reeling from the awful horror of mans inhumanity to man, Eleanor Estes wrote a heart-wrenching book of the evil pursuit and bullying of a small, poor, Polish American immigrant child.
Motherless, quiet, shy Wanda Petronski lived with her father and brother in a shabby, but clean shack on the wrong side of the tracks of small town USA.
Wanda's foreign sounding, unfamiliar name and the fact that she wears the same blue dress to school each day made her the brunt of cruelty from nasty, insensitive classmates.
In particular two girls, Peggy who has lots and Maddie who has little, are the most cruel. Despite Maddie's unspoken concerns that as a child of poverty she too could be a recipient of insensitive remarks, still, because Peggy is popular and her friend, she participates in the unrelenting taunting.
Possessing a conscience and knowing that her behavior is wrong, Maddie remains silent in defense and vocal in hurling derisive comments at Wanda
When Wanda claims that she has 100 dresses in her closet, the girls needle even more.
Wanda fails to appear at school on the day she wins the coveted Room 13 art award, and, as her classmates watch their teacher posts beautiful drawings of 100 perfect dresses.
Too late to apologize, Maddie realizes that Wanda's father moved the family to a friendlier place. Maddie's participation in the nastiness and her silence in support of Wanda is something that haunts her.
Highly recommended!
This 1945 Newbery honor publication packs a powerful message in a mere 81 pages. Perfectly written and illustrated, there was no need for the author to continue; she was able to send a clear, strong, effective message without
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exaggerated hyperbole.Written in 1944, as Europe was reeling from the awful horror of mans inhumanity to man, Eleanor Estes wrote a heart-wrenching book of the evil pursuit and bullying of a small, poor, Polish American immigrant child.
Motherless, quiet, shy Wanda Petronski lived with her father and brother in a shabby, but clean shack on the wrong side of the tracks of small town USA.
Wanda's foreign sounding, unfamiliar name and the fact that she wears the same blue dress to school each day made her the brunt of cruelty from nasty, insensitive classmates.
In particular two girls, Peggy who has lots and Maddie who has little, are the most cruel. Despite Maddie's unspoken concerns that as a child of poverty she too could be a recipient of insensitive remarks, still, because Peggy is popular and her friend, she participates in the unrelenting taunting.
Possessing a conscience and knowing that her behavior is wrong, Maddie remains silent in defense and vocal in hurling derisive comments at Wanda
When Wanda claims that she has 100 dresses in her closet, the girls needle even more.
Wanda fails to appear at school on the day she wins the coveted Room 13 art award, and, as her classmates watch their teacher posts beautiful drawings of 100 perfect dresses.
Too late to apologize, Maddie realizes that Wanda's father moved the family to a friendlier place. Maddie's participation in the nastiness and her silence in support of Wanda is something that haunts her.
Highly recommended!
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LibraryThing member sarah-e
My first favorite book. My mom read it to me when I was little. I loved the illustrations and the story of this picked-on poor artist girl. When I grew up I forgot the story.
A professor mentioned it years ago in a composition class. I asked to borrow a copy, and the next week she brought one for me
This book has become a defining feature in my adulthood. The Hundred Dresses is more than a children's book about a girl who is poor. It is about social violence and immigration and what we do when we're under pressure. It makes my heart pound a little harder when I think about it.
A professor mentioned it years ago in a composition class. I asked to borrow a copy, and the next week she brought one for me
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to borrow. The illustrations were so instantly familiar that they took my breath away. I did not quite find the story I remembered.This book has become a defining feature in my adulthood. The Hundred Dresses is more than a children's book about a girl who is poor. It is about social violence and immigration and what we do when we're under pressure. It makes my heart pound a little harder when I think about it.
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LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50
The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes was originally published in 1944, and stands the test of time as it is still pertinent today. This children’s book, with illustrations by Louis Slobodkin tells of a young immigrant Polish girl named Wanda Petronski who arrives at school every day wearing the
One of Wanda’s classmates, Maddie, had always been uncomfortable with the teasing but felt afraid to say anything in case her classmates turned on her. Feeling bad and disappointed in herself because she didn’t support Wanda, she now vows to never stand aside and watch someone being bullied again.
This small book packs a big punch with it’s sensitively handled message about how hurtful heedless intolerance can be, and how bowing to peer pressure can lead to regrets and missed opportunities.
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same dress. She is ridiculed over this and one day she claims that she has 100 dresses at home in her closet. This statement causes Wanda to become even more of an outsider as she is constantly teased about these dresses. When the much anticipated drawing contest winner is declared to be Wanda with her entry of beautiful drawings of 100 dresses the class looks to congratulate her, but she isn’t there to accept her prize as her family has moved to the city in the hopes of fitting in there.One of Wanda’s classmates, Maddie, had always been uncomfortable with the teasing but felt afraid to say anything in case her classmates turned on her. Feeling bad and disappointed in herself because she didn’t support Wanda, she now vows to never stand aside and watch someone being bullied again.
This small book packs a big punch with it’s sensitively handled message about how hurtful heedless intolerance can be, and how bowing to peer pressure can lead to regrets and missed opportunities.
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LibraryThing member Smiler69
Everyone finds it easy to tease Wanda Petronski. First of all, that strange Polish name sounds weird. And she shows up at school wearing the same washed out blue dress every day. But what makes her the real target of jibes and taunts is that she always insists she has one hundred dresses in every
A really wonderful little book originally published in 1944, and the winner of a Newbery Honor, which was originally recommended by Linda (Whisper1). The original lovely colour illustrations by Louis Slobodkin have a light, whimsical touch. I loved the simple and touching story, and the imaginative Wanda certainly leaves her mark.
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colour all lined up in her closet at home. For Peggy, the most popular girl at school, this is more than she can resist, and every day she makes a point of asking Wanda how many dresses she has in front of everybody, just for a bit of fun. But her friend Maddie, doesn't like it. She'd like to say something to make Peggy stop, but she herself comes from a poor home, and what if Peggy turns against her too? Then one day, everyone realizes that Wanda hasn't shown up to school for a few days and they start wondering if they're at fault after all...A really wonderful little book originally published in 1944, and the winner of a Newbery Honor, which was originally recommended by Linda (Whisper1). The original lovely colour illustrations by Louis Slobodkin have a light, whimsical touch. I loved the simple and touching story, and the imaginative Wanda certainly leaves her mark.
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LibraryThing member kimbrady
"The Hundred Dresses" was first published in 1944. It tells the story of Wanda Petronski, a young Polish girl from a poor family, who is an outsider at school. She wears the same blue dress every day, but tells the girls at school that she has 100 dresses lined up in her closet at home. One girl,
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Peggy, teases her daily; to the delight of the other girls, she asks Wanda to tell them about all of her dresses and shoes. Peggy's friend Maddie feels badly about this, but never says anything. One day, Wanda isn't in class; the girls learn that her family has moved. A letter from Wanda's father shows that they have moved to escape the discrimination and teasing they have faced for being Polish immigrants. Soon after, Peggy and Maddie's teacher that Wanda has won the class coloring contest by submitting 100 drawings of beautiful dresses in all colors. She left two drawings in particular for Peggy and Maddie. The girls, especially Maddie, feel badly for teasing her, and write her a letter. Wanda later writes back to the whole class saying that she misses them. It's apparent that she bears no hard feelings. Maddie vows never again to stand by and say nothing when she sees someone being treated poorly. The theme of tolerance and bravery is evident throughout. Having been written in the 1940's, some of the language and ideas are a little dated, but the theme is still a valuable and relevant one for today's young readers. It could also provoke conversation about what similar situations kids face today. The illustrations by Louis Slobodkin are sketchy pastels that leave most of the details to the reader's imagination. This book is appropriate for upper elementary readers (probably girls), as it is about 80 pages and broken into short chapters, with illustrations on at least every other page. This is a good book for a school library, and also the nostalgic librarian's personal collection (I remember reading this when I was about 10!) Show Less
LibraryThing member ShannaThomp08
For this book I rated it a five. I rated it this because it is a book that I feel children could really relate to in terms of one of my students that might be going through some type of bulling or maybe I could reach the bullier. A personal connection that I received when reading this book was the
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fact that I was once bullied and to actually read about a young girl that went through the same thing would have gave me some hope when I was in school. The best part of the story was the fact that the little girl that had the hundred dresses still loved the girls who tormented her so and that I feel will send out a really good message to my students. I would use it in my classroom for content area instruction to teach my students about maybe word recognition because since this book is an older book some words are different from what we use today. Show Less
LibraryThing member EvelynBernard
This was the first book I read in English and it gave me a love for reading that has never left me.
Like Wanda, I was the new kid from a strange country with a funny accent. I could identify completely with the character.
The story is no longer modern but the message continues to be relevant. I
Like Wanda, I was the new kid from a strange country with a funny accent. I could identify completely with the character.
The story is no longer modern but the message continues to be relevant. I
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frequently give copies of this book as gifts and would not hesitate to recommend it! Show Less
LibraryThing member jesseann81
This is a story about a young girl named Wanda Petronski. She tells all of the girls at school that she has a hundred dresses all lined up in her closet. Yet, she wears the same blue dress to school every day. Peggy is a girl who makes fun of wanda every day. Maddie is peggy's best friend who can
I read this story to my two elementary age children. My son cried in the beginning when Wanda was being made fun of because of her appearance. It made me feel good to realize that this story really touched him and opened his eyes to the harsh side of bullying.
I am going to read this story to my third grade class. It affected my third grade son in a positive way, so I am certain that the students will have the same perspective as he had.
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relate to Wanda but is not brave enough to stand up for her when the other girls are making fun of her. The school holds a drawing contest in which Wanda wins with paintings of a hundred different dresses. She does not show up to school to learn about her win and all of the girls feel really bad and go to look for her. The same girls who used to make fun of wanda are now sad because they were unable to find her and make amends. Maddie realized that even though they picked on Wanda, two of her pictures were inspired by Peggy and Maddie.I read this story to my two elementary age children. My son cried in the beginning when Wanda was being made fun of because of her appearance. It made me feel good to realize that this story really touched him and opened his eyes to the harsh side of bullying.
I am going to read this story to my third grade class. It affected my third grade son in a positive way, so I am certain that the students will have the same perspective as he had.
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LibraryThing member Johnab1288
This story is about a young girl that comes from a non wealthy family. She is picked on by students at her school because she seems different than the others. She is also teased by two girls saying that she has one hundred dresses at home she could wear but the young girl only wear one old dress
I think this is a great story lesson to young children that are starting to realize that not everyone is the same!
1.I could have the students think about one time they were teased and write about how it made them feel.
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instead. They tease her until they learn the real story of why she only wears one dress.I think this is a great story lesson to young children that are starting to realize that not everyone is the same!
1.I could have the students think about one time they were teased and write about how it made them feel.
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LibraryThing member deltadawn
I enjoyed reading this book with my daughters. It was beautiful and sad. I could identify with the character's struggles and this book brought me back to my own school days. I remember there was always someone in each grade who was identified as the one to pick on. It is so sad that so many people
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stand by and let it happen including me...I mean Peggy. Show Less
LibraryThing member ljemanuel
this is a great book for 3rd graders and older.
LibraryThing member SarahWilmot
This is a good example of REALISTIC FICTION because it deals with experiences that are easy to relate to and compare with your own life, especially for grade school readers who understand classroom relationship dynamics. Children from any era will understand the teasing Wanda endured by popular
Theme: The explicit theme in this book is to not stand by and say nothing when someone is getting teased; silence means you side with the teaser.
Age Appropriateness: intermediate
Media: ink and wash
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Peggy and the inward struggle Maddie experienced between wanting to stay on Peggy's good side, but also feeling sorry for Wanda.Theme: The explicit theme in this book is to not stand by and say nothing when someone is getting teased; silence means you side with the teaser.
Age Appropriateness: intermediate
Media: ink and wash
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LibraryThing member rheasly
Eleanor Estes writes an honest and bittersweet story about a girl named Madeline who struggles with how she and her best friend, Peggy, treat a girl named Wanda. Wanda is teased for saying she owns one hundred dresses when she wears the same exact dress to school everyday. The teasing never sits
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well with Madeline, and she struggles to tell Peggy and she longs to set things right with Wanda. The Hundred Dresses is a wonderful book with easily relatable characters and a story that is realistic and poignant. Ages 10-14 Show Less
LibraryThing member debnance
I can remember reading this when I wasa little girl. I remember feeling sosad for Wanda, wearing her same fadedblue dress to school every day, whoboasted that she had a hundred dressesat home. I also remember the endingand loved how Wanda really did havea hundred dresses. The consolationsof the
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imagination. Show Less
LibraryThing member tshrum06
This is a pretty good example of realistic fiction. It isn't set in present day, and that is sort of obvious, but not relevant, necessarily to the plot. But the children in it are very real (the author said she took some of it from her own experiences) and students could easily see themselves
Maddie is a round, very dynamic character. We learn a lot about her- mostly through the narration, and a little from her interactions with her best friend, Peggy, and with Wanda. We learn about how she gave into peer pressure, but had good intentions and really is soft-hearted. She really changes throughout the story though. She learns an important lesson in forgiveness and realizes she should have stood up for Wanda from the beginning and that doing the right thing is important.
Age Appropriateness- Intermediate
Media- Watercolo
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meeting characters like this or knowing people like those in the story, or even identifying with the characters. Maddie is a round, very dynamic character. We learn a lot about her- mostly through the narration, and a little from her interactions with her best friend, Peggy, and with Wanda. We learn about how she gave into peer pressure, but had good intentions and really is soft-hearted. She really changes throughout the story though. She learns an important lesson in forgiveness and realizes she should have stood up for Wanda from the beginning and that doing the right thing is important.
Age Appropriateness- Intermediate
Media- Watercolo
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LibraryThing member aprilcm
This is a compelling read about girls in a school that tease the new student because of her dress. The new girl came to town wearing an old, worn dress and speaks a little differently. One day, she says she has 100 dresses and then gets teased by the most popular girl at school. The other girls at
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the school continue to tease her because of her appearance and accent. This book shows the effect of judging people and how differences in culture and taste should be embraced not ostracized. The way the story shows how the girl actually does have 100 dresses, just not the type she can wear shows how if the girls would have given her a chance, they could have appreciated her story much more. There are also some pictures in the book that are very simple, black and pink only. Show Less
LibraryThing member rvangent
This is a good example of a realistic fiction early chapter book because it is about the girls in an elementary classroom and their relationships. The girl in the story, Wanda says she has a hundred dresses at her house, but she always wears the same old blue dress, and so the other girls in her
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class make fun of her for it. It is a good example of realistic fiction because it paints a picture of human interactions that would happen in a classroom environment today and it helps the readers to empathize with others. Maddie is a round character in this book as we learn more and more about her as the story goes on through her thoughts and actions. We learn that she feels bad for Wanda and wants the girls to stop picking on her, but she is afraid that then the girls would start to pick on her instead. In the end, when she finds out Wanda moved, she felt bad and wrote Wanda a letter to let her know that she was thinking about her. The illustrations in this book could be pen and ink and watercolor. Besides the cover, all of the pictures are in black and white with hints of pink. Show Less
LibraryThing member StaceyTate
This is a book about a young girl who tells everyone she has one hundred dresses all hung up in a row in her closet. When her family moves away, some girls feel really sorry about making fun of her and send her a letter. The letter the young girls sends back in reply explains it all.
I enjoyed this
I would use this book in the class room to show children how sometimes you can hurt other people when you are just having fun. i would also use it to learn about dresses!
I enjoyed this
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book alot because it was about a girl who was just a little different. The other girls still played with her but teased her at the same time. It was a eye-opener about how you would feel if smeonw was gone.I would use this book in the class room to show children how sometimes you can hurt other people when you are just having fun. i would also use it to learn about dresses!
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LibraryThing member tmccollom
The Hundred Dresses is a book that is filled with compassion and many life lessons. Wanda wears the same old blue dress to school every day but claims that she really has 100 all lined up in her closet. The girls at school do not believe her and they continue to bully and tease her about it. It's
This book was amazing to read. The illustrations were wonderful and the messages that come from the book are very heartfelt. I think that every girl should have to read this book and maybe the hatred and gossip in little girls lives would decrease a little.
This book could be used in an art unit when you might talk about different kinds of illustrations. It is a book that could be read when you are having lots of teasing and bullying going on in your classroom. Overall, it is just a great life lesson.
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not until Wanda does not come to school one day that the girls really find out the truth. The mean girls in the story truly learn the meaning of kindness. This book was amazing to read. The illustrations were wonderful and the messages that come from the book are very heartfelt. I think that every girl should have to read this book and maybe the hatred and gossip in little girls lives would decrease a little.
This book could be used in an art unit when you might talk about different kinds of illustrations. It is a book that could be read when you are having lots of teasing and bullying going on in your classroom. Overall, it is just a great life lesson.
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LibraryThing member BrittanyLynn
This is a book about a young girl from a poor family who wears the a faded blue dress everyday, but tells everyone at school that she has one hundred dresses in her closet. She doesn't have any friends and the other children make fun of her. When her family moves away some of the girls feel really
I enjoyed this story even though it was kind of sad. It can really open your eyes about teasing and bullying.
One way that I would use this book in the classroom would be to teach children that teasing and bullying is wrong and that it really does hurt people. I would also use it to show them that it affects everyone; not just the person being teased. I might also have them make a small poster showing how they would feel if they were teased and also what they can do to help others who might be getting teased or if they feel that way. They could also include what they can do to make a difference.
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sorry about making fun of her and send her a letter. The letter the young girls sends back in reply explains it all.I enjoyed this story even though it was kind of sad. It can really open your eyes about teasing and bullying.
One way that I would use this book in the classroom would be to teach children that teasing and bullying is wrong and that it really does hurt people. I would also use it to show them that it affects everyone; not just the person being teased. I might also have them make a small poster showing how they would feel if they were teased and also what they can do to help others who might be getting teased or if they feel that way. They could also include what they can do to make a difference.
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LibraryThing member Treeseed
This sensitive story was written in 1944 and due to "human nature" things haven't changed one iota since then. It is the tale of one poor immigrant girl's way of coping with her poverty and the constant teasing she gets from other little girls at her school. The other girls are very materialistic
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and judge others by their clothing. It's not a pretty picture. The story is thoughtful and doesn't make the in-crowd clique of girls seem awful, only immature and insensitive. One of the girls even feels pretty bad about the teasing and harassing of the little Polish girl, but she doesn't come forward because she doesn't want to lose her own social standing. What I love about this book the most is that it is a wonderful opportunity for adults to talk with children about the insidious damage caused by teasing and singling others out. Let's face it most adults haven't really grown out of that way of behaving. Keep your ears open in a corporate lunch room some time. If we hope to make this a better world we need more books like this one and we need to actively teach our kids a better more loving way of being. We also need to help them stand up for their own gut-feelings of right and wrong instead of teaching them to go along with the status quo as we so often do by our own examples. The simple, straight-forward text and the beautiful, evocative yet simple illustrations make this story accessible and unforgettable. It can help you bring up an important topic and discuss it with your children. I recommend it for every parent and every teacher. Show Less
LibraryThing member kshielee
This book is set in a specific location around the 1940s. There are many details that lean towards this time because of the technology used in the book and the way that the teaching works in the classroom. The location is fairly nondescript which aids the book in being a meaningful story for
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everyone, despite where you live. The story seems very realistic and could have happened in the past, and with a few modifications with technology, could be happening in the present. Show Less
LibraryThing member mchristman
This is a good example of realistic fiction because the reader can connect to it and an it is something that often happens. Maddie and Peggy think they are just playing a game, but they come to realize that they could have really hurt Wanda.
Age Appropriateness: Intermediate
Age Appropriateness: Intermediate
LibraryThing member MerryMary
A sweet tale of friendship, and the withholding of friendship. A bit predictable to my grownup self, but not to the child I was when I first read it.
LibraryThing member SylviaSmile
Great, character-building tale about prejudice and bullying--yet artfully done, with gorgeous watercolor illustrations by Louis Slobodkin. I would recommend it to ages 8-11.
Subjects
Awards
Newbery Medal (Honor Book — 1945)
Read Aloud Indiana Book Award (Primary — 1998)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1944
Physical description
8.38 inches
ISBN
0152052607 / 9780152052607
Similar in this library
Lexile
870L