53 pages • 1 hour read
The Hundred Dresses
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Summary and Study Guide
Overview
The Hundred Dresses is a children’s book by Eleanor Estes that was originally published in 1944. It includes pen-and-ink illustrations by Louis Slobodkin. In 1945, it was awarded the Newbery Honor, and it continues to be a popular book in elementary schools. A 2004 survey of third-grade teachers found that the book was a popular choice for reading aloud in the classroom, and a 2007 survey by the National Education Association named it one of the Teachers’ Top 100 Books for Children.
This guide is based on the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt print edition.
Content Warning: Though not explicit, The Hundred Dresses does address bullying of a child partially based on her Polish identity.
Plot Summary
The Hundred Dresses is set in a small-town school in Connecticut. It is told from the perspective of Maddie, and focuses on a girl named Wanda Petronski, a Polish immigrant from a poor family. Peggy, the most popular girl in school, and her best friend Maddie wait outside in the morning for Wanda’s arrival. Peggy often teases Wanda. On this day, the girls are planning on taunting her again; however, Wanda does not show up for the third day in a row.
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