First written in 1944, Eleanor Estes' book The Hundred Dresses hasn't lost a bit of its charm over time.  The video-game playing, TV - watching, screen - loving monster that is my 7 year old completely empathized with the main character, Wanda who is different from everyone else in both her school and in her neighborhood.  She is bullied because of her name, her clothing, how she talks and how often she doesn't talk.  Estes paints a picture of a girl whom everyone has known at some point.  The book ends with an unexpected twist - it's not the same old 'underdog wins, happy ending.'  (Plus Wanda uses art to relate to the world around her, which I love).  If Wanda had been a student in my classroom, she would have inspired me to think outside the box, to wake up and start every day anew, to smile at the sunshine.  She's been captured beautifully on these pages.

A great read aloud for 1st graders and 8th graders alike.  

IRL 3.3

4.5 out of 5 stars