THE HUNDRED DRESSES by Eleanor Estes a Lesson in Empathy for the Young

Author/Illustrator Eleanor Estes (b Amer 1906-1988) was a 3 time recipient of the Newbery Honor;  the highest award allotted works of fiction for young readers.  "The Hundred Dresses" was first published in 1944 and earned Estes a Newbery Honor for her heartfelt story which teaches without preaching to be compassionate.  It also imparts to the knowledge that failing to stop cruel behavior towards others is just as hurtful & shameful.  Wanda is the girl who doesn't fit in the group because she has a funny sounding last name & wears the same dress everyday to school.  The girls in the class don't acknowledge Wanda except to taunt her.  Day after day Wanda wears the same blue dress to school & stands alone on the playground.  Thinking it fun to ridicule Wanda, Peggy taunts Wanda about her meager wardrobe.  Wanting to fit in, Wanda tells the girls she has 100 dresses in her closet.  This outlandish but determined claim becomes the butt of a game.  Peggy belittles Wanda in front of the other girls.  None of the other girls, including Peggy's friend Maddie fault the pretty & popular Peggy.  Despite Maddie's misgivings about how Wanda is either ignored or bullied, she doesn't attempt to befriend Wanda or tell Peggy to back-off.  This short story is a friendly family fable for teaching young children kindness & strength of character.  In today's world of cyber bullying & cruelty, this bedtime tale is a treasure.  I cried reading "The Giving Tree" but "The Hundred Dresses" may prevent children from causing others to cry.