The Hundred Dresses (1944)

Interest Level: Lower Grades (LG K-3)

Ok, so the story's about kid-bullying and shaming poor children, and about being a kid and becoming aware of this behavior. I'm not sure I liked the message, though, because while Maddie seemed to learn something and grow up a little bit from it, it's not at all clear that Peggy did. And both girls just kind of side stepped ever actually apologizing or even talking about things directly and somehow in the end they just made it all ok in their minds because there was a note and Magda drew their portraits in the dresses -- which feels like the whole thing was about Maddie and Peggy and the important question was whether Magda liked them after all -- and that isn't really the sort of message I'd want to send on to kids. Somehow the peripheral nature of Magda never seems at all resolved to me, and I didn't love that. I like clearer plot lines, clearer messages for resolving damaging behavior or circumstances. ( )

"Sensitive, intuitive, restrained . . . will take its place with the books that endure."--Saturday Review "Written with rare intuition and pictured with warm sympathy and charm."--The Horn Book "No young person . . . will ever forget it."

This is a great book that talks about bullying, and opening the floor for discussion about the topic among middle schoolers. This book can be a great addition to a library corner in the classroom. Because it can be related to so many of children that may come from poverty, and just like in the story do not have alot of clothes or other things. ( )

Nine-year old Alec Greven turns the tables on matters of the heart with his unique advice on how to talk to girls. Based on his sharp observations during recess, class, and his own personal experience, Greven gives tips on everything from overcoming shyness to getting a girl's affection.