Age rating and parents' guide:The Hundred Dresses
by Eleanor Estes
Ages 9–11
The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes is best for children aged 9–11. It has no violence, nothing scary, no romance and no bad language. Worth knowing: Bullying theme.
Wanda Petronski is a quiet Polish girl who wears the same faded blue dress to school every day, yet insists she has one hundred beautiful dresses lined up in her closet. Her classmates tease her relentlessly, while bystander Maddie watches on with a troubled conscience. When Wanda abruptly moves away, the children are confronted with the hurt their thoughtless game caused. This gentle, poignant classic offers a timeless look at empathy, remorse, and the courage it takes to speak up for others.
Content ratings
How much of each a parent can expect, from none to strong.
- Violence
- None
- Scary moments
- None
- Romance
- None
- Bad language
- None
Worth knowing: Bullying theme
Content checked by Dhiraj Bodade, co-founder of Bookstaken, on .
At a glance
- Early chapter book
- Takes a few pages to get into
- Plenty of illustrations
- Emotionally light
Great for kids who like
- Realistic Fiction (School & Friendships)
- School life
- Friendship
Reading mood
- Character-driven
Good to talk about
- Friendship
- School life
Books like The Hundred Dresses
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