Wanda wears the same blue dress every day, yet claims she has 100 dresses in her closet. Despite incessant teasing from her schoolmate Peggy, Wanda maintains the claim. Maddie has a nagging feeling about the treatment of Wanda, but says nothing. When Wanda doesn’t show up to school and the truth of her hundred dresses is revealed, Maddie makes a vow to never “stand by and say nothing” again. The Hundred Dresses has been awarded the Newbery Honor. The inspiration for "The Hundred Dresses" came from a real life experience Eleanor Estes had as a child. She felt terrible for not supporting the girl whom Wanda is based upon, so she wrote a story to encourage standing up for one another and kindness. Some of the activities in this unit are learning about the country of Poland, sending a letter to a friend, and creating a Venn Diagram.

Note: This Chapter Book Study has lesson plans for one week, but the book is intended to be read over a longer period.