The Hundred Dresses

Title: The Hundred Dresses
1945 Newbery Honor Book
Author: Eleanor Estes
Published: 1944
Plot Summary: This is the story of a poor Polish immigrant named Wanda Petronski who tells her well-off American classmates that she has 100 dresses. Wanda classmates, observing the shabby clothing that signifies poverty, deride and tease Wanda. Maddie realizes the brutality of her silence as she watched her friends tease Wanda day after day.
Main Characters: Wanda Petronski, Maddie, Peggy
Theme(s): the complicity of silence in carrying out injustices
Reader's Response: Readers will examine the process by which group identity is often formed and legitimized by marginalizing people from different backgrounds.
Teaching Idea: Discuss bullying. Have students create 2 to 3 minute short videos about bullying scenarios and how to deal with bullying.
Grade Level: 3 - 4
Reading Level (Lexile): 870

Peppe the Lamplighter

Title: Peppe the Lamplighter
1994 Caldecott Honor Book
Author/Illustrator: Elisa Bartone/ Ted Lewin
Published: 1993
Summary: The story summarizes the life of an Italian family during the early 20th century.
Memorable Quote: Please, Peppe, light the lamps. You will make me proud.”
Artistic Example: Illustrations cleverly projects the look of early 20th century. The dark background shows how important the "lamplight" is.
Teaching Idea: Have children write/draw feelings/reactions of children when first in the dark, then in the light.
Grade Level: K5 - 5
Reading Level (Lexile): 570