This book would elicit some good discussions in class, or at home with a parent. Parents and teachers could compare Wanda Petronski to Pippi Longstocking. They both wear the same dress every day and have unusual names. Why does Pippi have friends and Wanda doesn't? What would you do if you saw those girls teasing Wanda? What could Maddie have done to make Wanda feel more welcome? I believe raising a reader will greatly decrease the chances of your child growing up to be a bully. Reading improves empathy and understanding. I can't think of any video games and TV shows that activate compassion in the same way reading does.
It is crucial that we encourage children to read when they are young, so that as they grow older they can make the world a safer, kinder place. Right now there is a huge controversy over young adult literature, and whether some YA books glorify bad behavior. I wouldn't be surprised if bullying was glorified in many young adult novels, considering that being catty and mean and judgmental is rampant in other parts of youth culture. It is harder to filter influences in teenagers' lives, but I think introducing "The Hundred Dresses" to kids when they are young will help cultivate empathy and give them ideas to ponder for a long time.
