From: MADGE H KLAIS <mhklais>
Date: Thu, 25 May 2006 22:01:43 -0500

I, too, find this topic irresistible... I can't recall any books that changed my life, but there are loads of them that shaped my life. Many of those books have already been discussed, but I don't think that anyone has mentioned the stories of Eleanor Estes. I was very fond of her Moffats series, probably because I found the domestic adventures of that family to be amusing and comforting. But the Estes book that sticks with me the most is THE HUNDRED DRESSES. One wintry afternoon when I was in sixth grade, I brought The Hundred Dresses home from my school library. I curled up on our living room floor in front of the warm air duct, and I didn't get up until I'd finished the book. This tale of dear Wanda Petronski, who is tormented by her classmates because she wears the same dress day after day, brought tears to my eyes. It also made me squirm, and I like to imagine that it made me a more compassionate kid. Thanks to everyone for the fascinating messages that have triggered many happy reading memories. Madge

Madge Hildebrandt Klais Assistant Professor University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Library and Information Studies 4261 Helen C. White Hall 600 N. Park St. Madison, WI 53706-1474 608/263-2943 FAX: 608/263-4849 E-mail: mhklais at wisc.edu
Received on Thu 25 May 2006 10:01:43 PM CDT