You Are Special

by Max Lucado

This is the story of the Wemmicks, the wooden people, and one in particular- Punchinello.  Wemmicks give each other stickers.  Good wemmicks get stars, bad wemmicks get dots.  Punchinello has no stars, but he does have a lot of dots.  He's not fast or smart or pretty, not outstanding in any way.  One way he meets Lucia.  No stickers stick on her, and Punchinello decides he wants to be that way too.  To figure out how, he goes to Eli, the maker of the wemmicks.  Eli tells Punchinello that he is special.  Eli promises Punchinello that he made him the way he is on purpose, and for that reason, he is loved the way he is.  As Punchinello walks out thinking that he does not understand, one dot falls to the ground.

Audience

I don't think I'd go younger than 6 on this and 8 seems ideal.  As an adult I get misty eyed at the end.

What I Love About These Books

I think they are very pertinent.  The attitudes Punchinello is overcoming through the series are very real.  The character of Eli is also powerful to me.  Every time I read one of these I get a little choked up when he reminds Punchinello of his perfect love.

Cautions

The religious themes are strong.  If you don't want to go that direction in class you could say Eli is a parent or teacher, but I grantee my third graders would pick up on Eli being like God, at least a few of them would.

Series
You Are Special

Because I Love You

Just for You
If Only I Had a Green Nose