Max Lucado - You Are Special

All the books I've read from Max Lucado have been very touching. Not only do his books deal with real-life troubles that each of us face, but they are told in a way that makes them understandable and puts them into their proper perspective. He certainly has a gift of telling parables that teach eternal lessons in a simple way.

The "You Are Special" book is about a wooden person (or "Wemmicks" as they're called) named Punchinello. He lives in a community where everyone has a box with stars and stickers and find great delight in going around and labeling each other. "The pretty ones got stars. Wemmicks with rough wood or chipped paint got dots." Of course, these stars and dots are symbolic of the judgments we give to and receive from others.

Punchinello tries to do impressive things to earn stars.. but instead messes up and earns dots. Pretty soon he's covered with dots and because of the criticism of those around him, he believes that he must deserve them. He's pretty hard on himself too, feeling like he's not a good Wemmick. So he keeps to himself most of the time and when he does go outside, he hangs around other Wemmicks who have lots of dots because he feels better around them.

One day he meets a girl named Lucia who has no dots or stars. No matter how hard people try to label her with a dot or star, they just won't stick. Punchinello longed to be like that and asked her how she did it. She tells him it's because she goes to see the woodcarver, Eli, every day and that if Punchinello goes to see him, he'll find out why/how too.

Because of all the negative criticism he's received, he wonders if the wood carver would ever want to see him, but knowing that this "labeling" going on around him isn't right, he finally decides to go.

Eli, being the woodcarver, is of course the man who made all the Wemmicks. When Punchinello enters the shop the woodcarver greets him by name which shocks Punchinello who looks up and asks "You know my name?" To which Eli answers, "Of course. I made you." As the woodcarver picks up the little wooden boy and puts him on the workbench, Punchinello learns that Eli doesn't care about all the bad marks he's been given. Eli tells him that he shouldn't care about the marks either, that all that matters is what He (Eli) thinks. And He tells Punchinello how special he is "because you're mine". It didn't matter if he was talented or if his paint was peeling. He was still special to Him.

When Punchinello tells Eli about meeting Lucia, he asks why the stickers don't stick on her. Eli explains that "the stickers only stick if you let them" or if they matter to you. He explains that Lucia decided what He, her Maker, thinks is more important that what anyone else thinks of her. And that the more Punchinello learns to trust His love, the less he'll care about their stickers too

As Punchinello leaves, Eli reminds him "you are special because I made you. And I don't make mistakes." In his heart, Punchinello believes that he really means it and a dot falls to the ground.

This book is a great way of showing that the mean things people say to you don't need to stay with you. You can let them fall to the ground too.

My kids love this book. Not only because it's a sturdy board book and has beautiful illustrations, but because it reminds them that no matter what people say, it's what their Creator thinks that matters (their Heavenly Father - or for those who aren't it could represent the unconditional love of their parents).

It's also a great reminded that we shouldn't judge others, that we're all different and there's no need to compete. We don't have to "fit in" with whatever is popular and receive the recognition or praise of others to still be special and wonderful and of value. It also is a reminder that the things we say to others can have a lasting impact and how much happier and sweeter the world would be if we said kind things.

The book is available in paperback and board books and are great for little hands. I think I paid around $7.95 each board book, which some might consider expensive. But anything worth having is worth paying a price for. Plus, they're very durable.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!