You Are Special

Wemmicksville #1

by Max Lucado

Max was interested in helping children understand their value - not from the world's perspective, but from God's. Wemmicksville is a land created by Eli, the "God" figure of the story. He creates each Wemmick in Wemmicksville uniquely, each with its own look and personality. Each story and video is a new adventure with the citizens of Wemmicksville. Punchinello is the central character, along with his friends Lucia, Splint, and Chip. When Punchinello strays from Eli, he begins to have problems. Only when Punchinello stays close to Eli does he clearly see how to walk through his life in Wemmicksville.

In this heartwarming tale, Eli helps Punchinello understand how special he is-no matter what other Wemmicks may think. Children will learn a vital lesson-regardless of how the world sees them, God loves each of them just as they are.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Christian, Fiction, Religion, Inspirational, Christian Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

With more than 130 million products in print and several NYT bestsellers, Max Lucado is America's bestselling inspirational author. He serves the Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, where he lives with his wife, Denalyn, and their mischievous mutt, Andy. His next book is publishing August 2018 and is titled Unshakable Hope.

https://www.facebook.com/maxlucado/

https://twitter.com/maxlucado

https://www.instagram.com/maxlucado/

Reviews

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my high school teachers gave this to me when she was leaving to go to another high school. I was the girl who always was quiet so I had a teacher or two tell me that I wasn't going to get very far. But there were a few in the 11th and 12th grade who convinced me that I was more than my shyness. This book reminds me of that time and how far I've gotten since then from only saying 1 word a year to not being afraid of strangers. It always convinces me again that I am special. And on a plus note I really liked the drawings.

[Jo-Anne Puggioni · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first time I read this book I cried. I was 26 years old and found this children's book on the shelf at my friend's house. I opened it and read it and found myself within the pages of the book.

You Are Special is the story of wooden people called the Wemmicks. Everyday the Wemmicks would give shiny stars to the Wemmicks that did amazing things and gave black dots to Wemimicks that did things wrong.

One particular Wemmick, Punchinello kept getting dots put on him, as he was a little clumsy. One day Punchinello met a Wemmick who had no stars or dots on her, and he becomes friends with her. She takes Punchinello to the woodcarver who tells him how special he is - and is not determined on the stars and dots or how he performs or fails.

This story made me realise how much weight I put on other people's opinions of me. I constantly performed for the stars and felt so down when someone gave me a dot. I think most of us do. Sometimes I still find myself performing for the stars and trying to avoid the dots. This book showed me that other people's opinions do not determine how special I am - what God thinks of me does. And He thinks I'm so special just the way I am. I love reading this book to my boys.

http://www.princesswarriorlessons.com...

[Whitney Atkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

very few books have survived from my childhood that i continue to own today, and this one is one of them. it lives in the same vicinity as narnia as far as being a fictional book with christian metaphoric undertones, but--like narnia--it still carries so much impact for me regardless. i remember being read this book in class and to this day it fills me with warm fuzzies to remember it. it's like a cup of hot chocolate, just cozy and nostalgic.

[Dhanaraj Rajan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A small book with a 'simple' message....

Lessons Learnt:

1. Let not the opinions of others make you a prisoner. You are special.

2. Do not judge the other. Each one is special.

3. Value yourself and the others just for what you and they are.

[Soheil Khorsand · Rating 5 out of 5]

گفتار اندر معرفیِ کتاب
تو بی نظیری، عنوانِ ترجمه‌ی فارسیِ کتابِ نخست از سری داستانِ «شهرِ ومکی‌ها» است.
این سری داستانی به قلمِ آقای «مکس لوکیدو» نویسنده و کشیشِ امریکایی و تصویرگریِ آقای «سرجیو مارتینز» برای سنینِ کودک و نوجوان نوشته و طراحی شده اما از آن دسته از کتاب‌هایی‌ست که بزرگسالان نیز می‌توانند هنگامِ خواندنِ آن اوقاتِ خوش و لذت‌بخشی را تجربه کنند.

گفتار اندر محتوای کتاب
همانطور که در بالا عرض کردم نویسنده‌ی کتاب یک کشیش است و حداقل در اولین کتاب از این سری داستانی که خواندم، پندِ اصلیِ کتاب که «اهمیت ندادن به حرف‌های مردم» هست را در قالبی بیان کرد که خواننده‌ی هدف که برای نویسنده گروهِ کودک و نوجوان است ضمنِ گرفتنِ پند از داستان به گونه‌ای با خدا نیز نزدیک شوند.

ماجراهای این سری داستانی در شهرِ ومکی‌ها رخ می‌دهد که نامِ سری داستانی نیز می‌باشد. در این شهر نجاری به نامِ «ایلای» به ساختِ عروسک‌های چوبی می‌پردازد که این عروسک‌های چوبی که در جامعه ومکی شمرده می‌شوند و هر کدام برای خود نامی نیز دارند در این شهر زندگی می‌کنند.
در این کتاب که عنوانِ نخستِ این سری داستانی‌ست یک ومکی به نامِ «پانچلو» شخصیتِ اولِ کتاب است. در این کتاب می‌خوانیم که ومکی‌ها در سطح شهر هیچ کاری ندارند جز قضاوت‌ِ همدیگر آن‌هم به این شکل که در سطحِ شهر می چرخند و به هر ومکی که زیباست و از چوبِ صاف و زیبایی ساخته شده یک مدالِ ستاره می‌چسبانند و به هر ومکی که زشت است و با چوبِ پوسیده ساخته شده یک مدالِ دایره می‌دهند و دست بر قضا، پانچلوی داستانِ ما از چوبِ خوبی ساخته نشده و قیافه‌ی جذابی نیز ندارد و هر روز موردِ‌ قضاوتِ سایرین قرار می گیرد و یک دایره روی بدنش چسبانده می‌شود و هر کاری هم که می‌کند نظرِ سایرین را عوض کند باز هم منجر به گرفتنِ‌ یک دایره‌ی دیگر می‌شود، تا اینکه روزی با یک ومکی به نامِ «لوسیا» آشنا می‌شود که نه ستاره‌ای بر بدنش چسبیده و نه دایره‌ای و او از کنجکاوی به سراغِ او می‌رود تا از رازِ او با خبر شود تا اینکه.... .

نویسنده خدا را در کتاب در نقشِ ایلای (مردِ نجار) و مخلوق را در نقشِ «ومکی‌ها» توصیف کرده و اهمیتِ توجه نکردن به قضاوت‌های بی‌معنی و بی‌جای دیگران را که می‌تواند تاثیرِ روحی و روانیِ زیادی روی انسان‌ها بگذارد را به زیباترین شکلِ ممکن در قالبِ یک داستانِ زیبا بیان می‌کند.

کارنامه
از نظرِ من متن و تصویرگریِ داستان بسیار زیبا، خلاقانه و حرفه‌ای بود و ۵ستاره برای این کتابِ دوست داشتنی منظور می‌کنم و خواندنِ آن‌را به دوستانم نیز پیشنهاد می‌کنم.

دانلود نامه
فایلِ پی‌دی‌اف کتاب را ساخته و در کانالِ تلگرام آپلود نموده‌ام، در صورت نیاز می‌توانید آن‌را از لینکِ زیر دانلود نمایید:
https://t.me/reviewsbysoheil/211

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is on the coffee table in my therapy office. In my work with children, I frequently have parents read to their children books that will enhance self-esteem. This is one that does it through a spiritual message, emphasizing that we are special because of how our Maker sees us, rather than because of self-generated esteem or the esteem of others. In fact, it suggests that greater self-esteem comes when we let neither the criticisms nor the compliments of others stick, and instead look to our creator for our perspective on our worth. In my personal philosophy, I deemphasize the notion of "self-esteem" and instead prefer what I call "Christ-esteem"--having a sense of self-worth that is based on how the Savior sees us. I appreciate Lucado's story for teaching this message.

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book still makes me cry, even though I have read it a million times. Whenever I feel alone or distant from God or unworthy to be called his child, this is the book I turn to. I don't know how many copies of this book I have given away as presents, none to children.

[Pouria · Rating 4 out of 5]

تو بی نظیری (You Are Special)/ نویسنده: مکس لوکیدو/ تصویرگر: سرجیو مارتینز/ مترجم: دکتر لیلا کاشانی وحید/ انتشارات مهرسا/ 30 صفحه/ چاپ سوم/ تاریخ اتمام کتاب: سه شنبه 4 اردیبهشت 1397/ / امتیازم به کتاب از پنج: 3.5
کتابی به زبان ساده، به ظاهر فقط برای کودکان اما برای بزرگسالان هم مناسب است و گاه ما بزرگسالان واقعا نیازِ به خواندنِ این گونه کتاب ها داریم چرا که حقایق زندگی را به روشی بسیار لطیف تر از خودِ زندگی بیان می کنند. کتاب کاملا نمادین نوشته شده، آدمک های چوبی (که در این داستان وِمی کی نامیده شده اند) که یک سازنده دارند که انسان است و در شهر آن ها فقط کسانی که زیبا یا باهوش هستند یا مهارت های مختلف دارند محبوب دیگران واقع می شوند و از جانب بقیه ستاره به عنوان تایید دریافت می کنند. بقیه که این خصوصیات را ندارند، از جانب بقیه دایره به نشانه ی عدم تایید دریافت می کنند. یکی از آدمک های این داستان، اصلا محبوب نیست و همیشه دایره دریافت کرده است با اینکه آدمک خوبی است. یک روز بر حسب یک اتفاق آدمکی دیگر را می بیند که هیچ برچسبی ندارد... نه ستاره نه دایره. این دیدار منجر به این تصمیم در او می شود که به دیدار خالقِ خود یعنی انسانی که او را خلق کرده است برود. حرف های زیبایی از جانب خالقش به او گفته می شود.
یکی از دیالوگ های زیبایِ داستان:
"پانجلو (آدمک چوبی): واقعا نمی خواستم اینطور شود، ایلای. من تمام تلاشم را کردم
ایلای (خالق): عزیزم، مجبور نیستی در برابر من از خودت دفاع کنی! برای من مهم نیست که وِمی کی های دیگر چه فکری می کنند.
پانجلو: شما اهمیت نمی دهید؟
ایلای: نه، تو هم نباید اهمیت بدی، آن ها کی هستند که بخواهند به تو ستاره و دایره بدهند؟ آن ها وِمی کی هایی شبیه خودت هستند. قضاوت آن ها هیچ اهمیتی ندارد پانجلو. مهم این است که من چگونه فکر می کنم و به نظر من تو خیلی ویژه، بی نظیر و مهم هستی."
در طول زندگیمان انسان هایی را می بینیم که به حدی اسیر قضاوت دیگران در مورد خودشان هستند که اصلا زندگی نمی کنند... انسان هایی که جرات نمی کنند خودشان باشند چرا که از عدم تایید شدن توسط دیگران می ترسند. آن ها علایق خود را دنبال نمی کنند، لباس مد نظر خود را نمی پوشند، بسیاری از جاها نمی روند، دوستی هایی را تجربه نمی کنند و بسیار زیاد است مثال های این چنینی از آدم هایی که خودشان نیستند و روز به روز درد از خودبیگانگی درونشان بیشتر می شود و از خود دورتر می شوند تا زمانی که تبدیل به چیزی می شوند که خود نیز، خود را نمی شناسند. این کتاب می گوید که هیچ اهمیتی ندارد که دیگران چه فکری می کنند وقتی که اعمال ما مورد تایید خالق ماست و خالق ما حداقل از نظر من سخت گیر نیست... همین که آزارمان به دیگران نرسد و به اصول انسانی وفادار باشیم از ما راضیست. به یاد نقل قولی از مارلون براندو افتادم که می گوید: تنها از یک نفر نمی‌توان سبقت گرفت:از آن کسی که به راه خودش می‌رود.
Oscar Wilde — 'Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.'

[Mahdiye Fateh · Rating 5 out of 5]

ما بی چشم برهم‌زدنی میخکوب صندلی‌هامان شدیم تا کتاب تمام شود؛ من و بچه‌ها. همه‌ی بیست‌و‌یکیمان. و همه‌ی روزهای بعد از آن بارها به کتاب فکر کرده‌ام و...(خب اشکم آمده!)
شاید این کتاب برای سالهای اول دبستان، کمی ثقیل به نظر برسد. اما قول میدهم اگر آن را در زمان مناسبی خودتان برایشان بخوانید و لحن مناسب به آن بدهید و پیش‌زمینه‌های آن را به کودک بدهید(خیلی کتابها برای کودکان نیاز به ایجاد پیش‌زمینه دارند؛ از روزها قبل)، بچه‌ها خوشایندترین حس را از کتاب خواهند داشت.
کتاب، ترجمه‌ی «منا خاطری» نازنین است و سال ۸۹ نشر «من و کیمیا»-واحد کودک و نوجوان نشر نواندیش- آن را منتشر کرده. عنوان ترجمه شده‌ی کتاب هست: تو برای من بهترینی
گویا دیگر چاپ نمیشود...

[Aliyeh Ansarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

کوتاه جذاب خواندنی و پر محتوا
مناسب برای تمامی سنین

[✨faith✨trust✨pixiedust✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just read this 4 times for my 1 year old nephew so don't judge me for using this towards my reading challenge

[Faith Spinks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Max Lucado's story 'You are Special' is a written as a children's book but it is one of those books which isn't only appealing to children. The message of the story can speak to both adults and children alike and is definitely one of my favourites.

The Wemmicks are small wooden people who every day give each other stickers. The good looking or talented Wemmicks receive gold stars while those whose wood is rough or chipped or who can't do much get grey dots. Punchinello always tried to get gold stars but always seemed to fall and mess up and ended up covered in dots. When he meets Lucia he is amazed that she has no stars or dots on her. She introduces him to Eli the maker and he begins to realise that things could be different for him.

Beautiful in it's simplicity and message. Looking forward to introducing this one to my nephews as well.

[Elmira Shahan · Rating 4 out of 5]

یک داستان خیلی کوتاه و زیبا برای ۷ تا ۷۷ ساله ها درباره ی قضاوت!
•••
پانچلو ناباورانه خندید و گفت: ”من برای شما مهم هستم؟ چرا؟ من که نمی توانم تند بدوم و بپرم، رنگ های بدنم پوسته پوسته شده اند و زیبا نیستند. چرا من برای شما مهم هستم؟”
ایلای به پانچلو نگاه کرد، دستش را روی شانه های چوبی او گذاشت و آهسته گفت: ”تو برای من مهم هستی، زیرا مال منی.” تا آن زمان هیچ کس این گونه با مهربانی و عشق به پانچلو نگاه نکرده بود...

[Fateme H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

از متن کتاب:
پانچلو گفت: چرا برچسب‌ها به او نمی‌چسبند؟
نجار به آرامی پاسخ داد: چون او تصمیم گرفته است که فقط به نظر من درباره‌ی خودش اهمیت بدهد و نظر من برایش مهم‌تر از دیگران باشد. برچسب‌ها فقط وقتی به تو می‌چسبند که به آن‌ها اهمیت بدهی. هرچه بیشتر به عشق من اعتماد کنی، کم‌تر به برچسب‌ها اهمیت خواهی داد.

[Andrea Warner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the object lessons in this book. We use them all the time.

If my bright child comes home from school and says, "Mom, John says I'm an idiot." I say, "Well, are you an idiot?" He'll smile & say "no". Then I'll remind him that the 'dots only stick if you let them'.

Also, whenever people ask who my hero is, I tell them Lucia. I know she's fictional, but I want to be just like her and not let the dots nor the stars stick!

Kid's books are so much fun. :)

[Chadi Raheb · Rating 1 out of 5]

نویسنده در یه تم‌ به شدت مذهبی سعی می‌کرد در قالب کج و کوله به خیال خودش روان‌شناسانه بهت بفهمونه که یه خالق مهربون و گوگولی وجود داره.
(خدای موسی هم لابد من بودم 🙄)
سعی کردم بیشتر از نقاشیا لذت ببرم اما متاسفانه آخراش اون تم به نقاشیا هم نفوذ کرد :/
کتاب مسمومی بود برای ذهن آدم کوچولوها

[Ronyell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now, I will admit that when I saw little wooden puppets on the cover of this book, I was truly intrigued, since I enjoy reading books that deal with puppets in general (whether the puppets are cute or horrifying). “You Are Special” is a truly unique children’s book written by Max Lucado along with illustrations by Sergio Martinez that many children and adults will enjoy for the heartwarming message about being yourself.

Once upon a time, there was a little village where wooden people called the Wemmicks lived at and they were all created by a wood worker named Eli. One of the main activities that the Wemmicks participated in was putting on golden stars and gray dots on each other. The gold stars would represent how much talent that person would have, such as having smooth wood and fine paint on their bodies and being able to do spectacular tricks such as knowing big words and jumping over tall boxes. The gray dots would represent the less attractive side of each person, such as if their wood and paint is not pretty or if they cannot do any kind of spectacular stunts, then they are awarded a gray dot. One unfortunate wooden person named Punchinello was the one who was always getting gray dots due to him not being able to do any fantastic stunts and not having smooth wood and fine paint on himself. Punchinello was so upset about all this that he decided not to go out into the village for fear of being given a gray dot for no reason at all. One day, however Punchinello meets a wooden girl named Lucia who does not have any stars or dots on herself and when Punchinello wanted to know about why Lucia does not have any dots or stars on her, Lucia tells him that he should go see Eli.

What will Eli tell Punchinello?

Read this book to find out!

Now, when I saw the “10th Anniversary” golden badge on this book, I was wondering to myself about how come this book has such a badge on the cover, as books that usually have an anniversary badge on their cover would have to be pretty well known in the reading community. As it turns out, this book was pretty popular back in the late 1990s, it is just that I have not read this book until just recently and I honestly did enjoy the cute message of this book! Max Lucado’s writing is truly heartwarming and creative and I loved the fact that the main characters were little wooden people who all resemble the puppet characters from “Pinocchio” (heck, the main character Punchinello is similar to Pinocchio) since I always loved stories that involved puppets. I felt that having the main characters as wooden people really gave the book a creative flair that really made this book stand out from the other children’s books I had read. I also loved the way that Max Lucado presented the message of being happy with who you are no matter what other people say as Punchinello is mistreated by the other Wemmicks because of the fact that he keeps getting so many gray dots on his body. It was interesting seeing the parallels of prejudice in this book as the Wemmicks judge others by the amount of stars and dots they have on their bodies and it’s similar to how people in real life judge a person based on their accomplishments rather than who they truly are. Sergio Martinez’s artworks is truly beautiful to look at as the Wemmick population looks extremely creative since they are drawn as wooden people and yet they act like and move like human beings. I also loved how gorgeous the landscape looks as the Wemmick village truly stands out in this book as it looks like an old fashioned village from the Renaissance era and yet, it is unique due to the wooden people occupying the village.



The reason why I gave this book a four star rating was because even though I loved the message of this book, I felt that the book was a bit too slow in some parts and that sort of slowed down the story for me.

Overall, “You Are Special” is a great book for children who want to learn about the importance of being yourself and to remember that there are people that care about you, no matter what anyone else thinks. I would recommend this book to children ages five and up since there is nothing inappropriate in this book.

Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog

[Gerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about the Wemmicks, who are small wooden people carved by a woodworker named Eli. Every Wemmick is different, some have big noses, others have large eyes, some are tall, others are short, some wear hats, others wear coats. But all Wemmicks are made by the same carver and all live in the same village.

And while in that village the Wemmicks wander around and stick stars or dots on one another. The stars are stuck on the Wemmicks with smooth wood and fine paint, the dots are stuck on those where the wood is rough or the paint is chipped. Stars are also awarded to the talented Wemmicks while those less talented are awarded dots.

Punchinello is unfortunate that he is one of the less talented Wemmicks and things he does often go wrong, so he constantly has dots stuck on him. 'He's not a good wooden person,' the others would say and it ends up with him thinking of himself, 'I'm not a good Wemmick.'

One day Punchinello meets Lucia, a Wemmick unlike the others for she has no stars and no dots on her at all. It isn't that the others do not try to give her stickers, it is simply that the stickers do not stick, be they stars or dots. Punchinello thinks, 'This is the way I want to be.' So he asks Lucia how she achieves her sticker-less state.

'Every day I go to see Eli,' says Lucia. Punchinellos asks what different that makes so she tells him to go and see Eli. After thinking it over, he decides to do so. But he is overawed when he arrives at the workshop so he decides to make a discreet exit. However, he is unable to do so because as he is about to leave his name is called and he discovers, to his surprise, that the woodworker knows him. 'Of course I do,' says Eli, 'I made you.'

Eli cannot help noticing that Punchinello has plenty of dots stuck on him and the latter tries to explain it by saying that he has really tried hard and cannot help it. Eli tells him that he does not have to defend himself and that he should not care what the other Wemmicks think for he, Punchinello, is very special.

Punchinello queries this and Eli tells him that he is special because 'You are mine. That's why you matter to me.' Punchinello had not had anyone, especially his maker, say anything like this to him and he doesn't know what to say. So Eli tells him that Lucia has already told him about the situation and that to be like her he must not let the stickers stick to him as they will only do so if he lets them.

Eli goes on to say, 'The stickers only stick if they matter to you. The more you trust my love, the less you care about their stickers.' Punchinello is once again bemused so Eli tells him that he should visit his maker every day and he will remind him how much he loves him and that will help him to disregard the stickers that the other Wemmicks attempt to put on him.

Punchinello leaves contemplating, 'I think he really means it' at which point a dot fell to the ground. And so we can imagine that, in this parody of life, Punchinello visits regularly, believes in what Eli tells him and rids himself of all dots and is thereafter a match for Lucia - a Wemmick without any stickers!

[Katherine Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this story means more to me now than when I was younger. As I was reading, I could see myself as Punchinello. And it was like God's voice speaking to me on the page, saying that I mattered to Him.

All I can say is that this story geniusly (if that's even a word😂) depicts the importance of believing ONLY what God says about us! It's so creative with the wooden people and the stickers. And I really love how the stickers were used to represent what people say or think about us. The message and theme in this story are ones that I think we all need in our lives. And the ending was JUST BEAUTIFUL!!! *sniffs* Y'all, I TOTALLY recommend you read this for yourselves if you haven't already!

[Jacob Seger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently read a quote from C.S. Lewis, where he mentioned, “no book is really worth reading at the age of ten which is not equally — and often far more— worth reading at the age of fifty and beyond.”

I may have first read this when a bit younger than 10, and I may be only 20, but this book affirms said quote.

I’ve mentioned before, but there is something beautiful about children’s books. In this one, there truly is a beautiful childlikeness that I am certain Jesus would smile upon. The simple dependence of the characters on Eli is quite truly how me must come to the Father, to the feet of Jesus— each day, trusting that he will fully restore and heal us in time, as we come to be with Him. It’s simple dependency. We come to the Lord and, as a child, sit at his feet. We sit with him, enjoy His presence as He enjoys ours, and allow the beautiful Spirit of the Lord to do His fruitful renewing work.

When we come to Abba, our Father, and set our eyes on Him, He is so pleased to take off our spots and dots and cares of the world. Why? He loves us, so much. He loves us and know that He alone is what we need and should trust in; what He says about us is the truth of our identity. We are our Father’s children, sons and daughters of the living God— that alone is our identity (and we get to spread that Truth to the world!!) As He teaches us that, day in and day out, we get to know Him more and more, and we simply fall more and more in love with Him. As He daily rewrites our identity to what he says about us, this book makes a sweet point: as children of the Maker, we are special.

Come ON don’t tell me childlikeness isn’t underrated! As someone who doesn’t even laugh very often, following Jesus’ commands to be like a child have been nothing short of incredibly rewarding.

[Maleigha · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You Are Special" continues to be one of my favorite books. The main idea of the story is to show children that they are wonderful, special individuals... regardless of how the world evaluates them; which relates to the idea of everybody being different. The main character, Punchinello, is not as pretty, smart, or talented as the others in his community, yet in the end he discovers that what others think does not matter. In this Religion genre text Eli, the woodcarver, represents the creator of man and teaches Punchinello that He loves him because of his differences.
If I were to use this book in my classroom I would present it in a way that exemplifies the topic of individualism, rather than Religion. I believe it is a fabulous lesson on judgement for children of all ages. I also believe that students of elementary ages can relate and interact with the story because of the stickers, or dots, the Wemmicks are given for their appearance. Students today are praised and assessed with stickers also.
Max Lucado, the author, portrays his Religion through every piece of literature he writes, making him one of Christianity's most popular authors. In this specific story, Lucado connects the message of individualism to being a 'son of God' exceptionally well. The story of Punchinello imitates the idea that God loves us even though we make mistakes and have flaws!

[Aurimas Gudas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pamokantis antipatyčinis pasakojimas ne tik vaikams.

„– Lipdukai pasilieka tik tada, jai jie tau svarbūs. Kuo daugiau tu pasitikėsi mano meile, tuo mažiau tau rūpės lipdukai.“ Kuo labiau tikime Dievo meile, tuo mažiau esame paveikūs žmonių nuomonei apie mus.

[Amy Bruestle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Bower gave this book to me, when I was in 4th grade. Cute.

[Bianca Sy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this because the psychologist accidentally left it on the podium. When I saw this book, I did not hesitate to read it before bringing it back. And yeah... this is an awesome read.

[Joellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this to my baby boy for the first time tonight. It has a beautiful message of finding your identity in Christ. This may become a regular baby shower gift that I’ll be giving <3

[BrieAnn Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Might seem like a book for children but really it’s a book for adults.

Made me bawl as a 24-year old.

[Liepa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perskaitėm su vaikais vakare, vaikai klausė išplėtę akis, uždavė klausimų, vadinasi pasiekė tikslą pasakojimas, bet gale nusivylimas- istorija liko be pabaigos. Tik tada supratau, jog yra serija šių knygelių, ir čia tik pradžia! O istorija vertinga, mokanti išlikti savimi, mylėti save tokius, kokie esam.
Ieškosim ir kitų dalių.

[Angela Blount · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick, charmingly allegorical read with an invaluable message. The author gave young readers a good deal of reasoning credit. While there are clearly Christian principles being expressed, it isn't heavy-handed or over explained. The gist being that what others think of us--good or bad--doesn't matter unless we ALLOW it to matter to us.

I liked the softly lit, watercolor and pastel feel to the illustrations. My children were a little off-put by the exaggerated proportions of the Wemmicks, finding them a bit creepy initially. But we pressed on and they acclimated to the art style.

My one complaint would be that the story ended a bit abruptly. It would have felt more symmetrical to wrap it up with more completion in just a few pages, instead of leaving resolution largely to the imagination. (My kids did notice this, and asked if the rest of the story was in a different book.) It looks as though this book belongs to a series, so perhaps there is more satisfaction to be found in later installments.

[Sarah Mullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

my roommate read this one aloud to us tonight in the living room. and i mean, TEARS. STREAMING down my face.

[Lev · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked that it taught me something and I really liked reading it. I liked that at first all the Wemmicks were mean to Punchinello and then he saw this girl who didn't have any stars or dots and he asked how she didn't have any on her, and she said "Go up the hill and the wood maker who made you, go to him and find out." The woodcarver picked him up and said "Man! You have a lot of dots!" Punchinello thought he wasn't special, but Eli said he was special to him, even though he couldn't jump high or run fast. Then they had a conversation, and I learned that you shouldn't care about what other people think. Like in school if they say you're so weak because you can't pick up this table, it doesn't mean that I'm weak.