You Are Special

By Lucado, Max

Themes flagged by parents·4

Cultural Representation

  • White

    This book contains predominantly White people and/or the main character is White.

Protagonist Gender

  • Male Protagonist

    The leading character in this book is male.

Religion

  • Christian

    This book contains Christian ideology and/or Christian activists.

  • Religion

    This book contains religious themes.

Synopsis

Every day the small wooden people called Wemmicks do the same thing: stick either gold stars or gray dots on one another. The pretty ones—those with smooth wood and fine paint—always get stars. The talented ones do, too. Others, though, who can do little or who have chipped paint, get ugly gray dots. Like Punchinello.

In this heartwarming children's tale from the best-selling pen of author Max Lucado, Eli the woodcarver helps Punchinello understand how special he is—no matter what other Wemmicks may think. It's a vital message for children everywhere: that regardless of how the world evaluates them, God cherishes each of them, just as they are.

This tale originally appeared within one of the chapters in the award-winning children's bestseller Tell Me the Secrets.

Details

Illustrator
Sergio Martinez
Publisher
Crossway Books
ISBN-10
9780891079316
ISBN-13
9780891079316
Reading age
3 – 7
Grade level
Pre-kindergarten – 2
Pages
31
Published
1997
Added to shelf
May 8, 2026