Too often, people underestimate the power of storybooks for children. Adults may dismiss these stories as too simplistic, thinking they could never relate to a story meant for young children. But I’m not exaggerating when I say that this book has changed my life.
General book info
You are Special is set in a village of wooden people called Wemmicks. The woodcarver, Eli, makes all of the Wemmicks in his workshop, and no two are alike. They spend their days putting stickers on each other; stars go to the popular, beautiful Wemmicks, while those with rough and chipped paint receive dots. Punchinello, the main character, is so clumsy and awkward that other Wemmicks constantly give him dots. No matter how hard he tries to be smart or funny or jump high in the air like the others, he still messes up. After meeting the Wemmick Lucia and Eli the woodcarver, however, Punchinello makes an important discovery.
Why I love this book
From the beginning, readers can identify with our clumsy protagonist. We all know what it feels like to not live up to others’ expectations for us. Our continued “failures” can make us feel so discouraged that we begin to withdraw and put ourselves down, as Punchinello does. This could also be a criticism of the book, though, since Punchinello clearly exists so the reader can substitute him or herself into the story. I happen to like this aspect, however.
Lucado not only provides a character audiences can identify with, but the inclusion of the dot and star stickers provides an important commentary on the judgments of others. The stars and dots stick because the wemmics care about what others think of them, illustrating how people take to heart criticism and praise alike from others. The Wemmick Lucia does not have any stickers because she has decided they don’t define whether she is a good or bad person.
In the end, Punchinello discovers that it matters not what the other Wemmicks think of him because they are just the same as him. He learns that Eli thinks he’s pretty special, simply because he made Punchinello. Here, we see a strong religious message in the text. The loving craftsman comforts the little Wemmick by telling him all that matters is Eli loves him. In fact, Eli has been waiting for Punchinello to come to him, similar to how God invites people to get to know Him.
My favorite part of the story is Eli’s statement that it will take time for Punchinello to get rid of the marks the other Wemmicks have left on him. Again, this is a parallel with the real world, since emotional scars do not just disappear simply because a person has gotten to know God or has been reminded that they are loved and important. Punchinello’s journey is just beginning.
Bottom Line
Through Punchinello, the author reminds readers that we matter and should not let the judgments of others define us. We don’t have to do anything to be loved, and neither does Punchinello. Lucia showed Punchinello that he did not have to accept the opinions of others, but he himself had to initiate his own journey. You are Special does end with a forced moral, which may not sit well with older readers. But the message of valuing oneself needs to be heard and not just by children. This is why I return to Punchinello’s village again and again.
Jen’s rating: 10/10
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