You Are Special

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Summary: Inspirational Story for all ages
Review: This book is great for every age. The children will love it, but as you get older this book has a meaning that most children cannot understand. I read this book when I was 14 for the first time and was touched. I highly suggest buying this for anyone who you think enjoys a little childhood story, especially the meaningful ones.

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Summary: Another wonderful children's book by Max Lucado
Review: This is the first Max Lucado book that I read to my kids. A small wooden toy finds that the labels applied to him don't really apply at all. After meeting his Maker, Punchinello finds that both the "golden stars" and "gray dots" no longer matter in comparison to his Master's love.

Beautifully written and illustrated. I highly, highly recommend it along with "Because I Love You".

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Book
Review: My mom found this bood my senior year of highschool. She brought it home and we curled up on the couch as she read it to me. We were both almost in tears by the end. Even though this is a children's book, she gave me a copy for graduation, I've brought it to college and let my friends read it. It is a wonderful book for anyone of any age who at some point has felt like they are not important. Ever felt like that? I know this book has been an insparation to me many times.

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Summary: reading level is listed wrong.
Review: I wrote a previous review, but forgot to mention that the reading level of "Baby-Preschooler" is definitely wrong on this book. I think it would best be for pre-schoolers to 8 year olds.

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Summary: Teaches kids what's important
Review: This book helps children know that they don't have to believe the bad things others say about them...and interestingly, it helps them know that all the praise and compliments they receive in the world isn't the issue, either: what matters is that their Maker thinks they are special. The artwork is quircky (the characters are peculiar-looking little things!) but kid-friendly.

Of course this book is a good gift for Christian kids, but I think it makes an even better gift for non-Christian kids whose parents might not otherwise be thrilled about having their kids read a "Christian" book. Ultimately children will learn from it the Christian concept of God as our father and maker, and the fact that each of us are special to God -- even though "God" isn't referred to in the story. It's a good way to get the message across, without causing undue offense to family or friends who don't want overtly Christian books given to their children.

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Summary: "THE STICKERS ONLY STICK IF YOU LET THEM."
Review: This is a story about a Wemmick (small wooden person) named Punchinello. All the Wemmicks were carved by a woodworker named Eli. "Each Wemmick was different... but they all lived in the same village."

Every day the Wemmicks did the same thing, they gave each other stickers. The gold star stickers went to smooth, finely-painted and talented Wemmicks; the gray dots went to the rough, paint-chipped, clumsy Wemmicks. This is where Puchinello fits in. He always got gray dots. No matter how hard he tried, he never measured up to being worthy of a gold star to the other Wemmicks. He became very discouraged with gray dots all over him. Then one day he met a happy female Wemmick named Lucia who had no stars or dots and decided to take her advice and go see Eli the woodworker.

The next day, Punchinello went to see Eli. Eli called him by name. Punchinello was confused, wondering how Eli knew his name. Eli replied with "Of course I do. I made you." Eli picked up Punchinello and mentioned he had some bad marks. When Punchinello tried to explain stating "I didn't mean to Eli, I really tried hard." Eli told him he didn't have to defend himself. "I don't care what the other Wemmicks think." Punchinello was confused again. Eli then told him: "ALL THAT MATTERS IS WHAT I THINK. AND I THINK YOU ARE PRETTY SPECIAL."

The ending is wonderful! I won't give it away, but another reviewer was right when she said that this book should be read at the start of every day. YOU ARE SPECIAL is a life-changing book and a must own! You will not be disappointed. I highly recommend reading this with your child on a regular basis. (I say "with" and not "to" because this book is for everyone of all ages!)

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Summary: Every child should have a copy
Review: My best friend sent me a copy of this book for Christmas. I read it and then read it to my husband as a goodnight story! I am going to order a copy of this book for all of my nieces and nephews. Everyone should know how special they are, and this book illustrates beautifully how special we are to our heavenly Father.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful book, even if you don't have small children!
Review: I'm of the firm belief that a good story is a good story, no matter how old you are! This beautiful picture book is Max Lucado at his best - he tells the story with a perfect economy of words and the illustrations are perfect.

The main character, Punchinello, lives in a world where the wooden people wear "stickers" which are Stars or Grey Dots, depending on what others think of you! Poor Punchinello tries hard to gain others' approval, but keeps missing out and keeps getting grey dots, which means that he is definitely looked down upon in this make-believe society of wooden people.

Finally, our friend meets a wooden girl who has no stickers! When people try to put stars on her, they don't stick! And the grey dots don't stick either! She explains to our main character that this is because she goes to visit Eli, the master woodcarver, who made them all. She doesn't card about the opinions of others. She suggests that Punchinello go visit Eli as well.

When Punchinello goes to visit Eli, he learns an important lesson about the specialness of each created person just because you belong to God! The scenes in Eli's workshop are especially touching.

My 17-year-old just read this book and LOVED it. We also watched the video and didn't think it was as good as the book.

Please check out my other reviews of Christian books and music!

Rating:
Summary: You Are Special is a very special book.
Review: Max Lucado's book, You Are Special, is a very special book. Mr. Lucado conveys our Maker's love and concern for us through this book. Also, he shows us that God doesn't care how other people (also being created by Him) have labeled us and neither should we.

Rating:
Summary: Will Make You Want to give "Stars"
Review: This book dispenses wisdom like a parable. Written forchildren, its illuminating thoughts will be meaningful to most of us"confirmed" adults who thinks they can make things happen. How simpleit becomes when we recognize that only God's opinion matters. Howfreeing it is to realize that we no longer need to collect "stars" because everything comes from Him. Thank you Max Lucado for this wisdom.