You Are Special

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.

Max Lucado is a best-selling inspirational author and speaker, and a minister of preaching at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas. His award-winning books have been translated into more than 41 languages and have occupied spots on every major national bestseller list. Over the years, Lucado has been featured in countless national media outlets, dubbed “America’s Pastor” by Reader’s Digest and Christianity Today, and even named one of the most influential leaders in social media by the New York Times. His books include You Are Special, If Only I Had a Green Nose, and The Boy and the Ocean.

Sergio Martinez was born in Mexico City, studied art in Paris, and has worked as an art director and illustrator on three continents. He has done freelance illustrative work for Disney Press and other major publishers, and has illustrated internationally renowned gift editions of several literary classics including Peter Pan, Pinocchio, and A Christmas Carol. His classic style graces the pages of many children's books including Crossway's best-selling children's book, You Are Special, also written by Max Lucado.