You Are Special (Gift Edition) Review: A Beloved Story That Delivers Its Message Beautifully

If you grew up in a church with young children in the 90s or 2000s, you almost certainly encountered the Wemmicks books. You Are Special is the one that started it all, and it holds up remarkably well. The story follows Punchinello, a small wooden Wemmick who lives on Wemmick Island, where everyone gives each other dots or stars based on what they do. Punchinello gets a lot of dots — the yellow kind that mean failure, clumsiness, and not measuring up. His friend Lucia doesn't get dots at all, and he desperately wants to know her secret. Her answer is simple and profound: she goes to see Eli the woodcarver, who tells her that the dots and stars other Wemmicks give don't matter at all. She is special because he made her.

This is, at its heart, a story about identity. Not performance-based identity. Not identity built on achievement, looks, or others' approval. The gift edition binding suggests this is meant to be a keepsake — something read aloud and reread until the pages are soft with use. The illustrations by Sergio Martinez are warm, slightly old-fashioned in the best way, and emotionally expressive without being saccharine.

From a theological standpoint, this book does its job well for the age it's targeting. Eli the woodcarver is a clear stand-in for God the Creator, and the central truth — that our worth comes from being made by God's hand, not from what others think — is biblically grounded without being preachy. Parents of elementary-aged kids will appreciate that the story doesn't dumb this down. Newer Christians in the family will find it a natural conversation starter.

That said, this book doesn't dig into the deeper gospel beyond theCreator-loved-you theme. It doesn't address sin, grace, salvation, or the new identity believers have in Christ. That's not a fair criticism for a picture book aimed at ages 4–8, but it's worth knowing so you don't treat it as a standalone faith formation tool. Think of it as a foundation layer, not the whole building.

The gift edition format means sturdier binding and slightly nicer paper stock — worth it if you're giving this as a baptism gift, birthday present, or church nursery staple. If you're watching your budget, the standard edition carries the same story.

If your child is wrestling with comparison, feeling inadequate at school, or learning to anchor their sense of worth in something deeper than peer approval, this is one of the most beloved and gentle stories you can hand them. It will leave them with one durable truth: they are not what others say they are.

Takeaway: A warm, wise picture book that delivers its central truth with grace — worth owning in any edition, the gift edition earns its premium price for gifting occasions.