In the children’s picture book “You Are Mine,” author Max Lucado builds on the theme he created with “You Are Special” and takes us on a return trip to the village of the Wemmicks, the small wooden people who were created by Eli, the carver. Having overcome the problem of the stickers in “You Are Special,” Punchinello now has a new obstacle.
Everyone in town is obsessed with owning more stuff than everyone else. Boxes and balls are the objects to be desired, and the townspeople are selling all their other belongings so they can buy as many boxes and balls as they can carry. In fact, if you have so many that you’re dropping them all over the place, that’s a sign of prosperity and it makes you even more elite. Punchinello doesn’t have a lot of boxes or balls; in fact, he only has one small ball, and only enough money for one small box. The other Wemmicks will laugh at him.
So he starts making plans. First, he sells his books, and then he starts working longer hours. Then he decides he doesn’t need his bed, and he sells that. But he still doesn’t have as many boxes and balls as everyone else. They must be better than him.
Finally he sells his house, and he has scads of boxes and balls. He doesn’t have a place to live anymore, but he builds himself a house out of boxes. And when people pass by, he can hear them say, “He must be a good Wemmick.” That makes him feel good. But it’s hard carrying those boxes and balls with you all the time. You can’t go off without them, though, or no one will know how many you have.
One day, Punchinello is out carrying his boxes and balls around when he trips and ends up falling into Eli’s house. Eli takes a look at the collection of things Punchinello has been carting and comments that Punchinello is carrying quite a big load. Then he asks if Punchinello likes boxes and balls, or if he even plays with them, to which Punchinello has to reply that he doesn’t like them, but he likes the way they make him feel.
Eli points out that having things doesn’t make us happy; it’s what we do with what we have. What makes us special is Who made us and Who we belong to. He gives Punchinello a place to sleep for the night, and in the morning, Punchinello has the tools he needs to set his life right again.
While not as well illustrated or conveyed as “You Are Special,” this book does carry an important message, one we should all take to heart.
(This book was published in 2001 by Crossway Books and was illustrated by Sergio Martinez.)
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The Picture Books of Barbara M. Joose