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Wemmicksville #4
بهتر از همه
ورود آدمچوبی مشهور، شهر آدمچوبیهای ومیکی را به کلی تغییر داده بود، به ویژه پانچلو خیلی تحت فشار بود. اما ایلای، سازندهی آدمچوبیها، به پانچلو کمک کرد تا متوجه شود که حتماً نباید از چوب جنگلی خاص ساخته شده باشد تا مفید و بینظیر باشد.
ایلای به او گفت: «تو بینظیر هستی، فقط به این دلیل که من تو را با هدفی خاص اینگونه ساختهام.»
ما نیز گاهی گمان میکنیم باید مانند افراد مشهور و زیبا باشیم تا بینظیر و ویژه به نظر برسیم. اما خداوند ما را با هدفی خاص اینگونه خلق کرده است و آنچه باعث برتری هر فرد میشود، کارهای خوب و کمک به دیگران است.
ایلای به او گفت: «تو بینظیر هستی، فقط به این دلیل که من تو را با هدفی خاص اینگونه ساختهام.»
ما نیز گاهی گمان میکنیم باید مانند افراد مشهور و زیبا باشیم تا بینظیر و ویژه به نظر برسیم. اما خداوند ما را با هدفی خاص اینگونه خلق کرده است و آنچه باعث برتری هر فرد میشود، کارهای خوب و کمک به دیگران است.
34 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
2 people are currently reading
591 people want to read
About the author
Max Lucado
1,201 books5,432 followersWith more than 150 million products in print and several NYT bestsellers, Max Lucado is America's bestselling inspirational author. He serves the Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, where he lives with his wife, Denalyn, and their mischievous mutt, Andy. His most recent book published in August 2024 and is titled What Happens Next.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
October 1, 2023
شروع جالبی داره اما ناگهان وجه تعلیمیِ کار طوری افسارگسیخته عنان داستان رو در دست میگیره که همهچی نابود میشه. میشه با داستانهای قرن ۱۹ اروپا و صدالبته ادبیات تعلیمی فعلی خودمون مقایسهش کرد!
مترجم کتاب در ابتدای کتاب به خواننده بهخاطر این انتخاب تبریک گفته! طبیعتا از یک روانشناس کودک انتظار بیشتر از این هم نمیشه داشت. روانشناسها به معنای واقعی کلمه آفت ادبیات کودکن و ای کاش پاشون بیش از پیش به ادبیات باز نشه!
مترجم کتاب در ابتدای کتاب به خواننده بهخاطر این انتخاب تبریک گفته! طبیعتا از یک روانشناس کودک انتظار بیشتر از این هم نمیشه داشت. روانشناسها به معنای واقعی کلمه آفت ادبیات کودکن و ای کاش پاشون بیش از پیش به ادبیات باز نشه!
October 1, 2023
شروع جالبی داره اما ناگهان وجه تعلیمیِ کار طوری افسارگسیخته عنان داستان رو در دست میگیره که همهچی نابود میشه. میشه با داستانهای قرن ۱۹ اروپا و صدالبته ادبیات تعلیمی فعلی خودمون مقایسهش کرد!
مترجم کتاب در ابتدای کتاب به خواننده بهخاطر این انتخاب تبریک گفته! طبیعتا از یک روانشناس کودک انتظار بیشتر از این هم نمیشه داشت. روانشناسها به معنای واقعی کلمه آفت ادبیات کودکن و ای کاش پاشون بیش از پیش به ادبیات باز نشه!
مترجم کتاب در ابتدای کتاب به خواننده بهخاطر این انتخاب تبریک گفته! طبیعتا از یک روانشناس کودک انتظار بیشتر از این هم نمیشه داشت. روانشناسها به معنای واقعی کلمه آفت ادبیات کودکن و ای کاش پاشون بیش از پیش به ادبیات باز نشه!
June 12, 2019
به نظرم پیام های کتاب خیلی مستقیم بود! ...
June 24, 2021
I grew up a rather strange child.
I was white in a place where no one was white. I was (am) chubby. I didn't have many friends and felt looked down upon a lot.
This book was the book my mom would read to me on night when I didn't feel so hot about myself. It brought me comfort to realize that God loves me and created me just the way I am for a reason.
I was white in a place where no one was white. I was (am) chubby. I didn't have many friends and felt looked down upon a lot.
This book was the book my mom would read to me on night when I didn't feel so hot about myself. It brought me comfort to realize that God loves me and created me just the way I am for a reason.
May 7, 2024
A 2024 Fav♡rite
This is a fun and meaningful story! I have to say, the atmosphere and theme of the entire Wemmicksville series is delightful.
I can’t give enough praise to this series, and perhaps “Best of All” is the best of the best. It communicates how the Creator made each of unique and special. The story is important in a society that emphasizes status, and sidelines people who don’t fit a particular mold.
Punchinello and Eli the Wemmick-maker do it again, representing powerful lessons that promote love, acceptance, and growth in readers of all ages. Max Lucado’s evocative storytelling reveals God’s love, gifts, and wonders through his relatable characters and entertaining adventures. wonderful Christian principles. And the illustrations are nostalgic, charming, and distinctive.
This tale not only builds confidence and promotes love and tolerance, but it’s so much fun to read for children and adults alike! (Many of us have come across a ‘Bess Stovall’ character in our lives.)
First Line: Bess Stovall is famous for being famous.
Series: Wemmicksville, book 4
Genre: Children
Author: Max Lucado
Page Count: 32
Reading Age: 4-8
#CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions are 100% mine.
This is a fun and meaningful story! I have to say, the atmosphere and theme of the entire Wemmicksville series is delightful.
I can’t give enough praise to this series, and perhaps “Best of All” is the best of the best. It communicates how the Creator made each of unique and special. The story is important in a society that emphasizes status, and sidelines people who don’t fit a particular mold.
Punchinello and Eli the Wemmick-maker do it again, representing powerful lessons that promote love, acceptance, and growth in readers of all ages. Max Lucado’s evocative storytelling reveals God’s love, gifts, and wonders through his relatable characters and entertaining adventures. wonderful Christian principles. And the illustrations are nostalgic, charming, and distinctive.
This tale not only builds confidence and promotes love and tolerance, but it’s so much fun to read for children and adults alike! (Many of us have come across a ‘Bess Stovall’ character in our lives.)
First Line: Bess Stovall is famous for being famous.
Series: Wemmicksville, book 4
Genre: Children
Author: Max Lucado
Page Count: 32
Reading Age: 4-8
#CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions are 100% mine.
February 10, 2025
Story "Unreadable"
Illustration 4
Illustration 4
Read
August 6, 2025In Best of All, the fourth book in Max Lucado’s beloved Wemmicksville series, readers are once again invited into the charming world of wooden people created by the wise woodcarver, Eli. This time, Lucado explores the theme of purpose and how each individual is special—not because they’re the most talented or popular—but simply because of who they are.
The story follows Punchinello as he joins a group of Wemmicks who want to put on a show. But when he realises he doesn’t have the flashy talents of the others, he starts to feel left out and unsure of his worth. Through a heartfelt visit with Eli, Punchinello learns that the best thing he can do is be himself, and that his value doesn't come from performing but from being who he was made to be.
Lucado’s message is both encouraging and empowering for children growing up in a world where comparison is all too common. It teaches that we each have our role to play, and that being “the best of all” doesn’t mean being better than others—it means being fully ourselves.
Sergio Martínez’s illustrations, as always, are soft, whimsical, and expressive. They bring the Wemmick characters to life with warmth and depth, perfectly matching the gentle tone of the narrative.
Perfect for children aged 5–10, Best of All is ideal for parents, teachers, and counsellors who want to encourage kids to embrace their individuality and understand that their worth comes not from applause, but from being uniquely themselves.
The story follows Punchinello as he joins a group of Wemmicks who want to put on a show. But when he realises he doesn’t have the flashy talents of the others, he starts to feel left out and unsure of his worth. Through a heartfelt visit with Eli, Punchinello learns that the best thing he can do is be himself, and that his value doesn't come from performing but from being who he was made to be.
Lucado’s message is both encouraging and empowering for children growing up in a world where comparison is all too common. It teaches that we each have our role to play, and that being “the best of all” doesn’t mean being better than others—it means being fully ourselves.
Sergio Martínez’s illustrations, as always, are soft, whimsical, and expressive. They bring the Wemmick characters to life with warmth and depth, perfectly matching the gentle tone of the narrative.
Perfect for children aged 5–10, Best of All is ideal for parents, teachers, and counsellors who want to encourage kids to embrace their individuality and understand that their worth comes not from applause, but from being uniquely themselves.
December 20, 2022
I didn't love this book, as I do the first two Wemmicksville books. The conversation between Punch and his maker is the highlight, although pretty didactic: "Who do you think knows more, the Wemmicks or the Wemmick-maker?" and "Do you think I knew what I was doing when I made you?" and "You are special, my child. You are the way you are because I made you that way." Who can argue with that? The book is about discrimination, based on ancest-tree--the type (color?) of wood with which one is made. It can easily be understood to be addressing racial discrimination, but a few things rub me the wrong way--reinforcement of sexist tropes and Punchinello's worth being demonstrated by his ability to save the "superior" one. In general, the story/metaphor encourages one to "let go of the chain" of the medallion that identifies the type of wood one one made of. "Enough of all this talk about maples. Let's just be Wemmicks." To the extent that this conveys the message that we should not be talking about race, I am not for it because race matters. Of course I value the main message of our value coming from our creator, but I don't like to encourage even subtle messages that condition us to not talk about how race is operative in our society.
January 7, 2021
Another book in the Wemmicksville series and another love letter to self esteem and this time focussing on 'family tree' on ancestry and saying you are special even if you didn't;t come from this stock, etc.
Class still plays a part in society, whether we like it or not, and there is truth in what the underlying thesis of the book is that it does not really matter what people think only what God thinks, and God thinks you are special.
It is though still disappointing that even though the book in a round about way points you towards God it is still not pointing a way for salvation through Christ in the Christian theology tradition, which these books are meant to represent.
Self esteem is fine but it won't last beyond the grave.
Class still plays a part in society, whether we like it or not, and there is truth in what the underlying thesis of the book is that it does not really matter what people think only what God thinks, and God thinks you are special.
It is though still disappointing that even though the book in a round about way points you towards God it is still not pointing a way for salvation through Christ in the Christian theology tradition, which these books are meant to represent.
Self esteem is fine but it won't last beyond the grave.
July 25, 2018
I want to start by saying this is purely my opinion...
As some reviewers have pointed out, this is blatantly a Christian based picture book, however that doesn't make the message any less important. Setting aside overtly Christian overtones, the book was amazing. I would love to keep this purely for the lesson that this story teaches. It's easy for children to understand whether you're raising them in faith or not. The only reason I have scored the book this low is because of my own issues with faith based lessons rather than sheer morality.
All of this being said, I highly recommend it to anyone trying to teach children respect of others who are different from themselves.
As some reviewers have pointed out, this is blatantly a Christian based picture book, however that doesn't make the message any less important. Setting aside overtly Christian overtones, the book was amazing. I would love to keep this purely for the lesson that this story teaches. It's easy for children to understand whether you're raising them in faith or not. The only reason I have scored the book this low is because of my own issues with faith based lessons rather than sheer morality.
All of this being said, I highly recommend it to anyone trying to teach children respect of others who are different from themselves.
December 11, 2023
خیلی عالی بود.
کلا کتاب های نوجوان رو دوست دارم و این دومین کتاب از مکس لوکیدو بود که خوندم و خیلی خوشم اومد.
نویسنده در این سری کتاب هاش به موضوعات جالبی میپردازه که ممکنه دچارش بشیم و خوندنش لذت بخشه.
کلا کتاب های نوجوان رو دوست دارم و این دومین کتاب از مکس لوکیدو بود که خوندم و خیلی خوشم اومد.
نویسنده در این سری کتاب هاش به موضوعات جالبی میپردازه که ممکنه دچارش بشیم و خوندنش لذت بخشه.
July 2, 2017
عالیه این کتاب
خداشناسی. هدف از خلقت
مصداق آیه ان اکرمکم عند الله اتقیکم
خداشناسی. هدف از خلقت
مصداق آیه ان اکرمکم عند الله اتقیکم
August 23, 2017
This was one of my favorite Wemmicksville books. Punchinello is so sweet how he went to his maker. Kids books are the best.
September 2, 2017
See previous review regarding promising premise and god
September 6, 2017
Beautiful story.
October 9, 2017
This book was a little long for the younger ones to sit through. however it was a good read with a good mesaage.
July 14, 2019
Cliques rear their head in book 4.
February 14, 2022
Again, the ending was disappointing. I wish each villager made of a different wood found their unique purpose!
April 7, 2022
Too long winded for my taste. A little sappy (excuse the pun)
May 3, 2022
I love how this book shows the push of some people towards prejudice and resolves by people rejecting prejudice!
June 23, 2023
داستانهای پانچلو فقط برای کودکان نیست
واقعا اونقدر عرفانی و تفکر برانگیزه که برای بزرگسالان هم مناسبه
واقعا اونقدر عرفانی و تفکر برانگیزه که برای بزرگسالان هم مناسبه
Read
September 13, 2023In this one, I especially love how Eli comes to find Punchinello in the forest.
December 26, 2024
So far, my second favorite book in the series
January 10, 2025
Warm & a good reminder that everyone of us is God beloved no matter how we looks
September 10, 2025
Me: *expecting to read a cozy children book*
Book: *eugenics*
Book: *eugenics*
September 6, 2011
For many years, I never ate eggplant. Every time I had it in a restaurant, it was pithy and bitter and overly chewy to the point of making a dish inedible. I avoided dishes that even had eggplant as an ingredient. Too easy to ruin things with such a nasty vegetable. Then, one evening I had an eggplant dish that was not only not ruined, it was delicious. And here's the weird thing--eggplant was the main ingredient.*
Christian morality messages are like eggplants--in anything less than skillful hands, they can ruin any book they're put in. Max Lucado breaks the mold by writing children's books which are not only undeniably Christian, they are tolerable even for someone who avoids Christian morality messages as if they were a tough and bitter vegetable. This is the second of his that I've read, and the second I've liked enough to buy, so he's two for two.
The message of this book is that no matter whether or not you come from famous or proud ancestry, you are just as important as everyone else. It's a cute message, uplifting and direct without being overly preachy, and the tale is told with cute drawings of the puppets who are most of the main characters. I generally can't swallow the Christian "God made you in his image" idea, because I know full well that my mom's uterus made me, with a little help from my dad. But in these books, the puppets really were made by someone, the puppet maker, a ruggedly handsome dude who looks like he could be felling trees in Oregon or maybe shilling paper towels.
The word-to-page ratio for this book isn't bad. It's a little too slow for the under-two set, but if you had a 3-5 year old who liked to have books read to them, this is a decent choice.
*The eggplant recipe that changed my mind was at a restaurant in Kyoto that took advantage of the eggplant's natural sponge-like abilities and served eggplant drenched in garlic and olive oil. It remains my favorite way of preparing eggplant. I also still refuse to get eggplant in restaurants, because eggplant still ruins a lot of dishes.
Christian morality messages are like eggplants--in anything less than skillful hands, they can ruin any book they're put in. Max Lucado breaks the mold by writing children's books which are not only undeniably Christian, they are tolerable even for someone who avoids Christian morality messages as if they were a tough and bitter vegetable. This is the second of his that I've read, and the second I've liked enough to buy, so he's two for two.
The message of this book is that no matter whether or not you come from famous or proud ancestry, you are just as important as everyone else. It's a cute message, uplifting and direct without being overly preachy, and the tale is told with cute drawings of the puppets who are most of the main characters. I generally can't swallow the Christian "God made you in his image" idea, because I know full well that my mom's uterus made me, with a little help from my dad. But in these books, the puppets really were made by someone, the puppet maker, a ruggedly handsome dude who looks like he could be felling trees in Oregon or maybe shilling paper towels.
The word-to-page ratio for this book isn't bad. It's a little too slow for the under-two set, but if you had a 3-5 year old who liked to have books read to them, this is a decent choice.
*The eggplant recipe that changed my mind was at a restaurant in Kyoto that took advantage of the eggplant's natural sponge-like abilities and served eggplant drenched in garlic and olive oil. It remains my favorite way of preparing eggplant. I also still refuse to get eggplant in restaurants, because eggplant still ruins a lot of dishes.
May 28, 2010
I think I prefer the first two of the Wemmicks books. I liked the illustrations more, and I like that the stories are quick and simple. The ones I have read lately seem to be too full of text. Still a little humor, but not much like in the first two. The main aspect of us being who we are and special and made with purpose by our Maker is present in each one, and Lucado does well in bringing out the different ways that others make us feel less than we are. But I still think he could have done it better--as he did with "You are Special" and "You are Mine."
December 1, 2008
Genre: Picture book, Wemmick series
Reading Level: Late early
Topics & Themes: Maker made you on purpose and you are special. Obsession and influence of famous people to be like them.
Curricular Use: Read aloud
Social: Religion: Maker is a symbol of God
Literary Elements: Moral story: Everyone is equal and it doesn't matter what you are made of. Onomatopoeia.
Text & Pictures: Interaction.
Reading Level: Late early
Topics & Themes: Maker made you on purpose and you are special. Obsession and influence of famous people to be like them.
Curricular Use: Read aloud
Social: Religion: Maker is a symbol of God
Literary Elements: Moral story: Everyone is equal and it doesn't matter what you are made of. Onomatopoeia.
Text & Pictures: Interaction.
April 19, 2011
This is a nice book that addresses discrimintion. Bess Stovall is very famous simply because she is made of maple and comes to town to have a club just for the maples. The town had not noticed differences between the woods until she came to town and then they all started to discriminate against each other, especially the willows because they are weak and bend. This all changed one day when Bess fell and was hanging from a bridge and only a wood that was flexible could help her.
January 24, 2016
Max Lucado teaches us in a simple way that God loves us and he made everyone special and unique. The lessons taught in the Lucado series through Punchinello and the people from Wemmick are very effective. It's a good way to teach children build self esteem, confidence in who they are, to have the ability to choose the right path, not afraid to say 'no' to peer pressure and to treat others always with respect. This book is not just for children, adults can learn from it too.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews