Product Description

When Punchinello tries to prove his worth by getting more boxes and balls than the other Wemmicks, he learns that his maker, Eli, loves him because of who he is and not what he possesses.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #379507 in Books
• Published on: 2001-07-18
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 32 pages

Customer Reviews

What the story is about...
I've read through all the reviews and since the storyline hasn't been mentioned, I thought I'd do so. These books are quite the hit in our house with our little one.

In this adventure, two Wemmicks Nip and Tuck start a little competition in who has the neatest box. They then try to top each other by adding balls to their boxes. Pretty soon, the other townspeople decided that they have to have the prettiest boxes and balls as well, and they carry them around so that everyone can see just how many beautiful boxes and balls they have. Punchinello, at the consternation of his friends, buys into this scenario and eventually, winds up selling EVERYTHING that he has, including his house, to buy all the boxes and balls that he can. Finally, the mayor's wife decides that to be the best, you have to stand on the highest hillside and/or mountain to show off your "stuff." So, all the Wemmicks climb up the mountain, including Punch, to try to be the best of all.

However, Punchinello winds up going off the path since he can scarcely carry, let alone see where he's going, with all his boxes and balls. He therefore, stumbles into Eli's workshop where he drops all of his boxes and balls. Realizing just where he was, Punch is too embarassed to look at his maker and just initially lies on the floor, face down amongst all his "things." After Eli calls his name, he sheepishly looks up and a discussion begins after Eli asks Punch if all those things really makes him happy. Punch says they do not, only Eli makes him happy. Eli also asks Punch to look out the window to see all the Wemmicks climbing and falling up the hill, trying to be the best. He asks Punch if he thinks that Eli made Wemmicks to act like that (i.e., scurrying around, literally making fools out of themselves for material goods that mean nothing but "status" to them. They don't use the boxes and balls, they just carry them around. They discard their friends, family just for "things."). Punch says "no," because he knows that Eli made all Wemmicks to be with him and love him just as Punch does.

One of the neatest parts of this book is the very end when Punch turns to go but realizes that since he sold his bed and his house, that he has no place left to go. So, he asks his Maker, Eli, if he can spend the night there. Of course Eli says yes and the last page is little Punch, curled up all snug and warm sound asleep in his Maker's house. Wow... Is there any place safer that feels like home? Nope! That's just so neat. Lucado did an excellent job on painting the feeling behind the "warm fuzzies" in that last paragraph.

Here's another meaning for this story - no matter how far you stray, no matter what you do, the Maker is still there waiting for you to come home.

Highly recommend!

What's offensive?
I just loved this book, I went over it again after reading the previous review concerning "offensive material". Nonexistent. Eli doesn't claim to hate the Wemmicks for behaving that way, he is tolerant of their behavior,they are his creation. The same way God loves us, he may notlike how we behave on a given occasion, or our choice of lifestyle, but He loves us. Eli wouldn't turn a Wemmick away, and God never turns us away. When He's not in ourlives it's us who have turned our backs on Him. Read and give this book freely, it sends positive messages on several levels.

Tear-Jerker!
I was brought to tears as I read this story the first time to my daughter. She looked up at me with the sweetest face, hugged my neck, and said, "You love me." "Yes I do... very much," I replied. Max Lucado's book will help the message of love really touch the hearts of your children or grandchildren... or any child that you love -- young or old!