Special and

Wonderful Written By: Bethany Peabody Illustrated By: Samantha Macatlang

Special and

Wonderful Written By: Bethany Peabody Illustrated By: Samantha Macatlang

For Jacob –

You are special and

wonderful

…just because you are

Amiree was a girl who liked

knowing things. She liked to learn

about new things. She liked to learn

about old things. And, she loved

figuring out things, like puzzles or

even secrets.

One thing Amiree definitely knew

was that she was special and

wonderful. She knew this because

her mom and dad were always

saying those two words to her.

What Amiree didn’t know was

WHY? Why was she so special and

wonderful?

And, since Amiree was a girl who

liked knowing things, it was

something she just had to know

more about.

So, Amiree decided she would go

and ask her mom just why she was

special and wonderful.

As soon as Amiree walked into the

room, her mom said, “Well, there’s

my special girl”.

“Why?” Amiree said with her hands

on her hips. “Why am I special?” Her

mom laughed and said, “You just

are, that’s why!”

Amiree was getting impatient and

still had no answer as to why she

was special and wonderful.

Maybe her dad would know!

So, off Amiree went to find her dad.

But, just as she was about to ask

him why she was special and

wonderful, he said, “How’s my

wonderful girl?”

And, again, Amiree said, “Why?”

“Why what?” her dad replied.

“Why am I wonderful?” Amiree said

rather seriously.

Just as her mom had done, Amiree’s

dad laughed and said the exact

same words to her. “You just are,

that’s why!”

Amiree stomped off to bed. She was

grumpy and frustrated.

She just knew she wouldn’t be able

to sleep. Not without knowing just

why she was special and wonderful.

But, soon, Amiree was asleep and

dreaming.

She dreamed of herself as a baby,

being held by her mom and dad. She

dreamed of being hugged and

kissed. She dreamed of all the

smiles that her mom and dad gave

her.

Early that morning, Amiree awoke.

She rubbed her eyes and stretched.

She felt different somehow. So

different that she just had to go look

in the mirror to see if she looked as

different as she felt.

Next to the mirror, on her dresser,

was a picture of Amiree with her

mom and dad. She looked at the

picture and then looked at the

mirror.

Amiree smiled and said, “I know

why! I know why!”

“I’m special and wonderful just

because I’m ME!”