How Full Is Your Bucket? For Kids [Hardcover]

Tom Rath (Author), Mary Reckmeyer (Author), Maurie J. Manning (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Through the story of a little boy named Felix, this charming book explains to children how being kind not only helps others, it helps them, too. As he goes about his day, Felix interacts with different people — his sister Anna, his grandfather, other family and friends. Some people are happy, but others are grumpy or sad. Using the metaphor of a bucket and dipper, Felix’ grandfather explains why the happy people make Felix feel good, while the others leave him feeling bad — and how Felix himself is affecting others, whether he means to or not. This beautifully illustrated adaptation takes the original book’s powerful message — that the way we relate to others has a profound effect on every aspect of our lives — and tailors it to a child’s unique needs and level of understanding.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2—Based on the author's adult work How Full Is Your Bucket? (Gallup, 2004), this book explains that we all have invisible buckets of water over our heads. The negative actions of others toward us can empty the buckets, and our own meanness toward them can deplete their vessels, too. Positive actions reverse the process. Felix refuses to allow his sister to play blocks with him. When she angrily kicks over his tower, his grandfather explains that Felix dipped from his sister's container. The next morning Felix actually sees a bucket floating over his own head, and during the course of the day, as he is alternately bullied and praised, he realizes what causes it to be empty or full. This story is so heavy-handed and didactic that children are likely to find it laughable. Neither Felix, his sister, nor even their dog is a likable character, and the floating buckets over everyone's head look just plain silly.—Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ END

From the Publisher

When Felix wakes up one morning, he finds an invisible bucket floating overhead. A rotten morning threatens his mood - and his bucket - drop by drop. Can Felix discover how to refill his bucket before it's completely empty?

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Gallup Press (April 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595620273
• ISBN-13: 978-1595620279
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 10.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,669 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #6 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Self-Esteem & Self-Respect
  • #25 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Emotions & Feelings

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great lesson to teach your kids, April 15, 2009

By 

Jamie Kelly (Omaha, NE USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How Full Is Your Bucket? For Kids (Hardcover)

Just bought this today on a trip over to Gallup University in Omaha. I read it to my kids tonight (daughter, 7 - son, 4). They both really liked it and we had a great little discussion about the meaning of buckets and how it feels to fill and spill your bucket and the buckets of others. They both understood it very well. I recommend it for kids of all ages. I bought one for my mom too - she's a very inspirational person, mother, teacher, grandmother. It makes a great gift. I'm thinking it will make a great teacher's gift for my daughter's teacher too!

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review from Books That Heal Kids, October 4, 2010

By 

Books That Heal Kids "Roxanne" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How Full Is Your Bucket? For Kids (Hardcover)

I cannot even begin to describe the healing power of bucket filling in my own school. As an elementary school counselor, it's the #1 way I usually deal with kids when it comes to oh....EVERYTHING. I've taught this metaphor for years and it is built into our thinking and language. The kids use it for problem solving, bullying, friendship issues, home problems, helping others, expressing a need, describing their feelings, talking about a hurt and much more. Relationships are strengthened when students choose to live their lives by this philosophy.

I originally found out about bucket filling through author Carol McCloud's book Have You Filled a Bucket Today?. It's a neat picture book explaining just what is the business of "Bucket Filling." If you've been using this story (or even if you haven't) to explain this wonderful metaphor, then you ABSOLUTELY need How Full Is Your Bucket? For Kids.

What makes this book so special is the focus is on a boy, Felix, and what happens to his bucket throughout his day. He wakes up in the morning with a pretty full bucket. But he spills the cereal and his mom scolds him. Ouch, hurt feelings. DRIP. I loved watching the students' reaction to that word. They hadn't heard bucket filling described that way. Felix gets to school and has a series of negative encounters with kids. DRIP. DRIP. All those positive feelings he started with start going away until his bucket is almost empty. '
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But then something happens to stop the DRIPS. Felix's teacher gives him a compliment. DROP. The class is supportive of him and praises his effort. DROP! He starts receiving compliments and acts of kindness from others as the school day continues. DROP! His bucket starts to fill back up with positive feelings.

Here comes my favorite part. '' Once his bucket is filled back up he looks around the playground and notices everyone else has one too....and a lot of them need filling. He now has a real understanding of how it works. And so will your kids! So Felix gets right to it by being kind and helpful. DROP! DROP! This time there are two drops. When he fills another person's bucket, he fills his own too.

The students were SO excited when they saw the cover. I've been reading it the first couple weeks of school so kids can remember to start filling others' buckets immediately. I plan on reading it again throughout the school year. This is one of those stories they like to hear over and over again. It is very well written, the illustrations are perfect, and it speaks to kids. They completely relate to Felix and the ups and downs of his day. Using the "drips" and "drops" as a way to describe positive and negative interactions was easily understood by the students. We've started putting our new discovered language to use! ''Bucket filling is a way of life in my school. I hope you do the same in your school and home.

52 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Target Age Group for "Kids" ??, June 27, 2009

By 

Dave Fleming "Flemo" (Auckland, New Zealand) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How Full Is Your Bucket? For Kids (Hardcover)

Having read the full version of this great book, I brought the "Kids" version in the hope that my 10 & 12 year old daughters would derive similar learnings.

However, I found [as did they] that this "Kids" version is aimed more at much younger readers. The general consensus is that the appropriate definition of "Kids" for this book is from 4-8 years, and not much more.

Perhaps a third version could be edited to target the early teens, when adolescent minds are developing to a stage of greater appreciation for key learnings such as this.

Overall, a good book but not for young readers over the ages of say 8 years.