The Man Who Kept His Heart in a Bucket (Picture Puffins) [Paperback]

Sonia Levitin (Author), Jerry Pinkney (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Picture Puffins

Ever since his heart was broken, Jack has kept it safe from harm by carrying it in a bucket. One day a magic carp leaps from a pool of water, turns into a beautiful maiden and steals Jack's heart, challenging him to solve a riddle to win it back. His search leads Jack to discover the surest cure of all for a broken heart. Full color.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A lad whose heart was once broken now keeps it safe from harm; PW noted the "eloquent, fluid" prose and "dreamy, evocative watercolors" of this "thoroughly captivating story." Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5-- Young Jack, the village tinker, can keep his mind on his busines of making pots and pans as long as he carries his heart--once broken--in a bucket. Of course, he feels no delight in tasting the baker's finest pie, or hearing the piper's music, or hugging a new baby at a farm. But when he stops for water, dipping his bucket into a stream, he loses his heart to a great carp that leaps into the air and becomes a beautiful maiden. She gives him a riddle in exchange: Jack will get his heart back when he finds three golden scales. By the time Jack accomplishes this, he knows that a heart is useless in a bucket. Levitin's cleverly created story, structured like a traditional folktale, is enhanced by Pinkney's watercolor and pencil scenes of ruddy-cheeked Eastern European peasants, thatched roof cottages, and lush green countryside. The moral of the story, that a heart should be in the right place, brings a touch of romance and a satisfying ending to the tale. --Shirley Wilton, Ocean County College, Toms River, NJ
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 40 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (May 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140554610
• ISBN-13: 978-0140554618
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #463,243 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

My life is mainly devoted to friends and family, my writing and my home. I enjoy hiking in the mountains, especially with my dogs. You can see their pics on my web page, and also pics of my family andfriends. I like to traveling to interesting places. I've been to Europe, parts of Asia, Hawaii, and many beautiful places in the U.S. My most exciting new project is working with a great team on creating a musical based on my novel The Return. We plan the premier in fall, 2006, and now we're casting and soon going into rehearsal.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Man Who Kept His Heart in a Bucket, May 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Man Who Kept His Heart in a Bucket (Picture Puffins) (Paperback)

Not many stories deal with "feelings" or"emotions". Some stories may evoke strong feelings--and thisis no exception--but very few consider "if our hearts are in the right place." In this enchanting, beautifully told tale, a man keeps his heart tucked safely in a bucket until a smart and pretty girl "steals" it away. She tells him that she will keep it for him until he can answer a riddle. Solving this intriguing riddle requires that the man visit a series of people in his village--a baker, a musician and a poor farmer's wife and child. In each case, the man and the people he encounters became richer for the experience and find the magic of giving, sharing and loving. At the end of the story, the man finds that his heart has been in the "right place" all along and that he no longer needs to hide it in a bucket. Not only does he find his heart but is able to easily give it to the girl who stole it from him at the beginning of his "journey". A charming, heart-warming and memorable tale that is bound to be a classic! A lovely story that speaks to the heart. The illustrations are beautifully wrought and evoke a "once a upon a time"less quality. A true story treasure!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Discovering Love., February 11, 2004

By 

tvtv3 "tvtv3" (Sorento, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Man Who Kept His Heart in a Bucket (Picture Puffins) (Paperback)

A young man named Jack keeps his heart in a bucket and carries it around with him. His heart was broken once and he doesn't want it to happen again. Jack seems unable to experience the real joys in life: the sweet taste of bread, a musical melody to dance to, and the soft touch of a baby's hand. Then one day a maiden steals Jack's heart. She tells him a riddle that he must answer before she will return his heart. This is a very touching story the illustrates that in order to truly love another person, we must first learn to love and enjoy life. The illustrations that accompany the text are beautiful and give the story a touch of rustic flavor. Children will probably enjoy this story, but it's really a fairy tale for grown-ups because they are the only ones who can fully appreciate all the nuances of the tale.

4.0 out of 5 stars Good fairy tale-esque story, February 17, 2010

By 

Ulyyf "Connie" (NYC) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Man Who Kept His Heart in a Bucket (Picture Puffins) (Paperback)

This one reads like a fairy tale in the style of H. C. Anderson. Jack keeps his heart in a bucket to keep it safe, but that means he has no... enjoyment of things. When he eats a heavenly dish he feels full. When he hears beautiful music he feels that it is loud. When he sees a squirming baby he wants it far, far away from him.

His heart gets stolen again anyway, all for the purpose of teaching him a lesson and hooking him up with the moralistic fish-woman. Well, it works.

Love the shot of a babywearing mama on one page :)

This one is a bit long for the younger set, but then, they probably wouldn't really begin to "get it" yet anyway.