Books That Heal Kids: bucket filling books

Showing posts with label bucket filling books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bucket filling books. Show all posts

Book Review: Buckets, Dippers, and Lids - Secrets to Your Happiness


Author: Carol McCloud
Illustrator: Glenn Zimmer

From the Book Jacket: This new book takes bucket filling and bucket dipping one step further by adding the idea that we also have an invisible lid. We "use our lid" to protect and keep the happiness in our bucket. Readers learn what gives happiness, what takes some away, and what protects it. This concrete concept helps readers of all ages grow in kindness, self-control, resilience, empathy, and forgiveness, all leading to a healthier self-concept, more positive relationships, and greater happiness. 

Why It's On My Bookshelf: What a wonderful new bucket filling book! It exceeded my expectations. It is divided into three sections: Buckets, Dippers, and Lids. The "Buckets" section covers what bucket filling is and teaches the concept - a lot like her first book - Have You Filled a Bucket Today? But then the book goes into more detail in "The Dippers" section by really defining what bucket dipping is and how it's the opposite of bucket filling. My favorite part of the book is the "Lids" section. This teaches children that everyone has a lid to help protect the happiness in their bucket. So when something happens that makes you have an "ouch" feeling this is an important sign warning you to "Use your lid!" It goes on to explain the "ouch"feeling is a sign your bucket is getting dipped and it's time to use your lid. To keep your bucket full you need to stop, take a deep breath, and think. Don't dip back. I appreciated these steps and the reminder to not dip back.


If you loved her first book - Have You Filled a Bucket Today? then you will love this new version - it's more detailed and really reinforces the concept. I'm so happy to have another bucket filling resource to use with kids.

A Link to This Book: 
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Book Review: Growing Up with a Bucket Full of Happiness: Three Rules for a Happier Life

Author: Carol McCloud
Illustrated by Penny Weber
Book Website: www.bucketfillers101.com 
Interest Level: Grades 3 and Up
Chapter Book

From the Book Jacket: Do you know you have an invisible bucket which is filled with all of your good thoughts and feelings? If you're new to the concepts of bucket filling and bucket dipping, then this book is for you. With  easy-to-read chapters, colorful illustrations, and daily questions to help readers become better bucket fillers, Growing Up with a Bucket Full of Happiness: Three Rules for a Happier Life gives readers the tools to live a life filled with happiness.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: When I got this awesome new addition to my bucket books I had a little fun with it. So I hid it behind my back when I showed it to my 3-5th graders. They've heard Have You Filled a Bucket and How Full Is Your Bucket? For Kids countless times over the years so I knew they'd be a little shocked and excited about this new one - because it is totally geared to their age. And of course when I showed what I was hiding, they were eagerly wanting me to read it and wanted to know when it would also be available in our school library.

It's a chapter book and well.....it's PERFECT. The kids are learning all kinds of new things about bucket filling:
  • BFF = Bucket Fillers Forever (and here you thought it meant best friends forever)
  • Group Bucket Filling
  • How To Avoid Dipping
  • Accidental Dipping
  • Thoughtless Dipping
  • Selective Dipping
  • Group Dipping
  • Dipping on Television
  • Long-Handled Dipping
  • Use Your Lid (I've been waiting for someone to use that idea when it comes to bucket filling.  Protect your bucket from getting dipped in the first place. Love it.)
  • Use Your Lid for Others
  • Advanced Bucket Fillers
  • When A Lid Doesn't Work
If you are a bucket believer then I know you just got a little giddy about the above list. I haven't created any lessons to go with the book yet so I've been playing it by ear and basically doing discussion as we read it. I am sensing from the kids that they would really like to have their own copy to read from. It also has cool pictures throughout. We have ordered a few copies for our school library and they will definitely be in HOT demand. I encourage teachers (grades 3 and up) to have a copy in their kid reading library. Your students will thank you. It could also be a great read aloud to increase your classroom climate. Now who is not for that!?  

Group Dipping


Use Your Lid
Hoping more bucket books are going to be published. They are an INVALUABLE resource for children.

A Link to This Book and Others You Might Find Helpful:   
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Book Review: How Full is Your Bucket? For Kids

Authors: Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer
Illustrated by Maurie J. Manning
Interest Level: Ages 4-10

From the Book Jacket: Each of us has an invisible bucket. When our bucket is full, we feel great. When it's empty, we feel awful. Yet most children (and many adults) don't realize the importance of having a full bucket throughout the day.

In How Full is Your Bucket? For Kids, Felix begins to see how every interaction in a day either fills or empties his bucket. Felix then realizes that everything he says or does to other people fills or empties their buckets as well.

Follow along with Felix as he learns how easy it can be to fill the buckets of his classmates, teachers, and family members. Before the day is over, you'll see how Felix learns to be a great bucket filler, and in the process, discovers that filling someone else's bucket also fills his own.

Why It's On My Book Shelf: I cannot even begin to describe the healing power of bucket filling in my own school. 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 by authors Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer.

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. 

Unkind behavior = Drips.


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. 

Acts of Kindness = Drops.

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.

Each person receives a DROP during kindness.

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.

A Link to This Book and Others You Might Find Helpful:
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Book Review: Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide To Daily Happiness For Kids


Author: Carol McCloud
Illustrated by David Messing
Interest Level: K-5

From the Book Jacket: Through simple prose and vivid illustrations, this heartwarming book encourages positive behavior as children see how rewarding it is to express daily kindness, appreciation, and love. Bucket filling and dipping are effective metaphors for understanding the effects of our actions and words on the well being of others and ourselves.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: This simple little metaphor gets kids talking about their 'buckets' (happy feelings) like crazy! And it's absolutely why I love it. It's also the reason I chose it as my first blog post. Have You Filled A Bucket Today? is my all time favorite book to use with children. It's a beautiful way to communicate with kids. I've had parents ask me over the years, "Just what is a bucket?" I get asked about it because kids use the language at home. Hint....if you are a parent, get this book! Check out bucket fillers to get turned on to this beautiful book and concept.

A Link To This Book and Others You Might Find Helpful:
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