Have You Filled A Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids

by Carol McCloud, David Messing (Illustrator)

"Children are not the only ones that need to learn how to be truly happy. It's all in the bucket, that invisible bucket that follows you everywhere. . . teaches young readers valuable lessons about giving, sharing, and caring. This guide to daily happiness, though, is not just for kids. We all need reminders of the benefits of positive thinking and positive behavior. It's an important lesson to teach and remind us all . . . that showing kindness and appreciation of others goes along way to making this world a happier place for everyone, including ourselves. A classic tale, beautifully told and beautifully shared." -Emily-Jane Hills Orford, Readers' Favorite Book Reviews
 
While using a simple metaphor of a bucket and a dipper, author Carol McCloud illustrates that when we choose to be kind, we not only fill the buckets of those around us, but also fill our OWN bucket!   Conversely,when we choose to say or do mean things, we are dipping into buckets.  All day long, we are either filling up or dipping into each other's buckets by what we say and what we do. When you're a bucket filler, you make the world a better place to be! This 32-page picture book is perfect for children,parents, grandparents,  teachers and people that want to teach empathy, nurture kindness and create a positive environment in their home, classroom, workplace and community.
 
Winner of 16 awards. For more information on bucket filling or free downloadables and resources, please visit bucketfillers101.com.

Publications by Bucket
·Have You Filled a Bucket Today?
·Fill a Bucket
·Growing Up with a Bucket Full of Happiness
·My Bucketfilling Journal
·Will You Fill My Bucket?
·Bucket Filling from A to Z
·Bucket Filling from A to Z Poster Set
·My Very Own Bucket Filling from A to Z Coloring Book
·BABY'S BUCKET Book
·Halle and Tiger with their Bucketfilling Family
·Buckets, Dippers, and Lids

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Friendship, Nonfiction, Emotion, Parenting, School

32 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2006

About the author

Carol McCloud, the "Bucket Lady," is the author of ten books, which began with the ever-popular "Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids" in 2006. By trade, Carol is a speaker, author, and certified emotional intelligence trainer. Her books have sold more than three million copies and have been translated into many different languages and in different formats. A champion for bucket filling, Carol works with a powerful presenter team who strive to help people of all ages and occupations lead happier lives by growing in kindness, self-control, resilience, and forgiveness.

For more information, visit bucketfillers101.com or on your favorite social media channel at @BucketFillers1.

Reviews

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the simple concept, but a mighty important one, of introducing wellness early on to children, which is why I'm a big fan of this book. I'm glad to see many teachers endorsing it at the schools I visit.

[Cheri Ragland · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Have You Filled Your Bucket Today?" is a book about feelings and making the right choices. This book is a simple guide for children to share and learn good thoughts and good feelings. The book uses an invisible bucket, that everyone has, to help illustrate how to fill your bucket and how you would feel with your bucket full. In contrast, it speaks of a bucket dipper and how that feels when you become a bucket dipper. For example, the author writes, "A bucket dipper says or does mean things that make others feel bad". Carol McCloud does an excellent job of illustrating through pictures with vivid colors and allows any age group to benefit from the moral of the book. She also uses repetition throughout the book, giving the reader an ability to learn how to read. When I read this book, I enjoyed the pictures relating to the story. I appreciated the diversity of the book as well. It was truly a "Guide to Daily Happiness for kids". As a teacher, I would read this book on the first day of school to help children understand that we all have feelings and we need to treat everyone with the same respect we would want from them. It would allow for a lot of engagement and activities throughout the school year that would help advance children in their values of themselves and one another.

[Kris · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is used by the teachers in the K-2 of my kids' school, along with How Full is Your Bucket? The message of both is easy for kids to understand, and I think it is helpful. It is a nice way to get kids to think about how what they do effects others.

Totally downgrading this review upon reread because I don't know how I failed to notice the terribly stereotyping illustrations at the beginning. I can get over the gawdawful font choice, but not the kid in a sombrero and the cartoonish version of what the artist would probably call an Eskimo. I have no idea how I missed this unless it wasn't in the paperback and is in the hardcover.

[Ezekiel · Rating 1 out of 5]

For a book all about helping others and treating others with respect, it sure is messed up that people with disabilities and people of color are primarily shown as the people who need "help" and support. The "you" is almost always a white kid, and the initial picture at the beginning setting up how everyone in the world has a "bucket" is super tokenizing.

[সন্ধ্যাশশী বন্ধু · Rating 5 out of 5]

শিশুদের সহবত শেখানো জরুরি। একটা শিশু শৈশবে যা শিখে,বড়বেলায় তার কাজ কর্মে সেসবের প্রভাব থাকে। তাই শৈশবে যদি বাচ্চা কে নম্রতা শেখানো হয়,সে বড় বেলায় নম্র,বিনয়ী,সজ্জন হওয়ার সম্ভাবনা থাকে। কিন্তু বাচ্চা কালে যদি শিশু জবড়জং করা শেখানো হয়,বড় হয়ে সে জানোয়ার ই হবে। তাই প্রত্যক মানুষের ক্ষেত্রে শৈশবের সময় টা খুব জরুরি। প্রত্যক বাবা মা'র উচিত তার বাচ্চার শৈশব টা যাতে সুন্দর হয়,সেদিকে নজর দেয়া।

" তুমি কি আজ বালতি ভরেছ? " বইতে খুব সাবলিল ভাবে শিশুদের মনস্তাত্ত্বিক বিকাশের বার্তা তুলে ধরা হয়েছে। অসাধারণ সব সুন্দর ছবি ও ব্যবহার করা হয়েছে। প্রত্যক শিশুকে সম্ভব হলে এই বই বুঝিয়ে পড়ানো উচিত,অন্তত একবার।

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I borrowed this book from my son's elementary school library (where I volunteer weekly) after learning about the author at an anti-bullying workshop the school held. I was looking for Growing Up with a Bucket Full of Happiness: Three Rules for a Happier Life but our library didn't have it (eventually I ordered it for the library). They did have this title instead. I pre-read any book that I read to my children to make sure it's appropriate and this book has a really good message. It teaches children to be nice to others and when they are nice to others they will not only fill their own invisible bucket but they will fill others buckets as well. I definitely will be reading this book to my kids and hope that they will grow up to be bucket fillers and not bucket dippers. It's a great book with illustrations appropriate for kids. I definitely want to pick up my own copy of this book for our household library.

[معصومه توکلی · Rating 4 out of 5]

عنوان ترجمهٔ فارسی: سطل‌های نامرئی

[Adele · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have heard so many teachers talk about how kids connect with this book and how effective it can be in helping create a culture of kindness in the classroom. But I personally find the fact that almost everyone in the book is white, everyone is assumed to have a mom and dad, the bus driver must be a man and the teacher a woman, etc. to be so off-putting that I almost don’t want to teach it. Also the only image we have of a character with visible disabilities is a page that says “you could invite the new kid at school to play with you” featuring a seemingly able-bodied child filling the bucket of a child in a wheelchair. Why couldn’t the wheelchair user be the bucket filler instead of the person depending on the kindness of an able-bodied child?

I know these things seem small, but when we read picture books aloud to children, the illustrations speak to them even more powerfully than the words we read. I think this book is useful but it’s due for a remake. True kindness requires being able to envision a just world full of people of all kinds.

Edited to add:
I really appreciate other reviewers who have pointed out even more issues, such as the blatant stereotypes of people from around the world on the first page, and the fact that when a white character and a character of color are in the same scene, the white character is filling the bucket of the character of color on every page but one. It’s actually infuriating that the illustrations of a book about kindness are pure stereotypes and condescending saviorism. Anybody have a good alternative to this book??

[Gwyneth Carson · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud and David Messing.After reading this book to my class they have adopted all that it stands for. I hea...moreHave You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud and David Messing.After reading this book to my class they have adopted all that it stands for. I hear my second graders saying "Not me, I'm a bucket filler not a bucket dipper!" I have even brought in a bucket that sits on a book shelf where my students can write quick notes of good deeds they have done which makes them a bucket filler. No one wants to be a bucket dipper in my class. The students have make their own bucket filler and bucket dipper books to help guide them to know the difference. This book is a must have for the teacher who needs a little extra support in classroom management.

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

I dislike this book so much! I get that it's a response to bullying and the message is meant to teach children to get along with one another...but let's step back into reality for just a minute. Emotions and feelings come in both the good and bad variety...sometimes others actions affect how we feel. I can be sad and still have a "full bucket"...I can be happy and have an "empty bucket" on a deeper level. We should be nice and helpful but sometimes we will have a bad day...and all of my emotions/feelings requires zero buckets imaginary or otherwise.

[Lady Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderfully written and illustrated book for children between the ages of 4-9.

The idea of this book is to teach and guide children in learning how they can "fill the imaginary bucket that everyone in the world possesses, and the buckets of others" by treating people with kindness and respect.
They are also taught that you can empty their bucket and the bucket of others by being unkind and disrespectful.

[Kristle Pipgras · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an adorable book that really helps children and adults alike learn to be a bucket filler. If you have children, are a teacher, or generally have a difficult time finding reasons to be kind in life, you should read this book.

[Sydney McClure · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book to read to all students in any grade because it helps students to reflect on how they treat others. This correlates with anti-bullying programs and procedures at schools.

[Erin Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable! Should be required reading for all 5 year olds :-)

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellie read this one to us. She really likes this book. We have read it many times before and within weeks of reading it we always ask or tell each other when they filled out "bucket"...krb 7/18/16

[Alison Strandell · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great message that all humans walk around with an invisible bucket, and it is our job to "fill" people's buckets through positivity and kindness.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful book for children. It teaches them that if they are kind to others they will make themselves happier too.

[Gabriella Carvell-Turner]

“Have You Filled a Bucket Today?” is a book about feelings and making the right choices. This is a guide to use with others in order to learn and share good ideas and feelings with one another. Carol McCloud describes how everyone in the world has their very own invisible bucket and through actions and words you will either fill a bucket or dip a bucket. To help the children understand what makes a bucket filler examples are given such as smiling and saying ‘hi’ to the bus driving or letting the new kid at school play with you. In contrast, it talks about what it is to be a bucket dipper and how it feels when you become a bucket dipper - “A bucket dipper says and does mean things that make others feel bad”.
The metaphor used throughout the book- that we all have our own invisible bucket - is not a new idea, however, is described extremely well in this book - especially for the younger audience. This is such a lovely metaphor for why it is important to be kind and caring to others. Repetition is used a lot - ensuring this book is accessible to all ages. This not only helps the younger readers to understand the moral of the story but will also help them to read.
The illustrations by David Messing make this book truly engaging for the reader, I feel they really bring the story to life. The diversity of the book really rings true to the fact of being kind to everyone and how everyone around the world has their own invisible bucket.

This is a great topic that can be used with any age and year in primary schools.
I look forward to reading this story to my class one the first day or in the first week of school as part of a PSHE lesson. I feel this book is a good introduction into a class- as the teacher you are able to set expectations on behaviour linking to filling and dipping buckets and after reading this book, as a class you could build a set of class rules - as the class would have a better understanding on the impact of being kind and caring to those around them.
Another great time to use this book would be during ‘wellbeing week’, which is becoming very popular more recently in schools. I used this book with a year 4 class during wellbeing week on second placement. Prior to reading this book with the class, they had each been given someone in the class that they had to do kind and caring gestures to. So after reading this book and having a discussion, they were put into groups and each was given a bucket drawn on sugar paper. They had post it notes that they had to stick inside the bucket with ideas of what they could do this week to others that would fill their bucket. We also had a whole class discussion on what actions could dip someone's bucket.
Linked to this- we got the children to draw their own buckets filled with ideas on how to fill others buckets. When completed this was put onto a display board in the school hall.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Normally I wouldn't add a children's book to my list, but here's an exception. I was so impressed by this book when I first saw it that I went out and bought it for a future child I might have (whenever that may happen)! The story line makes it very easy for a young child to learn the difference between doing good and doing bad with the use of an invisible bucket that 'everyone in the world carries with them.' When you do good things you fill the buckets of others and your own. When you do bad things you take away from the bucket of others and your own.

I've told all the teachers I know about this book because it screams "use me as a little lesson plan!" A teacher could have all of her children make little buckets out of construction paper and post them up on a bulletin board or wall. Then throughout the year as each child does something good he or she could get a sticker to add to his or her bucket (or taken away if they act in an unkind way). The book ends asking the child if they've filled a bucket today. At the end of the year the teacher would be able to ask the children if they had filled their buckets that year or should work on it and try harder next year.

I think this book is fantastic!!!!!

[Vernon Area Public Library KIDS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommended for children of all ages. This colorful, simple book shares a beautiful message. Everyone throughout the world carries with them "a bucket". In that bucket we carry all of our good feelings and thoughts about ourselves. Other people fill our bucket when they say and do nice things. And we can do the same for other people. Kids are encouraged not to be "bucket dippers". Bucket Dippers try to fill up their own empty buckets by dipping into other people's buckets by being mean and bullying others. But try as they might, Bucket Dippers can't fill their bucket by taking out the happiness out of other people's buckets. With great suggestions of ways that we can fill the buckets of other people, everyday, this is a great book to teach children compassion and kindness. Let's all try to be bucket-fillers!

Review by Lisa Coleman, Youth Services, Vernon Area Public Library

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a story really. It's sort of like non-fiction for kids. Any book that makes me super emotional in a good way gets five stars. Yes, it teaches and preaches, but today that worked for me. The metaphor that we all have buckets that need filling is not new, but it is explained well in this book. The book gives good suggestions too. It all rings true to me. I like the illustrations too. I would recommend this book.

A bit later: I just told my daughter who is a second grade teacher about this book. She said, "I just read that book at school today!" Apparently, the school where she teaches had all the teachers read a couple of pages of the book and recorded it on camera. They are making a video to show the students in the school. That just makes me happy.

[Alice Maton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely metaphor for how to be kind and bullying. If you are a bucket filler, you are kind to each other to make others happy. If you are a bucket dipper, you are a bully and take from others to make them sad but that doesnt fill their bucket. This can help children to think about their words and actions affect others. Children can make examples of things that will fill others buckets. This can create a positive, kind ethos in the classroom. It is simple but effective. Children could even make their own buckets that can be in the classroom to be filled, by themselves or others.

[Gricel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must to read book to children to teach them how to be part of their community in a positive loving way. It's message is really powerful and very, very easy to understand in the way that it is presented. Children and parents can realize how easy and rewarding it is to express love and kindness with everybody around them. High quality book. The illustrations are very vivid and colorful. Multicultural. Ages 4-10.

[Vera Godley]

In Have You Filled A Bucket Today? basically takes you through the gentle procedure of filling buckets and finding happiness in doing so. The text is short and to the point giving a variety of activities and instances in which you can share happiness and joy in filling buckets. The illustrations by David Messing are really cute and engaging.

I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review of my honest opinion and was not compensated.

[Allison]

This book shapes our classroom philosophy! We always talk about being bucket fillers to others (and ourselves). This book shows children how they can express feelings, show respect for other people, and give of themselves. I have also heard of this book being read to help children learning about friendships have more success with peers.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this book!! What a simple concept, and easy to visualize, to encourage kids to be kind to one another, and thereby make themselves happy as well. I've got to order this for my library. Outstanding for the young, and a nice reminder for older readers. Highly recommended!!

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really outstanding book for young children (and the not-so-young) to help them understand that everyone needs—and can give—kindness, appreciation and love on a daily basis. Delightful full-color illustrations!

Highly recommended.

[Jennifer Emery · Rating 1 out of 5]

i very much disliked this book... buckets are ment to be spilled

[Jenny Takenaka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both girls connected with this book.

[Samira · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent illustration on how to be kind to people. It was great for my preschool and my older kids.