The Man Who Kept His Heart in a Bucket

by Sonia Levitin, Jerry Pinkney (Illustrator)

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.

Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Romance

40 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Sonia Levitin is a German-American novelist, artist, producer, Holocaust Survivor, and author of over forty novels and picture books for young adults and children, as well as several theatrical plays and published essays on various topics for adults. Her book Incident at Loring Groves won an Edgar Allan Poe Award.

Reviews

[Misbah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh man first of all the pictures are AMAZIMG. I wish I could paint like that.

Secondly, the story is beautiful. A man who once had his heart broken, keeps it in a bucket to save it from harm. But protecting his heart had made him numb to the good things of the world. One day while fetching water in his bucket a magical fish grabs his heart and turns into a lady. The lady says she'll give the man his heart back if he solves a riddle. The riddle sends him around town and now he sees all the things he was missing. Noire he knows his heart is in the right place, in love. And is made him a happier person in the process.

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

With a tittle like this, you expect something unusual and amusing. Ass illustrated by the ever-talented Jerry Pinkney, we get a story of a man foolish enough to think he can guard his feelings by removing his heart to a tin pail.

Mr. Pinkney cleverly never shows us the misplaced organ, only the result: the silly Jack can’t feel any emotions at all. Like the wizard in J. K. Rowling’s short story, The Hairy Heart, Jack is dead to anything except physical sensation.

It’s a moralistic but sweet fable complete with a magical shapeshifting animal, a riddle and a happy-ever-after ending. It’s a fine children’s tale, original, tender and heartwarming (heh!).

[Keenan Story · Rating 4 out of 5]

Traditional Fantasy
3rd-4th grade reading level
This is a tale about a man who keeps his heart in a bucket to keep it safe, but because of that, he struggles to feel emotion and love as he lives life. Once a maiden steals his heart, he must find her to get it back. Its a great book that teaches many valuable lessons about the importance of relationships and be benefits of being open with other people. I think the book is great for young readers with an easy story to follow that is fun and engaging as well!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Donated to the Used Bookstore where I work, a big find illustrated by Jerry Pinkney years ago! Jack the Tinker has had his heart broken in the past so he keeps it safe in a bucket as he goes along throughout this day. One day a young maiden steals it and challenges him to solve a riddle before he'll get it back. It's a curious tale showing help from others and for sure, kind hearts indeed with some love mixed in. It would make a fun read-aloud and discussion and no surprise, Pinkney's illustrations are wonderful!

[Taylor Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Historical Fiction
Grade: 2-4

This is a sweet tale about a man with a broken heart carrying it around until one day he finds it again. I like the art and the message. I think that this book can teach us a good lesson about enjoying the things around you. This book would be a great for individual reading or in a group setting.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack's heart was broken once, so to keep it safe he carried it in a bucket. As a result he didn't enjoy anything. One day a magic fish stole his heart and tasked him to a challenge to get it back. This is an interesting tale with gorgeous illustrations and a lovely ending.

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Because Jack's heart was once broken he kept his heart in a bucket until a magical fish stole his heart and turned into a beautiful woman. The only way to get his heart back is to answer her riddle.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow, what a fine book this is. i highly recommend for your valentine shelf. it is nicely written, inventive, and marvelously illustrated by pinkney. a real treat!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The paintings in this book are lovely. The story line is a wonderful look at how moving beyond a broken heart can bring the heart to a better place. Deep meaning for a children’s book.

[Gena Lott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This rather silly tale is a wonderful allegory that definitely gives the reader pause.

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

May be over smaller children's heads, but there is a good message.

[Kezia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haven't read it in five years.
Still remember it five years later.
I like it.

[Alexia Mathews]

This book was very deep and symbolic. Jack was the village tinker who made pots and pans. After previously having his heart broke, Jack keeps his heart in a bucket to keep it safe. He thinks that he is protecting himself when he is really robbing himself of the joys in life. It seemed like nothing could make him happy. A carp that turned into a maid stole jacks heart and said he could have it back if Jack answered her riddle. This was a blessing in disguise for Jack. Ironically, when Jacks heart was taken, he was able to enjoy the good things in life that he had previously been missing out on whilst trying to solve this riddle. Each clue he encountered made him joyful. The author uses a playful plot as well as beautiful illustrations to amplify the story. I would recommend this story for middle schoolers because while it is a picture book, it takes maturity to fully understand the concept. I think adults would enjoy this book too because it’s a fun tale that has a very meaningful lesson behind it. This would be a good book to read aloud to a class that appreciates a fun tale!

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Heloyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delightful story. Extraordinary artwork by Jerry Pinkney

[Annie Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun little fairy tale with beautiful artwork!

[Kathryn Brewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a delightful story about a man on the journey to find his heart again and he ends up finding a wife. It's a fun short story to have in a classroom for kids to read.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story. Liked the artwork.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Text to text: Jeffer's Heart in a bottle