The Man Who Kept His Heart in a Bucket - Picture Book & KID KANDY

The Man Who Kept His Heart in a Bucket
By Sonia Levitin
Pictures by Jerry Pinkney
(Scholastic Inc., 1991)

Jack, a man who had once had his heart broken, lived in a village and carried his heart in a bucket to prevent if from getting broken again.

Jack was a metal worker of gold, copper, and tin. The time frame of The Man Who Kept His Heart in a Bucket is in the old days. Bartering was the currency for many business transactions.

Jack went about the village, looking for work. At each of three stops, Jack was given a job. After his walk, he stopped at a stream to put water in his bucket to keep his heart fresh. As he tipped the bucket in, a golden carp jumped from the water. Thinking the fish wanted his heart, Jack reached to save it. At that moment, the carp turned into a beautiful girl. Jack stared at the girl, who quickly grabbed his heart.

Instead of giving the heart back, the maiden told Jack to solve a riddle of three golden scales. Only then would he have love in full measure.

The rest of the tale of The Man Who Kept His Heart in a Bucket shows how Jack figured out the answers desired by the maiden. The old, too busy, Jack was transformed into a new man who loved his pretty lady and took the time to enjoy life.

Taylor, my oldest, loved to listen to me read The Man Who Kept His Heart in a Bucket. This story is a great folktale that points readers to seize what is really important.

KID KANDY:

True of False Game - What Can You Keep in a Bucket?

Display a bucket. Play a game with your young readers.

1. First, have each child get an object. Find out if the items fit in the bucket. Do the items fit? True or false. Why or why not? A ball fits in the bucket. True. It is small enough to fit.

2. Move on to concept objects (ones that cannot be held) - love, hearts, eyes, thoughts, and so on. Discuss if they can fit in a bucket. Make the items into a true or false statement. Should they be kept in a bucket? Why not? My head fits in the bucket. False. It is attached to my neck, so it cannot go in the bucket.

3. Brainstorm a list of things that should be kept in a bucket. A cow should be kept in a bucket. False. It is too big. OR Rocks should be kept in the bucket. True. They need to be taken out of the garden.

4. Give each child a plastic beach-type bucket. Go for a nature walk and let them collect items that will fit in the buckets.