Bucket Fillosophy is an imprint of Bucket Fillers, Inc.
PO Box 255, Brighton, MI 48116 (810) 229-5468
www.bucketfillers101.com
Authors Acknowledgments
In the 1960s, Dr. Donald O. Clifton (1924-2003) first created the Dipper and Bucket story that has now been passed
along for decades. Dr. Clifton later went on to co-author the #1 New York Times bestseller How Full is Your Bucket? and
was named the Father of Strengths Psychology.
A portion of the proceeds from this book is being donated to the Methodist Childrens Home Society in Redford, Michigan,
an organization which has served abused and neglected children for more than one hundred years.
Copyright 2008, 2017 by Carol McCloud
Originally published in 2008 by Ferne Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in
any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any other information storage and retrieval
system, without permission in writing from Bucket Fillers, Inc. Specific requests may be sent to .
Illustrated by David Messing.
Redesigned by Glenn Zimmer.
Edited by Kathleen Marusak.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: McCloud, Carol and Martin, Katherine. | Messing, David, illustrator.
Title: Fill a bucket : a guide to daily happiness for young children / by Carol McCloud and Katherine Martin ; illustrated by
David Messing.
Description: Brighton, MI : Bucket Fillosophy, 2017. | Summary: The concept of a full bucket is an effective metaphor for
a childs healthy self-concept and happiness, most often the result of encouraging words and actions of parents
and others who help a child know they are loved, valued, and capable.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016918056 (print) | ISBN 9780996099974 (paperback) | ISBN 9780996099981 (hardcover) |
ISBN 9781945369063, 9781945369070, 9781945369087 (ebooks)
Subjects: BISAC: JUVENILE NONFICTION / Social Topics / Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance. |
JUVENILE NONFICTION / Social Topics / Bullying.
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2008929764
Printed in the United States on recycled paper.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
Tune: Frre Jacques or Are You Sleeping?
1. Fillabuck etEveryday
2. Fillabuck etEveryday
Ican fillabuck- etYoucantoo
Ilikefillingbuck etsYouwilltoo
1. Fill a bucket. (Fill a bucket.)
Every day. (Every day.)
I can fill a bucket. (I can fill a bucket.)
You can too. (You can too.)
2. Fill a bucket. (Fill a bucket.)
Every day. (Every day.)
I like filling buckets. (I like filling buckets.)
You will too. (You will too.)
The day you were born was a very happy day. It
was your birthday, a day you celebrate every year.
You were a new person and a special gift. You received a
gift tooyour very own name, a name as special as you.
What is your name?
Everyone was so happy to see you.
But, there was one part of you that they could not see.
It was your bucket, your invisible bucket.
Everyone is born with an invisible bucket.
No one can see your bucket, but it is always with you.
Your bucket is a very important part of you.
It is an important part of everyone.
Your bucket holds all the love and happiness you receive
each day. When your bucket is full, you feel happy.
When your bucket is empty, you feel sad.
Its good to have a full bucket.
Every day, your family and lots of other people help fill
your bucket. When your daddy kisses and tickles you,
he fills your bucket. Your giggles fill his bucket, too.
When your mommy smiles and tells you she loves you,
she is filling your bucket. Your smiles fill her bucket, too.
When your sister or your brother snuggles and reads
to you, your buckets fill up even more.
When your grandpa or your grandma plays with you,
everyones bucket is filled.
Look! Your bucket is so full! It is full of happy thoughts
and lots of love. So many people have filled your bucket.
You can fill their buckets, too.
Bucket filling is like magic. When you fill a bucket by being
kind and loving, your bucket fills up, too.
You can do so many things to fill buckets every day.
When you listen and help, you are filling a bucket.
Your bucket fills up more.
When you say please and thank you,
your magic words fill buckets.
When you play and share your toys, everyone is happy.
Everyones invisible bucket is filled.