Billy's Bucket

I've been wanting to talk about this book for a long time. It's one I go back to time and again.



It's Billy's birthday, and he wants an unusual present. He won't be talked into anything normal like a new pair of sneakers or a bike. No! Billy wants a bucket for his birthday.

Mom and Dad don't like the idea. Like mom says, "buckets are far too bucketty to be a birthday present." So starts Billy's Bucket by Kes Grey. After a little pleading, Billy gets his way.

Where does one go to get the perfect bucket? Buckets R' Us, of course. Once Billy finds his bucket, amongst a warehouse full of them, it's time for some adventure because when Billy fills his bucket with water it turns into... an ocean.

In his excitement, Billy tells his parents about the creatures is his bucket. Mom and Dad don't believe a word of it and have some good laughs over their sons "imagination". Boy are they in for a surprise.

I love that Billy knows just the right bucket to choose. It cracks me up that Billy's parents heckle him but Billy keeps right on being chipper about all the cool things he's seeing. I adore Garry Parson's illustrations; Billy's head appearing at the top of the ocean like a full moon.

Billy's Bucket is a bucket full of imagination and fun, and while I might omit a couple of adjectives, it certainly makes for a great story time read.

Billy's Bucket, written by Kes Gray and illustrated by Garry Parsons, is published by Candlewick Press.