How Full Is Your Bucket For Kids (by Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer)

3/5 = Liked It

Momma: What did you do today that filled your bucket?
AJ: I don't know...My bucket was kind of empty because I didn't get to play with Priscilla.
Momma: Is there something else that might help fill your bucket?  Doesn't playing with your cousin fill your bucket?
AJ: Little bit.
Momma: How about you, Fox?  Does playing with AJ help fill your bucket?
Fox: Yes.  I have a lot of things.
Momma: Well, did either of you do anything that filled someone else's bucket today?
Fox: Oh, listening!  I listened to [my gym teacher] today.  Listening fills buckets.
Momma: That's right!  You know what you did that filled my bucket today?  You gave me hugs and kisses.  I'm sure AJ gave his momma and daddy hugs and kisses and I bet that helped fill their buckets today!  Do hugs and kisses fill your bucket?
AJ/Fox: Yes.
Momma: Maybe we can think of a way to fill Daddy's bucket when he gets home.  Do you have any ideas of what you can do to fill his bucket?  What does he like?  What would make him happy?
Fox: We can walk on the trail.
Momma: Yes!  I bet he would love that.  How about you, AJ?  What will you do to fill your daddy's bucket today?  How about giving him hugs and kisses?
AJ: Yes.  I do that all the time.
Momma: You know what else fills my bucket?  I love when Fox cuddles with me and reads to me.
Fox: Do you want me to read to you later?
Momma: Yes!  I would love that.  But we could wait until Daddy gets home because I know that will help fill his bucket, too.

Kindergarten Rules! by Catherine Hapka

3/5 = Liked It

Fox's six-year-old cousin AJ was our guest critic.  We love reading books with our family and friends!

Momma: What is your favorite rule at school?
Fox: No running.
AJ: No pushing.  Because if someone pushes you, you might get knocked out and you might hit your head and you might have to go to the doctor before you pass out!
Momma: That's right.  We don't want kids to get hurt.  Rules are important because they help keep us safe.
Fox: Also, there are rules to keep people with knives out of the school.
Momma: That's right.  There are even rules for grown-ups!  They have rules that tell parents where and how to come in the school so the teachers and staff always knows who is there.  Rules are great because they keep us safe; and when we're safe, we can fun!

Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress (by Christine Baldacchino)

2/5 = OK

Momma: What did Morris Micklewhite like to wear?
Fox: A dress.
Momma: How did his classmates feel about that?
Fox: Funny.  It was funny to them.  They wouldn't let him on the spaceship they made.  And they didn't let him sit by them.
Momma:  Why?
Fox: Because they didn't like that he was wearing a dress.  They didn't like that he was a boy wearing a dress.
Momma: How do you think Morris felt about that?
Fox: Sad.
Momma: Do you think his classmates were behaving well?
Fox: No.  But the next time the boys were [nice] to him.
Momma: That's right.
Fox: But the girl wasn't nice.
Momma: She wanted the dress.
Fox: She said, "Boys don't wear dresses!"  And he said the right thing.  He said she could have it when he was done with it.
Momma: This is a good book because it tells you that you should be kind to people even if they're different than you are.
Fox: And he was.   

Loula is Leaving for Africa (by Anne Villeneuve)

3/5 = Liked It

Momma: Why did Loula decide to go to Africa?
Fox: Because of her mean, stinky brothers.  That's what she called them.
Momma: That's right.  Does she actually go to Africa?
Fox: No.
Momma: Her driver friend takes her to the playground and they pretend that it's an adventure and they're going to Africa.  What happens in the end?
Fox: They go home.  I remember one part I liked.  I liked the stuffed animal cat!

Wild Berries (by Julie Flett)

2/5 = OK

Momma: It looks like Clarence and his grandma went to the woods to pick berries.  What type of berries were they picking?
Fox: Blueberries.  Can we find blueberries somewhere?
Momma: We can.  You know what else people like to pick in the summer?  Strawberries!
Fox: Can we pick strawberries sometime?
Momma: Yes.  You know an interesting thing about this book?
Fox: What?
Momma: It has words in English and words in Cree.  And in the end it has a recipe for blueberry jam.  Would you like to make blueberry jam sometime?
Fox: Yes!  [Our neighbor] Paul made us strawberry jam, right?  Can I have some on my peanut butter and jelly sandwich today?
Momma: Absolutely.  Let's tell daddy that you'd like that for lunch today.

Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns About Sportsmanship: Winning Isn't Everything

4/5 = Really Liked 

Little Fox says: "I like [Howard] the bunny and I like that the book was funny."

Momma: In the book, the coach says, "Sometimes there are more importatnt things than winning." What is more important than winning?
Fox: Following directions...making the right choice...
Momma: That's right.  And what else? What do Momma and Daddy say when you play soccer?  Do we say, "Get out there and WIN!"?
Fox:  You say, "Be happy and have fun!"
Momma: That's right.  We like to watch you have fun.  We love to watch you play fair and be respectful and have fun working with your team.

Liam Wins the Game, Sometimes: A Story about Losing with Grace (by Jane Whelen Banks)

2/5 = OK

Little Fox says: "I like this book because they were playing games."

Momma: What makes a person a good sport?
Fox: Being nice.  Right?
Momma: Nice when they win?  Or nice when they lose?
Fox: Both!

Hen's Pens (by Phil Roxbee Cox)

3/5 = Liked It

Little Fox says: "I like this book because the hen's eggs had a snake in it!"

Here Comes Destructosaurus (by Aaron Reynolds)

4/5 = Really Liked

Little Fox says: "I like monsters!"

Momma: I remember people kept telling Destructosaurus to do things like wipe his feet; the sorts of things parents often say to their kids.  Why did Destructosaurus make such a big mess in the city?

Fox: He made a mess because he was trying to find his teddy bear!