Category Archives: Inspiring Book Finds

Have you helped fill someone’s bucket today?  And no, I don’t actually mean with water, sand, or potting soil.

Authors Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer fill buckets every time someone reads their children’s book How Full Is Your Bucket? for Kids.  So does illustrator Maurie J. Manning.  Want to learn how?

The aptly titled How Full Is Your Bucket? for Kids is based on the adult edition How Full Is Your Bucket, a #1 New York Times bestseller.  This delightful and empowering story teaches children and adults what bucket filling is all about.

First we learn that we each have our own imaginary bucket.  Granted, some children are not thinking in metaphors at the age they most enjoy picture books.  In my humble opinion, a little guidance may be in order while reading to your young, concrete thinking child.  We don’t literally have buckets of water floating above our heads all day long.  We can, however, learn which actions fill us up and which ones empty us, that is, with a little help from a bucket.

How do we feel when our buckets are empty?

How do we react to other people when that happens?

How do other people react to us?

Manning’s beautiful illustrations help address these important questions and more in a lighthearted, easy to understand way.

I must admit, I initially grew a bit concerned while reading examples of how to fill our buckets.  Felix, the main character, began to fill his own empty bucket by receiving compliments from others.  I wholeheartedly support cheering for children after a job well done.  I do not agree, however, with encouraging reliance on praise in order to feel good about ourselves.  Better to form internal mechanisms for self empowerment than to create unhealthy dependence on other people’s opinions.  Then again, that’s just my opinion.

As it turns out, my concern only lasted for, oh, a fraction of a moment.  The authors, being the research focused professionals that they are, include a variety of ways to fill our own buckets.  They placed plenty of emphasis on one of my favorite bucket-filling methods, helping other people fill theirs.

If you’re a parent, you most likely have already filled your child’s bucket numerous times today.  If you would like a helpful tool for empowering them to do the same, I highly recommend How Full Is Your Bucket? for Kids.  Published by Gallup Press, you can find it along with other Tom Rath bestsellers here.

Parents of 10-14 year olds, you will find resources to help discover your child’s strengths there as well.

Care to help fill some more buckets today (including yours)?  Spread the word about this empowering children’s book!  Pin it.  Tweet it.  Share it.  Find your favorite link below.

If you enjoy this month’s inspiring book find you might also like:

• Incredible You and Unstoppable Me!
• The Dot, Ish and
• The 7 Habits of Happy Kids

Links to Inner Pieces Gallery book finds are non-affiliate links.  They are provided simply for the joy of sharing good books and for supporting the work of inspiring authors and illustrators. Want to show your support, too?  Share this post!

I believe that you cannot start early enough to teach the essential lessons of living a successful and peaceful life.

 

- Dr. Wayne Dyer in the introduction to his children’s book Incredible You

Well said, Dr. Dyer!

Admittedly, Dr. Dyer’s inspirational books for adults are not for everyone.  After all, he did voluntarily rid himself of all possessions and live in silence for a year.   We might admire his strength and courage, but not many of us can relate with such a deep commitment to learning the benefits of stillness.   Some might even call it a bit “strange.”

When it comes to his children’s books, however, the spiritually squeamish have nothing to fear.  His concepts are very much down to earth.   

Both books featured here include 10 important life lessons.  Unstoppable Me, for instance, reminds us that it doesn’t matter if people think we’re strange.  (Phew!) 

Note:  Wayne Dyer clearly has the successful, peaceful life to prove it!

Incredible You – 10 Ways to Let your Greatness Shine Through

Written by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer with Kristina Tracy.  Illustrated by Melanie Siegel.

Based on his earlier work, 10 Secrets for Success and Inner Peace.  

Teaches children they have everything they need within themselves to create happy, successful lives.  Includes lessons such as:

• the power of your thoughts,
• visualizing your dreams, and
• celebrating individuality.

Unstoppable Me! – 10 Ways to Soar Through Life

Written by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer with Kristina Tracy.  Illustrated by Stacy Heller Budnick.

Based on his earlier work, What Do You Really Want for Your Children.

Reinforces no-limit thinking with lessons such as:

• the value of taking risks,
• dealing with stress and anxiety, and
• learning to enjoy each moment.

What I love most about these books is that they include discussion questions about each of the 10 concepts.  Not only do the questions help reinforce life lessons and encourage critical thinking, but parents have an opportunity to open up a dialogue in a fun, relaxed way.  Who knows, your children might reveal something new about what’s happening in that lovely little noggin of theirs!

If you like these book finds you might also like:

The 7 Habits of Happy Kids

The Dot, Ish and

Beautiful Oops!

Links to any Inner Pieces Gallery book finds are non-affiliate links.  They are provided simply for the joy of sharing good books and for supporting the work of inspiring authors.  Want to show your support, too?  Share this post!

I interrupt your regularly scheduled Inner Pieces Gallery Book Find to bring you a special offer alert!

Margie over at Wonda Wedge LOVES teachers, as do I.  If you teach, head on over to www.wondawedge.com and ask about her special discount just for you.

Even if you’re not a teacher, Margie has still “got your back.”  It’s true that her inflatable, easy to travel with, waterproof, comfy, cozy wedge “chair” gives great support for endless activities, but I like it best for READING!

Reading in bed, reading at the pool or park, reading at the beach or in the RV.

Reading in a boat, or with a goat …

Okay, maybe not that last one.  Goats kind of scare me, a little.  Long story.  For another time… or maybe I’ll just keep that one to myself.

Wondawedge can instantly convert your child’s bookshelf into a delightful reading nook.

Here’s a great gift idea that any reader or teacher would love:

• One tote bag, like The Elephants of Style (wink wink), filled with
• one Wondawedge, or 2 or 10,
• and an overflowing amount of some fabulously empowering books!

Oh, and isn’t that a crazy coincidence? I just so HAPPEN to have already reviewed a few of my favorite books for you:

• The 7 Habits of Happy Kids
• The Dot, Ish and
• Beautiful Oops!

Weird, huh?

However you enjoy your reading, be it sitting, reclining, or lying down, Wondawedge will give you an edge!  And no, I don’t receive any special credit for your purchase, but I’d still love it if you share this post!

Look out Stephen Covey.  Your son is looking to put you out of business!

Written by Sean Covey, illustrated by Stacy Curtis, The 7 Habits of Happy Kids, teaches children to incorporate life’s timeless principles BEFORE developing habits that the rest of us must eventually learn to unlearn.

As the senior Covey reminds us, outward greatness is secondary.  Primary greatness is character.

This book is divided into 7 easily digestible short stories.  I recommend one at a time so that each message has a chance to fully brainwash, er, I mean absorb into, your child’s sponge-like noggin.

Each story guides kids in the same character building principles of Stephen Covey’s best seller, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, such as responsibility, respect, and teamwork.

Even more impressive are the parent and teacher guides at the end.  They include discussion questions for you and your child, and even action steps that will help kids incorporate these principles into their daily lives!

Thank you, Sean Covey.  Where WERE you when I was growing up?  Oh yeah, probably practicing how to be a happy kid!

Find The 7 Habits of Happy Kids plus activities for parents, teachers, and kids at Sean Covey’s website http://www.seancovey.com/books_7kids.html.

Links to any Inner Pieces Gallery book finds are non-affiliate links.  They are provided simply for the joy of sharing good books and for supporting the work of inspiring authors.  Want to show your support, too? 

Share this post!

I was so enthralled while reading this month’s book find that I couldn’t just stop there.  When you discover an author that you love, don’t you want to fill your bookshelves with their work?  So, instead of just one review, I bring you a twofer – 2 reviews in 1.  Both children’s stories are beautifully written and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds.  Both simply charm the socks off the parents who read and share these touching life lessons.  Both beautifully express the sentiment here at Inner Pieces Gallery, that honoring self expression and celebrating what we’re made of isn’t just nice, it’s a necessity.  Best of all, both children’s books help kids transform discouragement into empowering boosts of self confidence.  Way to go Mr. Reynolds!

The Dot

This little book about, you guessed it, a dot, brings us a big message about self-expression.  And courage.  And daring to make our mark.  It even inspired an entire movement around encouraging creativity, International Dot Day!  Did someone in your life encourage you to make your mark in the world?

Ish

Think back to your own childhood.  I KNOW, I know, for some of us that was WAY too long ago.  If you can’t remember that far, how about thinking back to at least last week?  Have you ever been ridiculed simply for expressing yourself?   If so, then you can relate to the story of Ish.  A brilliant story about finding one’s own creative voice, this special book helps kids learn to quiet the critics, inner and otherwise, and value being true to

themselves.  That’s one powerful message we can always benefit from, again and again and again.

Find Ish and The Dot and even more great work by Peter Reynolds at http://www.peterhreynolds.com/.

Links to Inner Pieces Gallery book finds are non-affiliate links.  They are provided simply for the joy of sharing good books and for supporting the work of inspiring authors.  Want to show your support, too?  Share this post!

I love to design new pieces for the home, especially for kids’ rooms.  As I blog about the importance of honoring self expression, though, at least once per month I MUST let my inner educator come out and play.  When I find books that are fun to read, fun to explore, AND have a built in message of empowerment, why would I keep that to myself?  Below I share with you my first book find of the month.

I believe that within each of us lives at least a hint of perfectionism.  After all, who among us really WANTS to make a mistake?

Apparently Barney Saltzberg does.  In his delightfully creative book, BEAUTIFUL OOPS!, he shows us how to use our mistakes, mishaps and blunders (yes my friend, we ALL make them) as opportunities to set our imaginations free!

From the very first page you know that you’re in for a special treat.  This book is clearly exciting and mature enough for an older child yet feels as sturdy as an infant’s board book.  That’s important because you’ll want to explore these artistic pages again and again.  Secret fold-always throughout the book show inquisitive minds just how beautiful a smudge, a stain, or a spilled blob of paint can become.

Inner perfectionist beware.  Once you read BEAUTIFUL OOPS!, you and the kids may find yourselves searching for excuses to make more oopses!

Links to all Inner Pieces Gallery book finds are non-affiliate links.  They are provided simply for the joy of sharing good books and for supporting the work of inspiring authors.  Want to show your support, too?  Share this post!