Book Review - A Bucket Full of Love (children)

A Bucket Full of Love
A Book for children of divorced single dads who are missing their absent mom.
Author:  H.C. Wingert
Copyright © 2008 H. C. Wingert
Outskirts Press, Inc.
http://www.outskirtspress.com/ or http://www.abucketfulloflove.com/
ISBN: 978-1-4327-2604-1
24 pages
Source:  PDF edition from the author

(from the press release) "A Bucket Full of Love is a book for ages four and older that provides compassionate answers. It follows the emotions of a little girl who feels sad and lonely. She lives with her dad and she hasn't seen her mom for a long time. She misses her so much that she tries to come up with reasons for her absence and how she might solve the problem. Finally she gets to share her pain with Grandma. Will Grandma's advice enable her to cope with her sadness and confusion? The book will teach Kids the reality and value of the love that surrounds them--from dad, grandma, grandpa, as well as siblings."

A Bucket Full of Love is a beautifully written answer for children living with their fathers following divorce and for their families.  This children's book lovingly assures the child(ren) that their mother still loves them despite her absence in the family, using the analogy of a bucket.

 

I was very touched reading this children's book.  Though written for a somewhat limited audience, it would be suitable in a school library, a public library, and in a counsellor's, psychologist's or psychiatrist's office as an aid in assisting children through the emotional upheavals of divorce.  It could also be adapted for use within a family where one parent is deceased.

 
There is another version written for children of divorced parents missing their absent fathers. (see interview with the author).

Rated:  4.5/5

Copies of A Bucket Full of Love are available for purchase at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Outskirts Press.


About the Author:

H. C. Wingert has authored her own newsletter for many years and has been published in several newspapers. She enjoyed a multi-faceted career as mother, in the administration field, in management and most recently as independent professional.

H. C. Wingert was born in the Czech Republic, grew up in Germany and has a degree as an Industrial Business Merchant, earned in Germany. She also obtained a Management Degree at Montclair State College in New Jersey and she resides with her husband in Southern California. For more information, visit the author's webpage www.outskirtspress.com/H.C.Wingert .

Interview With the Author:

What is the title of your book?
A Bucket Full of Love (about kids w. dads), also A Bucket Full of Love (for Mommy’s little girl) (about kids living w. mom) This one is published through Xlibris – available also through  Amazon.com

What is your book about?

A Bucket Full of Love is a book for ages four and older that provides compassionate answers. It follows the emotions of a little girl who feels sad and lonely. She lives with her dad and she hasn't seen her mom for a long time. She misses her so much that she tries to come up with reasons for her absence and how she might solve the problem. Finally she gets to share her pain with Grandma. Will Grandma's advice enable her to cope with her sadness and confusion? The book will teach kids the reality and the value of the love that surrounds them--from dad, grandma, grandpa, as well as siblings.

Why did you decide to write it?

Almost 1 in 2 marriages end up in divorce and 65% of those involve children. There isn’t a child alive that hasn’t been touched by divorce. I am the child of divorce and helped my granddaughters successfully deal with the divorce of their parents. They treasure and quote the bucket whenever they get disappointed or sad.

How did you get your book published?

I never tried to find a regular publisher, I never was very patient. I had heard it takes forever and I wanted to get the book out to the children that need it – so I heard about self-publishing and pursued this venue with Outskirts Press.

What types of readers will be interested in your book?

Even though it deals with divorce, many lessons can be learned from this book by all kinds of children, such as empathy, tolerance, understanding, and most of all the confidence that all children possess “a bucket full of love”.

What is special about your book? What differentiates it from other books in the same category?

There are many good books about divorce out there, some are lighter and some are more serious. This book lets children know that the parent understands their concerns, worries, feelings of guilt and tolerates their longing for the other parent, therefore, it lets parents and children form a much closer bond.

Have you published any other books? Do you plan to publish more?

A Bucket Full of Love (about children living with their dad) (published through Outskirts) was followed by A Bucket Full of Love (for Mommy’s little Girl) about children living with their mom (published through Xlibris).

My next book is called “You’re always Part of my Heart” about a little boy who just got a new baby sister, and he is confused and sad because the whole household, including him, had to change somewhat to accommodate the new baby. He then takes heart and queries the whole family about their love for him, and he discovers that no new love can replace another because no two loves are alike. He learns a lesson that will reassure him and help him for the rest of his life.