Billy's Bucket

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I, for one know that many early years teachers have read this book aloud to nursery, reception and year one children, and they have all absolutely loved it. Anyone would think that Billy is just using his imagination once they hear what he says is in the bucket but he is actually telling the truth! Billy’s parents are sceptical and are left shocked and surprised one morning after his dad borrows the bucket to wash his car.

After filling it with water, Billy discovers that his bucket is in fact an ocean with a rock pool, crabs and seaweed. The story of course, subtly is reinforcing to children that they do not have to necessarily be materialistic to have good play! The illustrations that go along with the story really let you the reader dive right into Billy’s magical watery world. When Billy fills his bucket with water, it sets in motion mystical forces that defy the laws of nature. His parents laugh it off, but when they borrow the bucket, they have a whale of a problem on their hands.This is when the ‘magic’ happens; every time Billy peers into his bucket he sees a variety of magical watery worlds. This books is brilliant in getting children to use their imagination and seeing what they can find in their own bucket. The book beautifully captures children's use of their imagination and takes the reader on an adventure on what can been seen inside Billy's bucket. When he found the special one he was looking for he filled it with water and then he could see many amazing things. This is such a lovely, beautiful, light-hearted story that gets your brain thinking as to why a boy would want a bucket for his birthday.

Each time Billy looks into his bucket he sees his imaginative sea world with sharks, stingrays, clownfish, and mermaids in his bucket. We finished the day reading one of our favourite stories from the Autumn term, Somebody Swallowed Stanley.Re read the book encouraging children to join in with some of the things Billy says such as ‘You must never ever borrow my bucket. Children could bring in their own buckets and decide what kind of things they would like to imagine being inside it. But Mum and Dad are sceptical and, when Dad unwittingly uses the bucket to clean his car, he's in for a big surprise!