#648 of 1001 · May 10, 2022

In Sonia Levitin and @jerrypinkneystudio’s The Man Who Kept His Heart in a Bucket, magical realism gives way to a sweet story of loneliness, warmth, and friendship. Jack lives in a little village, earning a living by crafting goods out of metal. While he does procure a satisfactory wage, he seems unable to enjoy himself or feel positive emotions, for he keeps his heart in a bucket—in order to protect himself from heartbreak. One day, a fish transforms itself into a mysterious maiden before Jack’s eyes, snatches his heart away, and challenges him to solve a riddle. As Jack puzzles out the answer, he slips closer and closer to forming positive connections with those around him. Levitin finds humanistic joy in her light fantasy setting, while Pinkey celebrates the movement and lively energy of the goings-on. #man #heart #bucket #fish #love #book #books #childrensbooks #beautifulbook #beautifulbooks #beautifulbookcover #beautifulbookcovers #picturebook #picturebooks #picturebookillustration #picturebookart #childrensbookillustration #childrensliterature #illustration #kidlit #kidsbooks #bookworm #booklover #booklovers #bibliophile #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #instabook #instabooks