When My Bottle Gets Too Full
About:
Everyone has a special bottle inside them where their feelings collect.
Sometimes it stays calm, but when frustration, sadness, worry, and excitement build up, the bottle can become fizzy, bubbly, and ready to overflow.
Through gentle rhyme and a relatable metaphor, When My Bottle Gets Too Full helps children understand their big emotions and discover the importance of talking to someone they trust.
This heartfelt story encourages young readers to recognize their feelings, express them in healthy ways, and remember that they never have to carry their worries alone.
When My Bottle Gets Too Full: Understanding Our Really Big Feelings
Genre: Children’s Literature
Format: Children’s Book
Publication Status: Traditionally published
Intended Audience: Children, Ages 0 to 12.
Comparable Films / Books:
Disney Pixar’s Float, Nonna, Loop
Notable Achievements:
Over 250 copies sold since November 2025. Used in many classrooms, libraries, and by local counselors. Also a resource in the AIDE Canada resource library.
Content Considerations
Content Warnings:
- N/A
Additional Notes:
About the Author
For the past 21 years, Cristina McAllister has shared her love of literature, theatre, and the arts as an English and Drama teacher in Burnaby, British Columbia. As the Visual and Performing Arts Department Head at her high school, she is dedicated to nurturing creativity and confidence in students. Cristina is also an emerging children's book author, excited to bring imaginative stories to life for young readers.
Short Film Adaptation Idea
gentle live-action short told through the eyes of a young child navigating an ordinary day. Invisible to everyone else, colorful fizzy bubbles appear with every emotion they experience, from excitement and joy to frustration, disappointment, and worry. Each bubble drifts into a special bottle the child carries, slowly filling it as the day unfolds.
As the bottle grows fuller, the child's emotions become harder to contain. Small moments begin to feel overwhelming until, in a public setting, the pressure finally builds too high and the bottle bursts. What follows is a vulnerable moment that reveals what emotional overload can look like through a child's eyes.
Guided by a trusted adult, the child learns that feelings are not meant to be trapped inside. Through conversation, connection, and understanding, they discover how to release the bubbles safely, emptying the bottle before it overflows.
Blending whimsical visual storytelling with authentic childhood experiences, When My Bottle Gets Too Full is a heartfelt exploration of emotional regulation, reminding children and adults alike that sharing our feelings can transform overwhelm into connection.
