Halfway Herbert and The Big Red Tractor are two marvelous children's books by author Francis Chan. These picture books (recommended for ages 4 to 8) focus on what it means to live as a Christian.

In Halfway Herbert, Herbert is a little boy who does everything halfway. He does half his homework, eats half his meals, and even brushes only half his teeth. Things start to unravel for Herbert when he ties only one shoe. The laces from the untied shoe get caught in his bike wheel, and he crashes into his Dad's car. When questioned, Herbert tells a half-truth. When his father finds out, he uses the opportunity to challenge Herbert on the half way he's been living his life. Herbert's Dad points out that the Bible tells us we're to love God with our whole hearts, and he explains the Spirit will help Herbert do things the whole way. Herbert takes this message to heart and is much happier.

The Big Red Tractor is about a small village and their love for their red tractor. After all, it helps them farm and produce food to live off. However, they've never read the manual, and the villagers work hard for weeks and push the heavy tractor through the fields (instead of turning it on). One day, Farmer Dave finds the owner's manual, reads it, and uses what he learns to fix the tractor (even though the other villagers don't believe him). When he's able to plow the fields in one night, the villagers realize that what Farmer Dave read is true. They are able to plow many fields and share all the extra food with those in need. At the end of the story, Francis Chan points out that God knows how we work best, and the Bible is full of truths that will help us live the life He created us for.

I left these books out on the coffee table. All five of my sons (ages 11, 10, 8, 6, and 5) picked up the books on their own, and the older four told me how much they enjoyed the stories. (My 5-year-old looked at them, but he's not a reader yet.) The illustrations are engaging, and the font is pleasing to the eye. Halfway Herbert and The Big Red Tractor present big truths in a charming, memorable way, and I would highly recommend both books.

Product review by Courtney Larson, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, November 2010