Halfway Herbert

by Francis Chan, Matt Daniels (Illustrator)

From best-selling author Francis Chan ( Crazy Love and Forgotten God ) comes a picture book for children 4 to 8.  Halfway Herbert never completes anything.  Homework remains half done, his room stays only partly clean, and dinner is never finished.  Halfway Herbert somehow gets by. But when he tells a half-truth, he learns the importance of honesty and of following God with all his heart. Through Chan's trademark teaching and storytelling, children discover what living for God really means.  Halfway Herbert offers parents a practical tool for inspiring godly character. Parents will appreciate that Chan, a father of four, understands the character development issues parents face.  And fans of his previsou books will treasure lessons geared especially for children.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Christian, Fiction, Kids

36 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2010

About the author

Francis Chan is an American pastor and teacher, who lives in California with his wife, Lisa, and their four children. He is the former pastor of Cornerstone Community Church in Simi Valley, CA, which he and his wife started in 1994.

Reviews

[Micah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not glad that Halfway Herbert was doing everything halfway. He bumped into his dad's car. His dad told him that he should not do everything halfway. He did his homework at school only halfway. He ate his lunch and dinner only halfway.

When it comes to God we shouldn't do things halfway (but you can drink water halfway). Halfway Herbert made sure to do everything full-way so they wouldn't call him that anymore.

(reviewed by a 6 year old, typed by his mama)

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is officially one of my top ten favorite picture books! Halfway Herbert is funny and entertaining for kids and adults alike. It teaches a great moral that will no doubt hit home with parents and their children. The brightly colored illustrations are sure to be a crowd-pleaser (and they’re pretty hilarious too). Two thumbs up!

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

Halfway Herbert never did things the whole way. He always cut corners, only finishing half his test, brushing half his teeth etc. Herbert only told half the truth. A good book teaching the value of honesty and loving Jesus with all of your heart.

[Kim♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Halfway Herbert was such a cute, funny character--and his message packed a punch for the whole family. I could tell my boys were convicted by the character's struggles with not being faithful and only doing things "halfway" (so were my husband and I!), but it was a challenging, hopeful book, not a condemning one. We read this at bedtime (a few times every night for a week, ha), and that first night one of my boys prayed that Jesus would help him not be a "Halfway Herbert". FIVE big stars from this mommy!

Our family can't wait to read more children's books from Chan. :)

[Megan Zimmerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Halfway Herbert never finishes anything. Herbert manages to get by, until he tells the half truth, and realizes the importance of honesty. This book is good for teaching students about telling the truth and tying that in to emotions, including how this may affect our friends and family.

[Angie Tolpin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the theme of what this book teaches. It is one of my little guy's favorite books. But there were more opportunities for teaching in this book that were missed.
I digress, this is such a problem in most children's books. right

[Lara Lleverino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julia liked this story. She wanted me to read it two times in a row!

[Katt Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story about doing things wholeheartedly - a valuable lesson for anyone. The Christian elements came off a bit heavy handed, but the story is still a good one, well told. Oy, that kid's teeth!!!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great clear read

Really good way to teach your kids about following God and letting the Spirit work in them. I love Francis Chan, will definitely use more of his kids books

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Moralistic tale about a boy who never does anything with his whole heart until Jesus helps him.

Very pedantic.

[Marlaina Reeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great story for kids and adults alike!

This book is a great illustration for kids to see how God changes us when we decided to love, follow, and serve Him with our WHOLE heart.

[Diana Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for my 7.5 year old son

My son read this out loud to me. He said he loved it! Great reminder to love God whole heartedly

[Tim Ogle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good stuff

Basic. Accurate.
Basic. Challenging.
Creative. Convicting.
Practical. Applicable.

If recommend adults
Reading this a few times before trying to pass it off as entertainment for children.

[Sarah Wiley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just bought this book this morning and decided to read through it myself. So good and such an important message for our children. I can’t wait to show my children their new book!

[Andrew Yong · Rating 5 out of 5]

This had a great impact on my kid.

[rat!]

honestly his half-way hairstyle is better than his #newandimproved hairstyle at the end

[Kacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t realize Francis Chan wrote a children’s book until I came across this one in the library. It’s a great book with a great lesson for kids (and adults).

[Danette · Rating 4 out of 5]

9/13/22 Read with Julia

[Maxime N. Georgel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un bon livre pour enfant dans lequel le pasteur Francis Chan enseigne à ne pas vivre une demi-vie pour le Christ mais à être entier dans son coeur. "De toute son âme, de toute sa force"...

Il insiste sur l'aide du Saint-Esprit pour avoir un coeur entier, lui qui a eu l'impression de ne pas en entendre parler durant son enfance mais de le découvrir à l'adolescence (d'où son livre "Dieu oublié").

[Emily Erickson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is cute and the lesson is good, albeit a bit on the nose. My favorite part is the way the author incorporates all the different ways that Herbert does things halfway. But again, it's a bit heavy-handed...doing more telling than showing, and I don't LOVE the illustrations.