Rusty Trusty Tractor

I didn't think I would learn a lesson by reading this book to my son but I did! I sell Highlights-Jigsaw and this is one of the books we sell so I got it for my kit and to share it with my son. I was pleasantly surprised with the storyline as well as the illustrations. It is about a farmer, his old but reliable tractor, the farmers grandson, and an over eager tractor salesman. The salesman tries as hard as he can to sell the farmer a brand new shiny tractor and even has the farmers grandson on his side. But no matter what he says the farmer sticks with his old tractor saying it was his old friend and "friends don't let each other down". In the end the saleman loses a bet he makes with the farmer and needs the farmer and his tractor to help him out of a mess. In this day and age when NEW is better than OLD this book can help teach us all a lesson; just because something has lost it's shine does not make it less useful.

Boy, is this a cute book! Little Micah and his grandfather are constantly being bugged by a pesky salesman who laughs when he first sees grandpappy's rusty old tractor. The salesman, Mr. Hill, swears that the old thing won't make it another season and begs grandpappy to come on down and look at his new tractors. It's quite funny to see how grandpappy has an answer for eac one of Hill's sales pitches, i.e. "this one has air conditioning," said Mr. Hill. "Mine has air conditioning," said Grandpappy. "When the air gets a little fresh, I just put on a jacket." Hill eventually bets Grandpappy a jelly donut for each acre grandpappy farms with the old tractor. He makes it through and teaches Micah a lesson about being true to your friends. Grandpappy calls the old tractor his friend and sticks by it through and through. Pretty funny ending too - Hill has to be pulled out of the mud by the old tractor! What's also neat is that although she lives in New Zealand, the author nicely captured the "farmer slang" in this book. It's very well written and very entertaining, especially if you have a "tractor boy" in your house. There's a photo of each brand of tractor too on the beginning pages and it's fun to see if they can name them all. Highly recommend!

Great book according to my 2 year old son! I have to agree with him but probably our reasons differ -- he loves the colorful, fun pictures of tractors, a small boy and his grandfather's farm. The story is not his main draw yet although it does keep him listening. I love the idea presented by the author that an old tractor has value and is maybe even worth more than a newer piece of farm equipment. It's one of those stories with a moral that doesn't scream "Important! Moral Ahead!"

This book is a very nice book for keeping children aware of the fact that sometimes "old is best" and maybe more reliable in some cases. Also it teaches that you don't have to have everything new in life to be happy. The relationship between the boy and his grandfather is wonderful. My 5 year old grandson is well aware of these facts, and this book reinforced these feelings. Thank you for a well-written children's book.

Joy Cowley's new book has at its core a strong message about ties that bind and relationships that last a lifetime. Granpappy and grandson Micah are approached by Mr. Hill of Hill's Tractor Sales with a tempting offer to buy a shiny new tractor. But Granpappy has farmed using his rusty but trusty tractor, ever since his old plow horse died. There is no way the old tractor should last another season, and Mr. Hill even bets 20 jelly donuts (one for every acre Granpappy plants in hay) that it will break down before the end of the summer. It doesn't. Mr. Hill pays up, and in a humorous conclusion that ol' rusty tractor even rescues Mr. Hill when he's bogged down in mud. This book is a lovely story about valuing people and things for their true worth, not their looks. All children are tempted by the "new," especially when it's bright and shiny and offers all the bells and whistles. But just as Granpappy cares for Micah and for the land, he cares lovingly for his old but reliable tractor. When he burdens it with nearly impossible chores, he talks to it and coaxes it to perform. The language of the story is just as delightful as the message. It is perfect for read-alouds or storytime. The characters come to life with their dialogue ("Wang-a-dang, sir! You got more good luck than a hound dog in a butcher's shop!"). I recommend this book 100% for young readers and non-readers. The illustrations are lovely, with the old-fashioned farm warmly created in glowing tones. Joy Cowley has created another wonderful story!