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Farm Fun, Tractors & Tales with Kaleb Cooper
Primary Times chats with Kaleb Cooper about animals, autumn crops, and his exciting brand-new release: Kaleb’s Farmyard Tales
Best known as an Oxfordshire farmer, star of Amazon Prime’s Clarkson’s Farm, and champion of British farming, Kaleb’s debut children’s title entertains and educates young readers aged 5+. Packed with witty true tales of escaping animals and runaway tractors, it offers a fun glimpse into farm life. Kaleb shares his thoughts on his newest book alongside ways for families to support farmers this autumn.
If your tractor could talk, what would it say about you?
Stop working so hard, please!
Which animal always makes you smile?
Chickens! Have you ever seen a chicken run? It gives me a lot of joy that does, especially when T-Rex arms running across your garden. Hilarious!
Do you have a favourite autumn crop?
A winter wheat. I love planting it. I love looking at it, I love harvesting it. It gives you a real sense of achievement to see what you planted at the end of the year.
Is it important that children understand where food comes from?
Yes! Food comes from a very early age. I find it upsetting when a kid goes into a supermarket and thinks everything comes from a shelf. I want all kids to understand where their milk comes from, how a carrot is grown, how to plant veg.
What should parents look for on a supermarket label if they want to support British farmers?
Keep an eye out for the little Red Tractor symbol and you can also check where it’s produced on the packaging.
What gave you the idea to create Kaleb’s Farmyard Tales and what are you most excited for young readers to discover?
I have three kids and love reading them stories at bedtime. My older two are big fans of my books for grown-ups, but they had nothing written with love of the animals and illustrations. You’re always writing something about real people, explaining who on the farm does this or that and what happens. My kids love all that! I wanted a really fun way to explain to kids what happens on the farm. I’m excited for readers to discover about a two-mile tractor and how we food is produced while also enjoying the crazy things that happen on the farm.
Do you have a favourite animal?
I think it’s probably Bruce the Boar. I like to be outside, I’m always roaming around and being active (and I’m also maybe a little stubborn too), so I’ve got to go with Bruce.
If Kaleb’s Farmyard Tales is read at school, what do you hope the class will chat about afterwards?
I’d really like children to start talking about farming and what they read from my book then! I’d be very happy if after class they took it home and asked their parents “Where’s my milk from?” then they can have a look at where something is from.
Can you sum up Kaleb’s Farmyard Tales in just a sentence?
It’s full of fun, muddy, silly and true stories from my life on the farm.
For National Farmers’ Day, if every household could do just one small thing to support British farmers this autumn, what should it be?
I would absolutely love if on social media even once people could share something about buying British or supporting British farming – it will really make a difference.
Kaleb’s Farmyard Tales by Kaleb Cooper and illustrated by Tom Knight is out now, published by When a Book (RRP £14.99).
Photography © Kaleb Cooper