Alan Robinson on family and life on the farm in his 'Grandpa's Farm' book series

By Alan Robinson

With rural roots and first-hand experience of farm, life writing and illustrating what I know has been important to me.  To my delight, feedback from country readers has affirmed the authenticity of the narrative. While our boys' experiences were in the 1980s (and mine the 1960s) I have brought the time closer to the present as evidenced in the vehicles and machinery (Grandpa never owned a mobile phone). My brother in law’s farm at Parkes has assisted that. “An Autumn Day” (currently in production) is different to the other three books. Autumn is associated with falling leaves and the sowing of seed. It also includes the festival of Easter. The story seeks to deal with grief and death. 

It has been, however, a long labour of love. The death of “Grandpa” (my father) in 2010 was probably  a strong influence. My mother, “Grandma”, died in 2015. 

Further, my own beliefs come through, hopefully, in a sensitive way. While it deals with grief and death it also seeks to leave the reader with hope. Sooner or later a child will have to face the reality of death, usually to begin with it is a pet that dies. It is my hope that this book will help parents and children share their feelings at such times. The boy’s questions, I think, are the ones we all ask.