Questions Kids Ask About Farms (and why they matter)
If you’ve read The Sugarcane Harvester Song, you’ll know that Malcolm is full of questions.
- About harvesters.
- About farms.
- About how things work.
And honestly… so are a lot of kids.
If you’ve ever read a book with your child and been asked “How does that work?” or “Where does that come from?” — you’ll know exactly what I mean. That curiosity is something I never want to lose.
And that’s how this new series was born.
Why kids are so curious about farms, tractors, and food
Many children are naturally drawn to big machines, farms, and the way things grow.
Tractors, harvesters, animals, paddocks — it’s a whole world that feels exciting and a little bit magical.
But it’s also real. Farms are where our food begins. And when children start asking questions about farming - how sugarcane grows, what a harvester does, or what farmers do all day - they’re starting to understand where their food comes from. That’s a powerful kind of learning.
Malcolm Asks… Farmers Answer
Welcome to a new series from Malcolm & Maggie’s Farm Stories!
Here’s how it works. Malcolm will be asking questions on behalf of curious kids — and real farmers will answer them. Questions like:
- What's it like to ride in a sugarcane harvester?
- How tall does sugarcane grow?
- How does sugarcane taste?
- Do farmers have pets?
Each month, we’ll feature a real voice from agriculture — starting with sugarcane farmers from North Queensland, Australia!
Connecting kids to real farms (and real people)
There are many wonderful books about tractors and farming (and I know how much kids love them!).
But one of the things that makes this series special is the connection to real farms and real people.
Our farmers wake up early, work the land, and help grow the food we eat. And for that, we are so grateful!
My hope is that this series helps children:
- feel more connected to the land
- understand the journey of food
- stay curious about how things work
- see farming as something real, important, and full of life
From the page to the real world
In The Sugarcane Harvester Song, Malcolm explores how a harvester works through rhythm, repetition, and song. This blog is an extension of that world. Because this story doesn’t end when the book closes.
Got a question?
Malcolm would LOVE your help.
If your child has ever asked a question about:
- tractors
- sugarcane
- farms
- how food grows
- or anything in between
You can send it through here:
Malcolm might just ask it on their behalf! And we’ll share the answer from a real farmer in a monthly blog post.
Because every big idea starts with a question
The best kind of learning doesn’t start with answers.
- It starts with curiosity.
- With wondering.
- With asking why and how.
And sometimes... with a child who just really loves tractors.
Keep singing along and keep asking questions!
— Cynthia