Amanda Owen, also known as The Yorkshire Shepherdess and the star of the tv show Our Yorkshire Farm, has penned her first children’s book, Christmas Tales from the Farm.
The book, which is out now, is aimed at children aged 7-11 and includes a collection of festive short stories about Amanda’s real life adventures with her nine children and myriad animals at Ravenseat, the family’s 2000-acre hill farm in North Yorkshire.
Amanda has taught each of her nine children to ride by starting them in a wicker saddle on the back of a Shetland pony before moving them on to her shire horses.
Several horsey tales featuring Amanda and the children and their four horses (Hazel, Mapel, Princess, Josie) and two Shetland ponies (Tony the Pony and Little Joe) are included in the book.
As well as many humorous stories about life with the horses, children will also enjoy reading about the runaway reindeer who caused mischief on the moors, some very special chickens who needed a kind new home, and the clever sheepdog who found something lost in the snow.
“A special time”
“Winter, and Christmas in particular, is a special time of joy and adventure at Ravenseat,” said Amanda.
“Whether that’s discovering animals who have come to the farm to shelter from the weather, like the barn owls, or the festive family traditions we’ve followed for years, like our own version of the Winter Olympics or when my sheepdog Kate and I had to play a chilly game of ‘hide and sheep’ in the deep snow.”
Christmas Tales from the Farm, which features illustrations of the animals and family members by Becca Hall, is the first of seven Puffin books by Amanda Owen and is out now.
Amanda is on tour with a brand new two hour show from 5 November until 7 December 2025. Tickets are available at nothird.co.uk.
