Tasty Tales by Anna Lena Feunekes
Tasty Tales: A feast of history and food
Hey there! My name is Anna Lena Feunekes and I’m the author of Tasty Tales, a book about food lore and history. During Share a Story Month the idea of sharing more about the book gets me all excited about one thing: how food brings us together! I mean, seriously, have you ever noticed how a plate of something yummy can bridge most any gap?
In “Tasty Tales,” I’ve cooked up stories from all over the world, showing how food is like this secret code that everyone understands. Picture this: bustling markets in Asia, to a medieval bakery in Europe – it’s always been a foodie world out there! Through fun illustrations and stories, I’m inviting young readers to dig into a global buffet of flavours and traditions. They will discover the history behind the croissant, and other foods they are likely acquainted with. But do they know there is a story behind tofu that has something to do with an enterprising grandma? Or that french toast was once a typical dessert for knights that were a bit skint? This way, no meal will ever be quite the same!
The big idea behind “Tasty Tales”? Food’s not just about eating – it’s about connecting! It doesn’t matter where you’re from or what you believe; sharing a meal brings us closer. Whether it’s baking with your parent or trying new street snacks, food has this amazing way of stirring up feelings and building bonds. One of the messages I wanted to share with kids is that seemingly inconspicuous foods like the potato are actually not native to the UK and Europe. And that other foods we take as national symbols sometimes aren’t from our soil at all!
Plus, “Tasty Tales” shows how art and stories can dish out some serious truths. I’m all about sparking curiosity and kindness in kids, getting them to see the world as one big delicious adventure. By mixing up stories about food, I want to serve up a feast for the imagination and encourage kids to embrace different flavours and cultures. I really wanted to share the effect that big historical events and food had on each other repeatedly – be it the siege on Vienna in the middle ages or enslaved peoples in America bringing their ingredients and culture to a new place.
So, as we tuck into Share a Story Month with its “A Feast of Stories” theme, let’s remember all the tasty tales waiting to be shared. “Tasty Tales” is just one dish in this grand banquet of storytelling, offering a taste of the amazing world we live in. I for one can never resist picking up a book that both teaches me something as well as gets me hungry… And I hope Tasty Tales might have that effect on you! Cheers to the magic of food and stories – they’re what brings us all together! Bon appétit!
Anna Lena Feunekes