Anna Lena Feunekes
@annalenavaniersel.bsky.social
✨ Author & illustrator from Gouda, NL
🌿 Nonfiction for curious kids | ‘Tasty Tales’
🌻 Rep: Christabel McKinley @ DHA
I write and illustrate nerdy newsletters on Substack! www.annalena.nl
🌿 Nonfiction for curious kids | ‘Tasty Tales’
🌻 Rep: Christabel McKinley @ DHA
I write and illustrate nerdy newsletters on Substack! www.annalena.nl
Pinned
My book Tasty Tales was shortlisted for Children’s Book of the Year: Factual! This is incredible, and I couldn't be more proud! www.theweekjuniorbookawards.co.uk/2025/factual25 | Want more info on the book? www.annalena.nl/books
new newsletter! cardamom went from "medieval bitcoin" to Swedish comfort food and i traced the whole journey.
Inside it you find:
> Viking kitchen archaeology
> authentic kardemummabullar recipe
> illustrated spice guide (15 spices, some started actual wars)
open.substack.com/pub/annalena...
Inside it you find:
> Viking kitchen archaeology
> authentic kardemummabullar recipe
> illustrated spice guide (15 spices, some started actual wars)
open.substack.com/pub/annalena...
The medieval currency you can BAKE with (+14 other spices that changed history)
From medieval currency to modern comfort food: the surprising journey of cardamom (with 2 illustrated recipes worth their weight in gold!)
open.substack.com
October 1, 2025 at 8:48 PM
new newsletter! cardamom went from "medieval bitcoin" to Swedish comfort food and i traced the whole journey.
Inside it you find:
> Viking kitchen archaeology
> authentic kardemummabullar recipe
> illustrated spice guide (15 spices, some started actual wars)
open.substack.com/pub/annalena...
Inside it you find:
> Viking kitchen archaeology
> authentic kardemummabullar recipe
> illustrated spice guide (15 spices, some started actual wars)
open.substack.com/pub/annalena...
painted pumpkin on old book pages → fell into turkish dessert rabbit hole → now writing children's climate opera. the freelance creative life makes zero logical sense and i'm here for it 🎃 annalenavaniersel.substack.com/p/this-illus...
September 1, 2025 at 3:18 PM
painted pumpkin on old book pages → fell into turkish dessert rabbit hole → now writing children's climate opera. the freelance creative life makes zero logical sense and i'm here for it 🎃 annalenavaniersel.substack.com/p/this-illus...
Channeling these mushrooms into the universe so someone will let me illustrate a book about freaky fungi? Pleaaaase? #kidlitart #nonfictionart #artdirector #kidlitartist #kidlitartpostcard
July 29, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Channeling these mushrooms into the universe so someone will let me illustrate a book about freaky fungi? Pleaaaase? #kidlitart #nonfictionart #artdirector #kidlitartist #kidlitartpostcard
Meet Edward Teach, the man behind the myth... Better known as Blackbeard! This animated Blackbeard brings history to life with those legendary hemp ropes woven into his beard - a psychological warfare tactic that made him look like a demon emerging from hell!
www.annalena.nl/portfolio
www.annalena.nl/portfolio
July 7, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Meet Edward Teach, the man behind the myth... Better known as Blackbeard! This animated Blackbeard brings history to life with those legendary hemp ropes woven into his beard - a psychological warfare tactic that made him look like a demon emerging from hell!
www.annalena.nl/portfolio
www.annalena.nl/portfolio
July 1, 2025 at 10:02 AM
My book Tasty Tales was shortlisted for Children’s Book of the Year: Factual! This is incredible, and I couldn't be more proud! www.theweekjuniorbookawards.co.uk/2025/factual25 | Want more info on the book? www.annalena.nl/books
June 3, 2025 at 3:05 PM
My book Tasty Tales was shortlisted for Children’s Book of the Year: Factual! This is incredible, and I couldn't be more proud! www.theweekjuniorbookawards.co.uk/2025/factual25 | Want more info on the book? www.annalena.nl/books
Art I drew for Honest History magazine ✏️
May 8, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Art I drew for Honest History magazine ✏️
Just updated my portfolio! New spreads are up - from kids' nonfiction (hello food history!), historical projects, children's fiction, food art and patterns. annalena.nl/portfolio/
#illustrationportfolio #kidlitart #foodillustration #nonfictionforkids #artdirector #kidlitartpostcard
#illustrationportfolio #kidlitart #foodillustration #nonfictionforkids #artdirector #kidlitartpostcard
Portfolio
I write and illustrate children’s non-fiction books about history, science and art Jump to other work: Fiction / Food / Patterns Childrens fiction Patterns Food illustration Jump back to: Non…
annalena.nl
April 9, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Just updated my portfolio! New spreads are up - from kids' nonfiction (hello food history!), historical projects, children's fiction, food art and patterns. annalena.nl/portfolio/
#illustrationportfolio #kidlitart #foodillustration #nonfictionforkids #artdirector #kidlitartpostcard
#illustrationportfolio #kidlitart #foodillustration #nonfictionforkids #artdirector #kidlitartpostcard
A Wizard of Earthsea - reimagined in collage illustration! This book cover is my tribute to Ursula K. Le Guin’s timeless tale. Kidlit art directors of the world: I'd love to make things just like this with you.
#bookcoverdesign #collageillustration #editorialillustration #bookart #kidlitart
#bookcoverdesign #collageillustration #editorialillustration #bookart #kidlitart
April 2, 2025 at 7:57 AM
A Wizard of Earthsea - reimagined in collage illustration! This book cover is my tribute to Ursula K. Le Guin’s timeless tale. Kidlit art directors of the world: I'd love to make things just like this with you.
#bookcoverdesign #collageillustration #editorialillustration #bookart #kidlitart
#bookcoverdesign #collageillustration #editorialillustration #bookart #kidlitart
#Juliachild didn’t start out as a chef. She followed her heart (and taste buds) into the kitchen. I didn’t start out as an illustrator either, but here I am, snipping and pasting my way in collage illustration! #artdirector on BlueSky, find my portfolio on www.annalena.nl/portfolio for more!
January 29, 2025 at 9:18 AM
#Juliachild didn’t start out as a chef. She followed her heart (and taste buds) into the kitchen. I didn’t start out as an illustrator either, but here I am, snipping and pasting my way in collage illustration! #artdirector on BlueSky, find my portfolio on www.annalena.nl/portfolio for more!
New nonfiction portfolio work for children's book illustration. I love everything about pirates and am manifesting the crap out of projects like this! More art on annalena.nl/portfolio | #kidlitartpostcard #kidlitart #nonfiction
October 17, 2024 at 12:29 PM
New nonfiction portfolio work for children's book illustration. I love everything about pirates and am manifesting the crap out of projects like this! More art on annalena.nl/portfolio | #kidlitartpostcard #kidlitart #nonfiction
Ever wondered how I dig up hidden gems from food history to create my kids’ books? In my latest blog post, I’m spilling the tea on how I do my research and turn facts and fables into fun, engaging stories! Find the post here: www.annalena.nl/post/behind-...
October 16, 2024 at 9:50 AM
Ever wondered how I dig up hidden gems from food history to create my kids’ books? In my latest blog post, I’m spilling the tea on how I do my research and turn facts and fables into fun, engaging stories! Find the post here: www.annalena.nl/post/behind-...
The woman and violin characters have been living in my sketchbooks for months on end - it was high time to bring them to life!Want to know their story? Become my Patron for exclusive behind the scenes videos of how I create my art and write kids books | www.patreon.com/annalenaillustrations
October 9, 2024 at 3:14 PM
The woman and violin characters have been living in my sketchbooks for months on end - it was high time to bring them to life!Want to know their story? Become my Patron for exclusive behind the scenes videos of how I create my art and write kids books | www.patreon.com/annalenaillustrations
As I'm in the process of writing a new book and pitching another, I found myself severely lacking in time to just make things for the fun of it. That's why I was overjoyed to meet this little moth on the page today. 🦋 | www.annalena.nl
October 2, 2024 at 12:31 PM
As I'm in the process of writing a new book and pitching another, I found myself severely lacking in time to just make things for the fun of it. That's why I was overjoyed to meet this little moth on the page today. 🦋 | www.annalena.nl
There are few things that bring me more joy than a dinner table filled with friends and foods! As such, I still adore this assignment for a Maisonette blog article I illustrated. Turkey and hot pot - why the f* not? | www.annalena.nl/portfolio
August 7, 2024 at 8:43 AM
There are few things that bring me more joy than a dinner table filled with friends and foods! As such, I still adore this assignment for a Maisonette blog article I illustrated. Turkey and hot pot - why the f* not? | www.annalena.nl/portfolio
Just putting it out there that I make a wicked stationery designer. Dreaming of adding these to my shop some day and selling them in stores! ❤️ What should be on them... Plans for world domination? #stationerydesign #freelanceillustrator #surfacedesigner #agirlcandream
August 2, 2024 at 12:05 PM
Just putting it out there that I make a wicked stationery designer. Dreaming of adding these to my shop some day and selling them in stores! ❤️ What should be on them... Plans for world domination? #stationerydesign #freelanceillustrator #surfacedesigner #agirlcandream
While browsing through my folder of illustration projects, I found myself smiling at my kiddo's birth announcement. Beyond the obvious joy it brings, I noticed a charming pattern: I tend to infuse all my work with a storybook touch, no matter how different the project. (...)
July 31, 2024 at 8:35 AM
While browsing through my folder of illustration projects, I found myself smiling at my kiddo's birth announcement. Beyond the obvious joy it brings, I noticed a charming pattern: I tend to infuse all my work with a storybook touch, no matter how different the project. (...)
I'm inviting you to be a part of my new children’s book project, celebrating birthdays around the world! 🌍✨ I need your help to bring this project to life! By completing this short survey, you’ll get a chance to win a signed copy and some goodies from my shop! (1/2)
July 30, 2024 at 8:13 AM
I'm inviting you to be a part of my new children’s book project, celebrating birthdays around the world! 🌍✨ I need your help to bring this project to life! By completing this short survey, you’ll get a chance to win a signed copy and some goodies from my shop! (1/2)
Sending a jolt of green freshness to your feed with this illustration of kitchen herbs I did for a series of food mini-posters. | Find out what else is cooking - art wise- on: www.annalena.nl/portfolio
July 17, 2024 at 10:14 AM
Sending a jolt of green freshness to your feed with this illustration of kitchen herbs I did for a series of food mini-posters. | Find out what else is cooking - art wise- on: www.annalena.nl/portfolio
Kids book characters I'd draw for a kids non-fic book about Julia Child. Manifestingggggg! #kidlitart #kidlitartpostcard #kidlit
June 26, 2024 at 11:46 AM
Kids book characters I'd draw for a kids non-fic book about Julia Child. Manifestingggggg! #kidlitart #kidlitartpostcard #kidlit
Super enjoy drawing anything history related, and as such a collab with Honest History magazine was a no-brainer! Still really happy with how this issue turned out. www.annalena.nl/portfolio #kidlitart #nonfictionforkids #history
June 26, 2024 at 11:45 AM
Super enjoy drawing anything history related, and as such a collab with Honest History magazine was a no-brainer! Still really happy with how this issue turned out. www.annalena.nl/portfolio #kidlitart #nonfictionforkids #history
I love to draw humans, plants and food - but I have a special place in my heart for anything with a fall color palette :) #illustrationportfolio #collageart #mushroom | www.annalena.nl/portfolio
June 26, 2024 at 11:41 AM
I love to draw humans, plants and food - but I have a special place in my heart for anything with a fall color palette :) #illustrationportfolio #collageart #mushroom | www.annalena.nl/portfolio
Sharing some of my favorite food illustrations from my portfolio! Which one is your favorite? #illustration #foodillustrations | www.annalena.nl/portfolio
June 26, 2024 at 11:40 AM
Sharing some of my favorite food illustrations from my portfolio! Which one is your favorite? #illustration #foodillustrations | www.annalena.nl/portfolio
Discover the world of my author-illustrated debut "Tasty Tales"! 📚✨ Check out my Patreon for exclusive behind-the-scenes content on how this sweet story came to life: www.patreon.com/annalenaillustrations | #patreon #behindthescenes #childrensbooks #kidlitart #nonfictionkidsbooks
June 26, 2024 at 11:39 AM
Discover the world of my author-illustrated debut "Tasty Tales"! 📚✨ Check out my Patreon for exclusive behind-the-scenes content on how this sweet story came to life: www.patreon.com/annalenaillustrations | #patreon #behindthescenes #childrensbooks #kidlitart #nonfictionkidsbooks
Excited to try out #bluesky! I'm Anna Lena, an illustrator and author of "Tasty Tales". Join me as I bring characters to life and explore the magic of food history, among other nerdy topics. Let's connect! #illustration #kidlit
June 26, 2024 at 11:37 AM
Excited to try out #bluesky! I'm Anna Lena, an illustrator and author of "Tasty Tales". Join me as I bring characters to life and explore the magic of food history, among other nerdy topics. Let's connect! #illustration #kidlit