Hungry? Bite into an edible book with UC Libraries
Celebrate books good enough to eat at the International Edible Books Festival April 1
Event Information (passed)
"The Rabbit, the Dark and the Cookie Tin" created by Debbie Weinstein and awarded 2021's Most Mysterious
Once again, the University of Cincinnati Libraries will celebrate the International Edible Books Festival with an event scheduled for Friday, April 1st from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. on the 4th floor of the Walter C. Langsam Library.
At the event, nearly 20 participants will present edible creations that represent a book in some form. There are few restrictions in creating an edible book – namely that the creation be edible and have something to do with a book.
Submitted entries include edible titles such as “Olive, Again,” “Too Many Carrots” and “If You Give a Moose a Muffin.” Classic books “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” "A Case of Literary Birds," and “Death and the Penguin” are represented along with more contemporary works “The Vanishing Half” and “Thee Everlasting.” Thrillers such as “The Dark Tower,” “To the Boy Who Lived” and “Batman: The Court of Owls” will intrigue attendees, while numerous children’s books will make people smile with such titles as “Fairy the Farting Unicorn,” “Cat in the Hat,” “The Girl Who Drew Butterflies” and “Should I Share My Ice Cream?” Non-fiction titles “Crazy Plant Lady,” “#bookstagram” and “The Secret Lives of Color” are sure to appeal to a wide array of interests.
As in past years, entries will be judged according to such categories as “Most Literary,” “Most Delicious,” “Most Adorable” and “Most Gruesome.” In addition, the “Top Student Entry” and “Best Overall Entry” will receive a special prize. After the entries are judged they will be consumed and enjoyed by all in attendance.
Reading Rainbow by Jessica Ebert and awarded 2021's Most Colorful
According to the International Edible Book Festival website, the edible book was initiated by librarian and artist Judith A. Hoffberg during a 1999 Thanksgiving celebration with book artists. It became an international celebration in 2000 when artist Béatrice Coron launched the Books2Eat website. Traditionally, the event is celebrated on April 1st (April Fools’ Day) to mark the birthday of Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1755-1826), a French lawyer and politician who became famous for his book, Physiologie du gout (The Physiology of Taste).
The Libraries International Edible Books Festival is free and open to the public. Following the event, pictures of the edible books and their awards will be posted on the Libraries Facebook page. Come to celebrate (and eat) “books good enough to eat.”
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