Hungry? Bite into an edible book with UC Libraries
Celebrate books good enough to eat at UC's International Edible Books Festival April 1st
Event Information
Once again, the University of Cincinnati Libraries will celebrate the International Edible Books Festival with an event scheduled for Wednesday, April 1, from 11 a.m. to noon on the 4th floor of the Walter C. Langsam Library.
At the event, over 20 participants will present edible creations inspired by a book. There are few restrictions in creating an edible book — namely that the creation be edible and have something to do with a book.
Contemporary fiction "The Song of Achilles," "Feeding Ghosts," "Holes" and "Intermezzo," along with classics "100 Years of Solitude" and "Bride of Frankenstein" are well represented. Non-fiction titles "Is the River Alive?" and "Dirt: The Scoop on Soil" are sure to educate and delight. Numerous children’s books will make people smile with such titles as "The Hundred Dresses," “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish,” “Do You Have a Hat?” and "The Day the Crayons Quit." Food-themed titles "I am Grateful for Chicken Pot Pie," "Cakes and Ale" and "Triceramisu" sound delicious. This year there are two sets of duplicate titles competing against each other: "Remarkably Bright Creatures" and "Heated Rivalry." See (and eat) these delicious entries and more at the event.
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 UC merch. After the entries are judged they will be consumed and enjoyed by all in attendance.
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 1 (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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