For the 9th consecutive year, the University of Cincinnati Libraries will celebrate the International Edible Books Festival with an event scheduled for Thursday, April 1 from 12:30-1:30pm in the 5th floor lobby of Langsam Library.

At the event, over 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 such edible titles as 2010: Cake Odyssey II, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and In Cold Blood among other literary greats. This year there is a “Guess the Title” entry where attendees to the event will have the opportunity to guess the title of that edible book.

As in years past, entries will be judged according to such categories as “Most Literary,” “Most Inspired,” “Long Overdue,” and “Most Checked-out.” After the entries are judged they will be consumed and enjoyed by all in attendance.The top student entry will receive a $25 gift card to the UC Bookstore.

According to the International Edible Book Festival Web site, 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 Web site. Traditionally, the event is celebrated on April 1 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. For more information, contact Melissa.Norris@uc.edu.