Once again, the University of Cincinnati Libraries will celebrate the International Edible Books Festival with an event scheduled for Tuesday, April 1st from 1:00-2:00pm on the 5th floor lobby of Langsam Library.

At the event, nearly 20 participants will present their 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 If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and Life of Pi(e). Contemporary fiction such as Gone Girl and favorite children’s books such as The Boxcar Children and Little Red (Velvet) Riding Hood, among other literary greats, will also be represented.

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.

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). You can see images of the 2013 edible books on the Libraries Facebook page.

The Libraries International Edible Books Festival is free and open to the public. Come to celebrate (and eat) “books good enough to eat.”