The University of Cincinnati Libraries celebrated the International Edible Books Festival on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. The event marked the 25th year of UC Libraries participating in Edible Books — and it was a momentous occasion!
This year, saw an impressive 24 entries from students, librarians and staff, along with family, friends and retirees. There are few restrictions in creating an edible book – namely that the creation be edible and have something to do with a book. Today’s entries covered all genres – from fiction to non-fiction, animals, food, classics, contemporary titles and more.
Contemporary fiction Seared on the Heart, The Song of Achilles, Holes, The Names, Intermezzo, along with classics Frankenstein and The Tell-Tale Heart were well represented. Non-fiction titles Feeding Ghosts, The Hidden Lives of Trees and Dirt: The Scoop on Soil were sure to educate and delight.
Numerous children’s books made people smile with The Hundred Dresses, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, Do You Have a Hat?, Great Sharky Shark, Extra Yarn and The Day the Crayons Quit.
Food-themed titles I am Grateful for Chicken Pot Pie (which was a virtual entry), Cakes and Ale, Triceramisu and Amaze! Rocky Road Cookies were delicious.
This year also saw two sets of identical entries — the fan-favorite Heated Rivalry and the popular book about to be a film Remarkably Bright Creatures.
In addition to promoting the reading of books, we also use this event to promote and “judge” the creativity of our colleagues and friends in creating edible books. Thank you to the two esteemed judges: Lindsay Taylor, assessment and evaluation analyst, and DAAP Library student worker Mia Getter. And the winners are…
- Most Original – Amy Koshoffer, Hidden Life of Trees
- Most Literary – Melissa Moreau, Cakes and Ale
- Most Beautiful – Ashleigh Ferguson Schieszer, Intermezzo
- Most Original – Stephen Norris – Feeding Ghosts: A Graphic Memoir
- Most Taboo – Jenny Mackiewicz, Heated Rivalry
- Most Humorous – Crissy Ross, Holes
- Most Abstract – Anna Digard, I am Grateful for Chicken Pot Pie
- Most Colorful – Melissa Cox Norris, Remarkably Bright Creatures
- Most Academic – Reece Guthier, The Song of Achilles
- Most Fun – Carly Fledderjohann, Dirt: The Scoop on Soil
- Most Adorable – Liz Kiscaden, Remarkably Bright Creatures
- Most Delicious – Jessica Ebert, Heated Rivalry
- Most Book-like – Jakob Elliott and Jamie Talbott, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
- Most Creative – Debbie Weinstein, Do You Have a Hat?
- Silliest – Brian Gray, Triceramisu
- Most Checked Out – Olya Hart, The Day the Crayons Quit
- Most Out of this World – Lauren Reder, “Amaze” Rocky Road Cookies
- Most Whimsical – Ashleigh Stout, Great Sharky Shark
- Most Wordly – Amanda Van Mil, The Names
- Most Frightening – Debbie Tenofsky, Livie, Tim and Josh Zack, Frankenstein
- Most Imaginative – Rachel Hoople, Seared on the heart (Flamer)
- Most Gruesome – Holly Prochaska, The Tell-Tale Heart
- Most Brilliant Rivalry – Liz Kiscaden and Melissa Cox Norris
- Spiciest Rivalry – Jenny Mackiewicz and Jessica Ebert
- Best Overall – Luahna Carter, The Hundred Dresses
- Best Student Entry – Ellie Alfieri, Extra Yarn
Congratulations to all the edible books creators! View the entries and the winners on the UC Libraries Facebook Page. See you next year for Edible Books 2027!
