Edible Books

Every year, the Edible Book Festival celebrates food that is inspired by books and showcases some wonderful talent (as well as fun creations).

Oconomowoc PL held its own Festival this year with some fun results! Here's the original invitation:

Technically, this event is for younger kids, but I want to open it up to 7th-12th graders, too:
It's an Edible Book Festival!

Bring a dish that is inspired by, looks like, or is mentioned in a book. We will show our pieces, vote on prizes for each entry, and then enjoy eating our creations!

Guidelines: Entries can be any size or shape. You may finish assembling your entry when you arrive, if necessary. Please bring a serving utensil and a list of all ingredients. The library will provide plates, cups, napkins, and plastic ware.

What will you create? Green Eggs and Ham? Harry Potter and the Deathly Mallows? Let your imagination run wild!
And here are some notes from Betsy on doing it again (or planning your first):

• First of all, programs we hold at OPL in May always have lower attendance than those in the rest of the school year. So I would try hosting it in early April, around April Fool's Day, which is when the International Edible Book Festival is held. Also, I might emphasize the "international" aspect to give the program a little glamour. :)
• I would also promote it more heavily and even earlier than I did this year. I promoted it about a month in advance, but I think longer than that would have been better. It would give people more time to plan their entries.
• We offered some samples to passers-by, and nearly all offered to pay something. We declined, since it wasn't a fundraising event. But then I got thinking that an Edible Book Festival would be good for that purpose. Maybe you could offer free admission to people who enter a dish, and then charge a little something for people who just want to eat and vote on winners? It would be a literary twist on the age-old bake sale!
• The teens loved the program, and that is something I would keep the same -- leave the program open to kids and teens.