SLIDESHOW: UC Libraries Host a Tasty Tradition

View a Slideshow of UC's International Edible Books Festival at: http://www.uc.edu/slideshow/2009Edible/

The eighth-annual International Edible Books Festival, presented by University of Cincinnati Libraries, brought a record number of entries and participation from the Uptown Campus as well as the Academic Health Center.

Dean and University Librarian Victoria A. Montavon said the displays ranged from children’s books to classics to biographies.

Two entries reflected UC’s year-long celebration of the 150th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s work in evolutionary biology, “On the Origin of Species,” and its role in the development of modern science. “The Oreo of Species” was a submission by Katrina Bowling-Bergman, circulation and student supervisor for the UC Chemistry-Biology Library. The display featured Oreo birds, a reflection of the finches that Darwin studied in the Galapagos Islands. Linda Newman, associate senior librarian, used gingerbread cookies to trace Darwin’s “Descent of Man.”

Barb Macke, instruction librarian, honored the passing of literary great John Updike with her submission, “Rabbit, Run.” The display was a sheet cake, with racing lanes divided by icing and marshmallow rabbits ready to take off at the starting gate.

The edible books were judged by Pamela Baker, director of the Center for Enhancement of Teaching & Learning (CET&L), and Cheryl Albrecht, associate dean of library services.

Dean Montavon mentioned that Deborah Weinstein, director of business affairs for Student Affairs & Services, regularly comes up with more elaborate submissions year after year. This year, she used bubble wrap to make a honeycomb pattern in a pie-shaped display to pay tribute to “The Secret Life of Bees.” The bees were made of chocolate, striped with white chocolate, and had almond slivers for wings. The display was awarded “Best Overall” by the judges. The entry was also awarded a UC Bookstore certificate.

The best student entry, which was also awarded with a certificate to the UC Bookstore, went to Alexandra Hart for her entry, “Thundercake.”

One of the displays was indeed a classic that has also become a classic at the UC event – Miss Havisham’s wedding cake, created by Marie Knecht and Suzette Combs, was awarded the Most Well Crafted entry.

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 sensation 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).”

There was also an edible book in memory of Hoffberg, who passed away this year. Melissa Cox Norris, director of library communications, created “Umbrella,” reflecting a newsletter on art and artist books that was edited and published by Hoffberg.

Edible Books Participants 2009
(Listed by UC creator,  title, some with an edible twist, and author)

• Karen Kreyenhagen, business manager, Academic Health Center Finance & Administration – “Skinny Dip,” by Carl Hiaasen. Awarded “Best Beach Read.”
• Deborah Weinstein, director of business affairs for Student Affairs & Services – “The Secret Life of Bees,” by Sue Monk Kidd. Awarded “Best Overall.”
• Katrina Bowling-Bergman, circulation and student supervisor for the UC Chemistry-Biology Library – “The Oreo of Species,” by Charles Darwin. Awarded “Best Written.”
• Melissa Cox Norris, director of library communications – “Umbrella,” in memory of International Edible Books Festival creator Judith Hoffberg. Awarded “Most Inspired.”
• Linda Newman, coordinator of Digital Projects, University of Cincinnati Libraries – “Descent of Man” by Charles Darwin (awarded “Most Graphic”); “Bean and Nothingness: An Essay on Phenomenological Ontology” by Jean-Paul Sartre (awarded “Most True to Form”); and “True Grit(s)” by Charles Portis (awarded “Most Creative.”)
• Jane Thompson, librarian, Donald C. Harrison Health Sciences Library – “Heidi” by Johanna Spyri. Awarded “Most Clever.”
• Sara Mihaly, student and circulation supervisor, Robert A. Deshon and Karl J. Schlachter Library for Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning – “Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen. Awarded “Long Overdue.”
• Rose Einhaus (retired employee of UC Libraries) and her daughter, UC Assistant Professor Charity Accurso, College of Allied Health Sciences –“The Rainbow Fish” by Marcus Pfister. Awarded “Most Beautiful.”
• Tim Zack – “Puzzles in Wood” by Edwin Mather Wyatt. Awarded “Most Ambitious.”
• Jessica Ebert, Library Associate 1. University of Cincinnati Libraries  – “The Odyssey” by Homer. Awarded “Most Classic.”
• Olga Hart, Instruction Librarian, University of Cincinnati Libraries – “Scarpetta” by Patricia Cornwell (Awarded “Most Deadly”); “Very Valentine” by Adriana Trigiani (Awarded “Most Romantic”)
• Alexandra Hart – “Thunder Cake” by Patricia Polacco. Awarded “Best Student Entry.”
• Holly Prochaska, Interim Head of the Geology/Mathematics/Physics Library / Head, Conservation & Binding / Coordinator,  Renovation Projects – “The Complete Works of O. Henry”(Awarded Most Literary); “The Grape Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald; and “Grape Expectations” by Charles Dickens (Awarded “Best Seller”).
• Barb Macke, Instruction Librarian – “Rabbit, Run” by John Updike. Awarded “Staff Pick.”
• Stephanie Bricking, research associate, Donald C. Harrison Health Sciences Library – “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle. Awarded “Most Childlike.”
• Ben Hay and Mary Kate Henrikson, UC students – “Where’s Waldorf Salad?” (Awarded “Funniest”); “For Whom the Taco Bell Tolls” by Ernest Hemingway. Awarded “Most Epic.”
• Gabrielle Fox, libraries conservator – “Kindlecake,” awarded “Scariest.”
• Amanda Luckenbill, student – “Gone with the Wind” by Margaret Mitchell. Awarded “Most Checked Out.”
• Aravind Ranganathan, student – “Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand. Awarded “Least Edible.”
• Donna Gering, retired UC employee – “The Soloist” by Steve Lopez. Awarded “Strangest Contents.”
• Anastassia Bowers, UC student – “Hope for the Flowers,” Awarded “Most Edible.”
• Marie Knecht and Suzette Combs – “Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens. Awarded “Most Well Crafted.”

This year, the International Books Festival Web site notes that in addition to the U.S., countries participating in the 2009 International Edible Books Festival included Canada, China, France, India, Hong Kong, Russia and Singapore. Other American higher education institutions taking part in this year’s festival included the University of Illinois-Champaign-Urbana, Columbia College in Chicago, Ivy Tech Community College in Ft. Wayne, Ind., the University of Texas in Austin, Denison University in Granville, Ohio, and Xavier University here in Cincinnati.