![Bees](https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/legacy/enews/2009/04/e9891/jcr:content/image.img.cq5dam.thumbnail.500.500.jpg/1534516886105.jpg)
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 childrens books to classics to biographies.
Two entries reflected UCs year-long celebration of the 150th anniversary of Charles Darwins 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 Darwins 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 Havishams 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).
books
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 Wheres 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 years 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.
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