Students Sink Their Teeth into a Few Good Books—Literally

By Rocco Staino -- School Library Journal, 11/27/2008

Everyone likes to sink their teeth into a good book—and several students at Harper College in Palatine, IL, did just that.

As part of an “Edible Book Contest,” students were asked to turn their favorite book into a tasty treat. And so they did, using everything from chocolate bars and fondant to sushi and celery to shape their creations. 

A majority of the contestants, many who hailed from a culinary arts program , were inspired by popular children’s books, such as Dr. Seuss’s The Places You’ll Go; Robert Munsch’s Love You Forever, and The Magic School Bus series.

Which won for the most edible? A strawberry layer cake with a colored sugared fish for Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister. A cake made from Rice Krispies molded into the shape of an open book spouting a tree was the interpretation for Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree and won in the category of most literary.

Several adult classics were represented in delectable ways, as well. Students used sushi and other seafood for a clever interpretation of Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea. The grand prize went to cake with the Titanic sinking into its pages to portray Walter Lord’s A Night to Remember.

The event was the brainchild of Michele Ukleja, the library’s coordinator of user services, to increase interest in the library. It worked. The event drew a standing room crowd when the winners were announced.

“I wanted to have it in the library so as to attract students passing by, and that seemed to be effective,” Ukleja says. “The event was a lot of fun, and seemed to be a big hit with the students.” Next year they plan to add a “Most Popular” category.