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Library hosting edible book challenge

JANESVILLE — Readers, start your engines!

Or at least pre-heat your ovens.

Thursday, March 31, is the registration deadline for Hedberg Public Library’s first “Incredible Edible Book Challenge.”

Here’s how it works:

Individuals, families and community groups are encouraged to create an edible entry related to any book title of their choice.

Entries can be puns based on the titles of books, such as “20,000 Leeks under the Sea,” “Quiche of the Spider Woman,” or “Origin of the Reese’s.”

Or they can be a simple reflection of the title such as “If You Give a Moose a Muffin” or “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.”

“It’s a celebration of creativity and of books,” said Rebecca Haefner, a part-time graphic designer who is serving on the edible books committee. “You don’t have to be a professional baker; this is a fun thing.”

The library’s website has links to edible book contests in Seattle, Duke University and the University of Illinois.

Some of the winning entries in those contests included, “To Grill a Mockingbird,” featuring a cake that looked like a grill; “The Legend of Sleepy Challah,” featuring a loaf of braided challah bread under a blanket; and “Hamlet,” featuring a ham omelet.

Hedberg’s event will be based on the International Edible Book Challenge held every year in the first week of April.

“We wanted to hold it on April 10 because it’s the beginning of National Library Week,” Haefner said.

The library asked community members to judge the entries, and prizes will be awarded in a variety of categories.

Visitors will vote for people’s choice awards in categories, such as best looking and “most pun-derful.”