By Maddy Vitale
The Ocean City Free Public Library has a lot of treats for its customers, books in all forms. And on Monday, they even had the edible kind.
The Edible Book Festival in its sixth year, showcased talents of book lovers who even got to bring their baking skills into the mix.
Imaginations shined with entries such as “Splenda in the Grass,” a white cake topped with green strands of icing, to “Catch 22,” which was a kid favorite due to its Swedish fish ornaments not to mention a dish of the sweets for the taking.
“This ends up being one of the most fun and creative events we have,” said Adult Programming Librarian Julie Howard. “The public gets to combine their book smarts and baking skills.”
Howard added that you don’t have to be a superb baker to enter the contest. “I tell people you can see what other people have done online.”
The silliness of the festival fits with the time the event is held- on April Fools’ Day, Howard added.
Howard said the support from the community and Volunteers of the Ocean City Free Public Library make the event successful year after year.
“They are an integral part of this program,” Howard noted of the volunteers.
By late morning some parents brought their toddlers in to see some of the goodies.
Stephanie Lindsay, of Egg Harbor Township, laughed as her son Griffin, 3, picked up a Swedish fish. A minute later, he took another one.
Julia Coste, of Ocean City, brought her son Lucas, 3, who was very intrigued with the entire table of baked goods.
Some of the visitors perused the long table in the Ocean City Community Center Atrium holding a slip of paper to jot down whom they think should win the contest.
“There are some great plays on words here,” said Karin Wren, of Ocean City.
She laughed and said, “I think they are all clever.”
Later in the afternoon, when school let out, Howard said children headed straight to the table to take in all the yummy-looking cakes on the table.
“The after-school kids were all excited to dig into the cakes right after we announced the winners,” Howard said. “The cakes were deemed both creative and delicious.”
Here were the 2019 winners courtesy Julie Howard, Adult Programming Librarian:
Adult Category
Funniest/Punniest- “Five Peeps You Eat in Heaven” – entry by Jean Bush
Best Visual Presentation- “The Giving Tree” – entry by Cheryl Kelchner
Most Appetizing- “After the Fall” – entry by Jennifer Shirk
People’s Choice- “Catch 22” – entry by Babs Stefano
Junior Category
Winner- “Red Queen”- entry by Breanna Adamson
