A recent competition at the Okotoks Public Library put a delicious new twist on reading.

Participants were challenged to represent favourite books with food in the library's first ever Edible Book Contest, held on Saturday, March 24th.

Michelle Walther, with children's services at the library, says this year's event drew 10 entries and the creativity was impressive.

"Our first place winner actually did 'The (Monster) Book of Monsters'," she says. "And so it was this great big cake covered in fondant and it was just absolutely beautiful, it actually looked like a book."

The second place winner represented the book, 'Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,' by creating a farmyard scene which was then covered with pancakes and syrup, which Walther describes as "really messy and really fun." Third place was an edible representation of 'Les Miserables.'

Patron voting decided which of the entries would be awarded first, second and third places, with prizes donated by 94 Take The Cake and Obsession Handmade Chocolates.

Walther says they were pleased with the response from the community, with many of the creative entries coming from teenagers. She says the competition was intended to promote the library as a fun place to be and a good place in which to spend some time.

"We would definitely consider it a success," she says. "Because it's first year, you never know. I had three people signed up prior to the event and then seven more people just brought their entries in and wanted to be part of the contest. It was beyond our expectations, we were impressed by the turnout."

Walther says plans are already in place to host the event next year.

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