All posts by tpretz

I am the elementary librarian at The American School in Japan.

Books2Eat 2025

Entry Submission Dates:

March 3 – April 13, 2025

What is the Books2Eat Challenge?

This challenge is an annual library challenge that takes place during the spring. The only rule is to make edible art that has something to do with books as shapes and/or content.  This challenge is an opportunity for students to collaborate, create, problem-solve and most of all celebrate their favorite books! Over the past few years, students have made their edible art from cakes, cookies, pancakes, ice cream, fruit, fondant, mochi, rice, whipped cream, marshmallows, pretzels, vegetables, and there have even been a few “book bentos”.

Previous Year’s Entries:

BOOKS2EAT 2024 SLIDESHOW

BOOKS2EAT 2023 SLIDESHOW

2023 Award-Winning Entries

BOOKS2EAT 2022 SLIDESHOW

BOOKS2EAT 2021 SLIDESHOW

BOOKS2EAT 2020 SLIDESHOW

Submission Form QR Code:

You can enter your Books2Eat into one of the following categories:

Most Creative, Healthiest, Best Use of Materials, Most Kawaii (cutest), Best Use of Fondant, Most Original, Most Realistic Character(s), Best Replica of a Book Cover and Most Colorful

Photo Requirements: Submit 2 photos

Photo #1 – A closeup of the edible art and the book.

Photo #2 – A photo of the edible art, the book, and the baker(s).

Photo submission example:

Be Creative! Have Fun! Be A Baker Maker!

Best Books of the Year Lists

Check out the notable 2024 Best Books lists below:

Publishers Weekly’s Best Children’s and YA Books of 2024.

The New York Times Best Children’s Books of 2024.

The Horn Book Fanfare.

School Library Journal’s Best Books of 2024.

Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books of 2024 list.

Booklist Editors’ Choice: Books for Youth 2024.

NPR’s 2024 Best Kids’ Books.

NPR’s 2024 Best Young Adult Books.

The Wall Street Journal’s Best Children’s Books of 2024.

The Guardian’s Best Children’s Books of 2024.

The New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children’s Books Award for 2024.

NYPL’s Best Books for Kids 2024.

NYPL’s Best Books for Teens 2024.

Chicago Public Library’s Best of the Best Books 2024.

Bank Street’s Best Children’s Books of the Year.

The Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature Best Books 2024.

American Indians in Children’s Literature Best Books of 2024.

Goodreads Readers’ Favorite Books 2024.

Book Riot‘s Best Children’s Books of 2024.

Amazon’s Best Children’s Books of 2024.

Barnes & Noble’s Best Picture Books of 2024.

Barnes & Noble’s Best Young Reader Books of 2024.

Barnes & Noble’s Best Teens & YA Books of 2024.

Waterstones’ Best Baby and Toddler Books.

Waterstones’ Best Children’s Fiction.

Waterstones’ Best Teenage & Young Adult.

The Globe and Mail’s Best Kids’ Books.

Peoples Best Kids’ Books of 2024.

Good Housekeeping’s 2024 Kids’ Book Awards.

BookPage’s Best Picture Books of 2024.

BookPage’s Best Middle Grade of 2024.

BookPage’s Best Young Adult Books of 2024.

The National Science Teaching Association’s Best STEM Books for Young Readers.

Smithsonian‘s Ten Best Children’s Books of 2024.

2024 Books2Eat Slideshow

We would like to thank all of the students and their families for participating in the Fifth Annual Books2Eat ASIJ ES Library Challenge! This challenge is a true celebration of our student’s abilities to have FUN while creating, problem-solving, and collaborating with others.

The extra bonus for the library is the fact that other students want to check out the titles of books used for these marvelous projects. 😉

For the best viewing experience, please click on the options menu above (three dots) and enter full screen.

2024 Award Winners

Most Creative

Healthiest

Best Use of Materials

Most Kawaii

Best Use of Fondant

Most Original

Most Realistic Character

Best Replica of a Book Cover

Most Colorful