The Edible Book Festival, a celebration of food, art and books, will be held from 1-3 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Bainbridge Public Library, 1270 Madison Ave.

“It is such a great fit for Bainbridge,” organizer Kathleen Thorne said. “We have great restaraunts, a literary bent and lots of creative people here.”

Describing the first-year event has been the biggest challenge. An “edible book” can look like a book, be a pun on a title, refer to a character, or just have something to do with books – as long as it’s edible.

Organizers have invited local book clubs, arts organizations, restaurants, caterers, and farmers to transform their favorite books into culinary masterpieces.

Entries will be judged in several categories: best pun on a title, most appetizing, best book-like structure, most artistic, and the all-important Peoples’ Choice Award.

Judging the event are Kitsap Regional Library System Director Jill Jean; chef, author, and food commentator Greg Atkinson; and garden and food writer Ann Lovejoy.

The event is modeled after The International Edible Book Festival – a yearly event, usually held in early April, to honor the birthday of French gastronome Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1755-1826), famous for the saying, “Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are.”

Participants will bring their entries to the library between 11 a.m. and noon. Judging will be from noon to 1 p.m., after which the public is invited to view the entries and vote for their favorites. At 2 p.m. the prizes will be awarded and the feasting begins.

The Edible Book Festival is part of the Kitsap Regional Library System’s “One Book, One Community” series, featuring John Steinbeck’s “Cannery Row.” A $5 donation will benefit the library. Attendees also are invited to bring a can of food for a “Cannery Row” centerpiece which will then be donated to Helpline House.

For information, call 842-4162 or visit www.bainbridgepubliclibrary.org.