Sticking to their stories in library Peeps contest

KENT — You could argue that there are two kinds of people in the world: Those who like marshmallows and those who do not.

Even non-fans of the sticky delights could wrap their hearts and minds around the Peeps competition held through the month of April at the Kent Memorial Library (and sponsored by The Lakeville Journal, where everyone loves marshmallows).

Peeps are the little animal shaped colored marshmallows that are a traditional Easter season treat. They are known as either overly sugary and unpleasant balls of sticky badness; or as delightful, delicious and attractive harbingers of spring (although recent years have seen an expansion of the Peeps oeuvre to include special lines for other major holidays). 

They are also known to many people as an excellent way to create an unholy mess inside a microwave oven. But there are other more productive ways to use Peeps and one of those ways is to create scenic dioramas. Specifically at the Kent Memorial Library, the dioramas were shoebox-sized incarnations of famous scenes from literature (because the contest was hosted by a library …).

The diorama entries were delivered early in April. Judging was held on Saturday, April 20. 

There were 21 total entries (17 by children, four by adults), plus one that was created by The Lakeville Journal (a fishing scene meant to evoke Herman Melville’s “Typee: a ‘Peep’ at Polynesian Life”); and three that were created by Lucy Pierpont, the marketing and publicity expert for the library and also themagister ludi of the Peeps competition.

There were 161 ballots cast in this important election. 

The first-place winner in the age 15 and older category was “Mad-e-Peep” by Amy and Thea Voorhees. The prize was a year’s subscription to The Lakeville Journal and a gift certificate for Kent’s The Villager restaurant.

First place in the 14-and-under category was “Peep and the Giant Peach” by Seamus and Maeve Dietrich. The prize was an Easter basket with one gift certificate for The Villager and another for Kent’s House of Books.

The runner-up in the 14-and-under category was “The Greatest Showpeep!” by Augusta Smith. The prize was a gift certificate for House of Books.