The C.H. Booth Library held its first Cupcake Wars event on Wednesday, July 8.

The event was inspired by the popular television show of the same name on the Food Network, according to Young Adult Librarian Kim Weber. However, the idea came from other libraries in the area.

“Libraries love to borrow good ideas from other libraries,” said Ms Weber.

The Cupcake Wars were held in the meeting room at C.H. Booth Library. Four long tables were set up for the day with paper plates, frosting, and other materials for decorating cupcakes. About five to eight children sat at each table, all facing the middle of the room.

Three challenges were set for the children: to create one cupcake inspired by a fiction book, one inspired by a nonfiction book, and one inspired by a fantasy book. Each child received three cupcakes, one for each competition category.

After each challenge was revealed, the children were allowed time to brainstorm their ideas. Each table was sent, one by one, to go “shopping” for the materials they would need to create their designs. Each child had a paper cup to fill to the brim with their materials. The tables were each allotted one minute at the shopping table.

A row of bowls was displayed on the shopping table, each filled with candy and snacks, like skittles, licorice, pretzel sticks, and other sweets to decorate cupcakes.

Events like the Cupcake Wars are planned by the young adult council at the library, according to Ms Weber.

The young adult council consists of Newtown students, grades 6 through 12. The students decide on and plan programs and events for the library. They also write book reports and help create displays in the library, according to Ms Weber.

“It’s all up to the kids. I always run ideas by my young adult council,” said Ms Weber.

Members of the young adult council assisted with the event. Three members of the council acted as moderators as well as judges. Tristan Philiato was one of the judges. He also circled the room to aid Ms Weber.

“I liked going to the library, and if I was going there anyway, I might as well do it,” said Tristan about joining the young adult council. “And I thought it would be pretty cool.”

According to Tristan, the young adult council decides on events like the Cupcake Wars a few months in advance, and plans the event and set-up about a month before.

After the decorating was over, everyone — young adult council members and participants alike — helped clean up the area before the winners of each competition were announced.

The winners of each category were given a small ribbon. The nonfiction category produced cupcakes with winning designs like the discovery of electricity or the life of Albert Einstein. The winner of the fiction category was a cupcake depicting the "Sword in the Stone," the classic King Arthur legend. Winners of the fantasy category ranged from Harry Potter to James and the Giant Peach.

Although this was the first year of the Cupcake Wars, the response from the children was a good one, according to Ms Weber.

The program was advertised for children ages 10–19, but most of the children who attended fell between the ages of 10 to 14, according to Ms Weber.

 “I love having programs that segue from downstairs to upstairs. So many people do the children’s programs and then they don’t come upstairs…We don’t want to lose the kids, we want them to know that the library is a good place for them, even once they’re not doing story hour anymore,” said Ms Weber.