Peep-o-Rama! Kenosha Public Library diorama contest is back

Looking for signs of spring?

Kenosha Public Library can’t control the weather, but they are celebrating the season in a way that combines the love of reading with a springtime tradition: marshmallow Peeps.

The “Peep-o-Rama” display of book-themed dioramas starring Peeps confections popped up Monday with voting open through April 3 at Southwest Library, 7979 38th Ave. Entries range from a highly-detailed Harry Potter scene to classics like “Go Dog Go” reimagined as “Go Peep Go” complete with a Twinkie car.

“It’s a lovely event and we have lots of fun,” KPL Early LIteracy Specialist Lisa Rivers said. “It’s a family event so they work on these together.”

Like many opportunities, the annual Peeps contest was called off the past two years, and is now being welcomed back with open arms.

“People are happy to have it back. We got more entries than we’ve had in years,” Rivers said of the 20 dioramas decking out the shelves in the library’s Children’s Area.

In addition to the aforementioned J.K. Rowling and Dr. Seuss titles, Peeps chicks and bunnies hop into scenes from more favorites including “Charlotte’s Web,” “Pokemon,” “Froggy Goes to School,” “Jack and the Beanstalk,” “Bluey’s Pool Day,” “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” “A Series of Unfortunate Events,” “Ira Crumb Feels the Feelings,” “The Lorax,” “Hansel and Gretel,” “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas,” and Mo Willems’ beloved characters Elephant and Piggie starring in “We Are Going for a Drive.”

Some entries have a punny twist: “Junie ‘Peep’ Jones,” “The Very Hungry CaterPeeper,” “Jurassic Peep,” “Winnie the Peep,” and “Wings of Peeps.”

This year’s Peep-o-Rama contest was announced at the beginning of March with entries due last weekend. The Peeps project guidelines required only that the shoe-box size dioramas include at least one Peeps confection and be based on a book.

In addition to this spring tradition, the library also runs a winter version, Battle Gingerbread.

“They are festive for the season, and people have a lot of fun with it,” Rivers said.

All the 2022 Peep-o-Rama entries capture the joy of reading, it’s nearly impossible to pick a favorite, voting is now open in-person only.

What do winners receive besides a very cute diorama to take back home in time for Easter?

“Bragging rights,” Rivers said.

Branch hours are Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday noon-4 p.m.