William Hill has announced that it is closing its books for the Whitbread Book of the Year, significantly earlier than planned, due to an unprecedented rush on bets on the Whitbread Children’s Book award winner to pick up the main prize. For the first time ever, the children’s book closed the betting as favourite – rising from odds of 7-1 outsider to 7-4 favourite.

Contenders for the children’s book award this year include Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl), Eva Ibbotson (Journey to the River Sea), Terry Jones (The Lady and the Squire) and Philip Pullman (The Amber Spyglass). The winner of the award joins the other category winners – Patrick Neate (Twelve Bar Blues - Novel), Sid Smith (Something Like A House – First Novel), Diana Souhami (Selkirk’s Island – Biography) and Selima Hill (Bunny – Poetry) in contention for the £25,000 Whitbread Book of the Year. Both awards will be announced at the awards ceremony on 22 January 2002.

William Hill odds at close of betting:
Biography Award
Diana Souhami
Selkirk’s Island
9/4

Novel Award
Patrick Neate
Twelve Bar Blues
3/1

First Novel Award
Sid Smith
Something Like A House
5/1

Poetry Award
Selima Hill
Bunny
6/1

Children’s Award
Shortlisted contenders to win both the Children’s Book of the Year and overall title
7/4 fav