WHITBREAD  BOOK OF THE YEAR 1985-2003

Established in 1971, the Whitbread Book Awards are now in their 30th year. The Awards actively promote the enjoyment of reading, working in partnership with amazon.co.uk, CILIP (previously the Library Association), the National Reading Campaign and the Booksellers Association.

On January 27, 2004, Sir John Banham, Chairman of Whitbread PLC, presented Mark Haddon with his award and a £25,000 cheque.  The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, which is published in both an adult and a children’s version, is the sixth novel to win the Whitbread Book of the Year since 1985.  It has already won numerous children’s and teenage fiction awards and was initially entered for the Children’s Book Award as well, but was withdrawn by the publishers in preference to the Novel Award.  (Whitbread Book Awards rules stipulate that books may only be entered in one category.)