Year’s Oddest Book Title: ‘Goblinproofing One’s Chicken Coop’

Imagine a book prize for which the finalists include titles like “How Tea Cosies Changed the World,” “Was Hitler Ill” and “God’s Doodle: The Life and Times of the Penis.”

Those runners-up couldn’t compete with what The Associated Press described as a “supernaturally tinged barnyard manual” called “Goblinproofing One’s Chicken Coop,” which won Britain’s quirkiest literary award, the Diagram Prize, for the year’s oddest book title.

“Goblinproofing One’s Chicken Coop” has as its subtitle, “And Other Practical Advice in Our Campaign Against The Fairy Kingdom.’’ Its Massachusetts-based publisher, Conari Press, described it as “the essential primer for banishing the dark fair creatures that are lurking in the dark corners and crevices of your life.”

The author, Reginald Bakeley, was awarded the prize on Friday by the trade magazine The Bookseller. His editor, Clint Marsh, said he believes the prize “is a clear sign that people have had enough of goblins in their chicken coops.’’ He added, “Our Campaign against the fairy kingdom continues.’’