Finalists 2020
Below is a list of the 2020 FINALISTS in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. The children's books were read and judged by children in 8 UK primary and secondary schools, the adult books by 2 Reading Groups, 1 in London and 1 in Stockholm. The books were marked according to EDITING, THEME, STYLE, COVER and, in the case of many of the children's books, ILLUSTRATIONS.
The WINNERS will be announced on April 1st, 2021.
Jump straight to:
- Category 1: Pre-school picture books
- Category 2: Books for 6 - 8 year olds
- Category 3: Books for 9 - 12 year olds
- Category 4: Books for Teenagers
- Category 5: Books for adults (fiction)
- Category 6: Books for Adults (non-fiction)
- Red Ribbon Bands
If you happen to be looking for a good read, the readers at The Wishing Shelf Awards thoroughly recommend the following:

The Big Adventures Of A Little Tree: Tree Finds Friendship
Author: Nadja Springer
Illustrator: Tilia Rand-Bell

The Super Awesome Secret Adventures of Billy the Brave: Jungle Mayhem
Author: Christian Canning
Illustrator: Edison Goncalves, Len Simon

Chieftain’s Daughter: Violet Moon Series Book 2
Author: Alisa Hope Wagner
Illustrator: Albert Morales

Anti-Sell: Marketing, Lead Generation & Networking Tips for Freelancers Who Hate Sales
Author: Steve Morgan

Bad Bitches and Power Pitches: For Women Entrepreneurs and Speakers Only
Author: Precious L. Williams

It's A Jungle Out There, Powerful Parenting Lessons Inspired by The Lion King
Author: Nathaniel A. Turner

Make Fitness A Priority: 30 tips to elevate your life through fitness, Chad Austin
Author: Chad Austin, Jesse Kepka

No More Cakes and Ale? Dietary Intelligence for gluten-free adults and their food dudes
Author: Sophie Newton

Redefining Normal: How Two Foster Kids Beat The Odds and Discovered Healing, Happiness, and Love
Author: Justin and Alexis Black

Success Tools: Upgrade Yourself into a High Performer for Lifelong Career Success
Author: Leopoldo Fu

Surfing the Waves of Alzheimer's: Principles of Caregiving That Kept Me Upright
Author: Renée Brown Harmon, MD

The Cosmic Playbook for Writers: 30 Vital Mini Meditations to Boost Your Creativity, Resilience & Passion
Author: P.K. Davies

The Introvert’s Complete Career Guide: From Landing a Job, to Surviving, Thriving and Moving on Up
Author: Jane Finkle

Volcanic Momentum: Get Things Done by Setting Destiny Goals, Mastering the Energy Code, and Never Losing Steam
Author: Jordan Ring
A Red Ribbon is awarded to a book that did NOT get over 30/40 to be a finalist, but was still very much enjoyed by the readers.

Red Ribbon
Everything Under the Sun: A Family Doctor's Reflections on Life, Love, Loss and Renewed Hope in Medicine
Author: Bruce Rowe MD
Sponsored Ads
Terracolina-A Place to Belong
Magic & wonder collide
in this bold MG adventure
by Carla Kessler
Arni's Adventures
Pet dinosaur, bear, cat story
for the young reader.
Ashok
Smurgle The Windy Dragon
By Jane Clack, ill. by Lucy
Nicholson. A FUN PICTURE BOOK!
Amazon
OUT OF TIME
Love at 78? Life has a
time limit. Love doesn't.
M. Jacqueline Murray
The Great Migration
Survive valley. Stop outbreak.
Or watch the kingdom burn.
Amazon
LIVING AT THE EDGE OF THE
WORLD Swap Wi-Fi for Wildlife
Shetland Adventure 9-12
WINTER, Book 1
Demons to Champions
A tale of neurodivergent
awakening and triumph.
Amazon
SIN EATER
A girl with the power to
erase ANY bad memory!
Amazon
INTO THE BLAZE
A new trilogy where fantasy,
myth, and reality entwine
Amazon
The Bride's Trunk
A gripping true story of
Anglo-German reconciliation
Amazon
I Never Said I Love You
A story of travel, friendship,
forgiveness, & roads not taken
Amazon
Popina & Slumberina
Join in a Magical Journey of
Growth and Self Discovery
Amazon
There's a Duck in the House
TWSA FINALIST 2023
Large Format with Large Text
Amazon
Clouds on the Ground
Poems exploring natural beauty
and the realm of dreams
Amazon
The Faraway Mountains
A memorable novel about
growing up under dictatorship
Amazon
Prescription for Frozen Heart
Pride & Prejudice meets
Grey's Anatomy - medical rom.
by Jo-Anne Duffett
THE PEBBLE CHAMPION
A stirring tale
of sadness and self-discovery.
Amazon
Pippin's Country Adventure
A happy fun educational read
about an adventurous poodle.
Amazon
Confidently Mindful
Answers to your most asked
mindfulness questions.
Amazon
THE SOCIETY
Elizabeth Grant Thriller-woman
embroiled in a conspiracy
Amazon
Dance Along
A curious cat, a magical
mirror & a world of twirls
Amazon
Escape From Peconic Bay
A fast-paced, historical novel
set during the run up to WW2
books2read
Building The Beast:
The Comic Memoir
of a Crazy Idea!
Amazon
NEW TRAILS
A queer portal fantasy of
magic, courage, and home
books2read
RED CHAIR PRESS
Titles in Dyslexic and
/or Large Print editions
ReadHowYouWant
WHINGEY WILLIAMS Term 1
Follow Whingey on her FIRST
adventure on Gower
Amazon
The Word Gobblers
A handbook for parents with
children struggling to read
by Catherine Matthias
Half a Faerie
A disgraced rockstar falls for
a half-faerie single mom.
by Toni Cabell
THE MERMELF
Mystery girl. Mermelves arrive
Dystopian rebellion begins
Amazon
Lucy Wants To go To School
Perfect for apprehensive
children starting school
Amazon
The Graffiti Killer
A mind unhinged on
the fulcrum of our age.
by David Milnes
ANGELS
A YA LGBTQ+ emotional
rollercoaster.
'Perfect. 5 stars.'
101 Ways to Wow! Our World
Insights, ideas, & actions
to encourage & empower
Amazon
Truth Was Once Taboo
New humanity, ancient
wisdom: spirituality reborn.
Amazon
A Mixing Colour Adventure
Colour mixing, teamwork &
perseverance for 3 - 7 yr olds
Amazon
Sam & Me & the Hard Pear Tree
A personal account of
a mother’s ultimate loss
Amazon
Churchill’s Secret Army
WW2 courage and sacrifice
in the undercover SOE
www.cloudshillpress.com
Book Love
YOUNG READERS become
WORLD LEADERS
Lorilyn Roberts
Winkle and Aster
Urban fantasy that takes
imagination to its limits
books2read
BOBBIN AND THE MAGIC THIEF
A broken rule. A stolen
friend. A faerie rescue.
books2read
A Misfortunate Misfit
Incredible true story of a
man saving his own life
Amazon
Down to Earth
A practical guide to using
intuition for smarter living.
Amazon
The Boy and the Big White Rock
'...rewarding memoir of coming
of age in the 1960s.' KIRKUS
Barnes and Noble
Sara My Sara
A moving tale of friendship,
loss, and the gifts of grief.
Amazon
Rider of the Wind
An exultant celebration
of the magic of music
Amazon
The Source of The Wind
A powerful & tender women's
fiction novel with soul
by Ella Capek
A QUEST FOR HIDDEN THINGS
A cozy, coming-of-age
fantasy adventure
by Karen Eisenbrey
Alphamind
Embark on a journey into the
depths of the human spirit!
Amazon
BUILDING THE BEAST
Building a home-on-wheels
with zero blueprint.
Amazon
If Roses Were Blue
Inspiring, heart-warming
adventure for ages 8 & up
Amazon
The Ghost of Neil Diamond
A tribute artist scales
the Great Wall of China.
by David Milnes
Moonshine Mesa
Why are bees, crows, & humans
dying at Moonshine Mesa?
Amazon
Holy Hell
Diabolical Delights: Twisted
Tales of Faith and Fear
Memoir & creative non-fiction
DAUGHTER OF SPIES
Wartime Secrets, Family Lies
A FINALIST in TWSA
Amazon
The Book of Wisdom-ish
Adventure begins with
a book. And an A.
Amazon
Mirrors & Smoke: A War of 1812
'A smartly plotted, character
novel set in 1800s Canada' WSA
Amazon/Audible
SEA CHANGE
Gay romance and adventure
on a yacht at sea
Nick Bamford
Of Mountains and Seas
A multigenerational urban
fantasy mystery.
Amazon
The Gates of Dark Death
The story of the last woman
to escape the Tower of London
by Alan Reynolds








































































































































































































































































































































































































