
Finalists 2021
Below is a list of the 2021 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, 2022.
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)
- Category 7: Audio Book - Children/Young Adult
- Category 8: Audio Book - Adult
- Category 9: Best Book Cover - Children/Young Adult
- Category 10: Best Book Cover - Adult
- Red Ribbon Bands
If you happen to be looking for a good read, the readers at The Wishing Shelf Awards thoroughly recommend the following:

Nurse Bear Does First Aid: Picture Book to Learn First Aid Skills for Toddlers and Kids
Author: Marta Almansa Esteva

Olive the Worrying Wiener: A Short Tale about a Particularly Long Dog
Author: Ally Arena
Illustrator: Rafaela Sukiyama

Monster in the Water: Fighting Back Against Harmful Algal Blooms
Author: Dylan Dagate
Illustrator: Maria Decerce

Sticky Icky Vicky: Courage over Fear
Author: Alysia Ssentamu, Michael Ssentamu
Illustrator: Noor Alshalabi

Audacious Goals, Remarkable Results: How an Explorer, an Engineer and a Statesman shaped our Modern World
Author: Brad Borkan and David Hirzel

Black, White, And Gray All Over; A Black Man’s Odyssey in Life and Law Enforcement
Author: Frederick Reynolds

Just Say "$%#&! NO!†Book Dedicated to the Well-Intended Overextended!
Author: Heather Tobin
Illustrator: Karen Tobin

Kings, Conquerors, Psychopaths: From Alexander to Hitler to the Corporation
Author: Joseph N Abraham MD

Grandpa Jock and the Incredible Iron-Bru-Man Incident: Gorgeous George
Author: Stuart Reid
Performed by: Stuart Reid

Fries & Alibis: Paranormal Cozy Mystery: Mitzy Moon Mysteries Series, Book 1
Author: Trixie Silvertale
Performed by: Coleen Marlo

Systemology: Create Time, Reduce Errors and Scale Your Profits with Proven Business Systems
Author: David Jenyns

The Essential Family Guide to Caring for Older People
Author: Deborah Stone
Performed by: Maggie Ollerenshaw

Little Wade and Watchtower: Abigail and the Great Gang Trap
Author: Sean March
Cover Designer: Joe Ruiz

Rory, Quest for the Northern Lights
Author: Sarah Cullen, Carmen Ellis
Cover Designer: Zuzana Svobodova

The Young Adult’s Collection of Short Scary Stories
Author: Michael Ross
Cover Designer: Magdalena Adić
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.
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The Shadow and the Scream
Stranger Things meets
Alice in Wonderland.
Amazon
SEA CHANGE
Gay romance and adventure
on a yacht at sea
Nick Bamford
Dinosaur Symphony
A Guide to Dinosaurs
and Classical Music
Amazon
Chains of Prophecy
A man finds he is the chosen
sorcerer of Heaven.
Amazon
Ian's Realm Saga
A 7 book adventure fantasy
series for the family.
gardnersart.com
Esme and Griswald
A WITCH in search of a
POTION to save her PRINCE
Amazon
Chronicles of MatiLou/PerryAnn
Through it all the girls work
to save Mother Earth.
Amazon
Plague of Flies
A young Latina fights to save
her people and land.
Amazon
CLEAR-CUTS
In 72 hours, a legend, a lore
& 2 brothers will all collide
Amazon
The Putaway Monster
A delightful mystery to
solve as toys disappear.
Amazon
Literary Historical Fiction
Karma and horses drive one
family through 2500 Years.
Amazon
Selfish Shellfish & Sick Sea
An environmental gem for the
age. Get your copy at:
theprolificword.com
Azoria's Blade
They attacked her homeland.
Now, Azoria seeks her revenge.
Amazon
Gigglet Goes to School
Get your giggle on with
Gigglet. Perfect for 0 - 6 yrs
AMB Kids Books
Don't Look Too Tasty
Hungry aliens, missing
friends. Who can you trust?
Amazon
MUMMY TRUMPS
A rhyming flatulent book that
is fun for all of the family.
Amazon
The Last Lumenian
Most princesses need saving.
This one saves you.
Amazon
DRAGONDAH (9 - 12 year olds)
Solving ancient mysteries and
outwitting scheming villains!
Amazon
Little Puppy's Great Adventure
Adorable story. Great for
both parents as well as kids.
Amazon
Look 'N Up Invasion
A clever mix of fantasy,
family drama & cultural debate
Goodreads
DAUGHTER OF SPIES
Wartime Secrets, Family Lies
A FINALIST in TWSA
Amazon
Growing up Hadley
A story to shatter your heart
then mend it anew.
danawritesbooks
BELIEVING IN HORSES
Ride away with the
Believing in Horses books!
Amazon
Sneaky Snobby by Jennifer Kvam
LOOK OUT! Making trouble is
Sneaky Snobby´s hobby!
Amazon
GOING UNDER THE RADAR
Honest, insightful, battling
autism/mental health - TWSA
Amazon
WHINGEY WILLIAMS Term 1
Follow Whingey on her FIRST
adventure on Gower
Amazon
What You Cannot See
A woman trying to navigate
and understand her life
Amazon
My Therapy Assistant
Self-Care Journal
& Mood Tracker
YouTube
Tuskie’s Travels
Tuskie teaches his crew to
dissolve upsets in 30 seconds!
www.thekidcode.ca
A Novel about Life...and death
Will a mom's superhuman
efforts save her family?
Amazon/Apple
Arni's Adventures
Pet dinosaur, bear, cat story
for the young reader.
Ashok
Jack's 1st Birthday Adventure
Journey to Jingle Jangle:
A fun story with activities!
Amazon
Lead the Competition
Read 100 Livestreaming &
Digital Media Predictions.
Amazon
The Boy and the Big White Rock
'...rewarding memoir of coming
of age in the 1960s.' KIRKUS
Barnes and Noble
DRAGONDAH
The Secret Legacy
of Ottillee Bottomly
Amazon
RIVER WITCH
A haunting, emotional tale
of magic and purpose.
Amazon
The Puppet Maker's Daughter
Marika protects her family &
orphaned children from Nazis.
Amazon
The Faraway Mountains
A memorable novel about
growing up under dictatorship
Amazon
CHILDREN OF HORSESHOE HIDEOUT
A modern day Boxcar Children,
loved the world over
Amazon
Moonshine Mesa
Why are bees, crows &
humans dying at the Mesa?
Amazon
THE COIN
CAN FINDING A COIN
GET YOU KILLED?
books2read
THE PORTAL KEEPER
Enter a world of Fantastic
Creatures and Magic!
books2read
Book Love
YOUNG READERS become
WORLD LEADERS
Lorilyn Roberts
AMAZING WORLD BENEATH THE
WAVES Satisfy your curiosity
about oceans
www.barnettauthor.co.uk
TOUCH
Gritty coming-of-age
fiction with a purpose
Amazon
The Devil has Spoken
2020: The Devil has created a
virus that won't discriminate
Everand
Angry Arthur
and The Run Around Trick
Learn to manage big feelings
Amazon
SeaMouse Builds a Boat
Mouse must find EVERYTHING he
needs to BUILD his boat.
Amazon
Plea to a Frozen God
A desperate trio appeals
to the God of Death.
Amazon
The Beast Keepers
A young vet discovers a
world of mythical creatures
Amazon
DON'T DOUBT THE RAINBOW series
Crime-busting teen
detective adventures!
www.crownhouse.co.uk
The Monarchs
"A thought-provoking spiritual
quest" - Kirkus Reviews
Amazon
Popina & Slumberina
Join in a Magical Journey of
Growth and Self Discovery
Amazon
MaryLou
"An engaging, well-crafted
family drama" TWSA
Amazon
Puppy Pals and Puppy Tales
Letters from the family
dog’s point of view, 5-9 yrs.
Amazon
NUDGES FROM THE OTHER SIDE
Must-read for those who grieve
or curious about the afterlife
Amazon
ARNI'S ADVENTURES
8 charming, silly, comic
stories to laugh at & enjoy.
Amazon
Soar: A Soul's Quest
A young eagle on a quest of
self-discovery & enlightenment
Amazon
Sneaky Snobby by Jennifer Kvam
LOOK OUT! Making trouble is
Sneaky Snobby´s hobby!
Amazon