
Finalists 2023
Below is a list of the 2023 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, 2024.
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:
A Red Ribbon is awarded to a book that did NOT get over 25/35 to be a finalist, but was still very much enjoyed by the readers.
Sponsored Ads
THE SAD PRINCESS
Refinding joy with our
children is not a fairy tale
Amazon
The Boy and the Big White Rock
'...rewarding memoir of coming
of age in the 1960s.' KIRKUS
Barnes and Noble
An Enemy Like Me
What would you do for love?
3 POV WWII HistFic Saga
www.terimbrown.com
CHARLES DARWIN...
An entertaining learning
resource for curious kids.
www.alanhesse.com
Forever Boy
Isaac comes to realize his new
friend harbors dark secrets.
books2read
TOUCH
Gritty coming-of-age
fiction with a purpose
Amazon
My Year at the Good Bean Café
Weird and inexplicable events
and their effect on our lives
Amazon
The Book of Wisdom-ish
Adventure begins with
a book. And an A.
Amazon
The Boy from the Night Sky
Thrilling fantasy adventure
for all ages.
Amazon
Chains of Prophecy
A man finds he is the chosen
sorcerer of Heaven.
Amazon
How We Healed
A vivid family saga and an
unforgettable healing odyssey
Amazon
SECRET SKY
Everybody wishes they could
fly - until it happens
books2read.com
Churchill’s Secret Army
WW2 courage and sacrifice
in the undercover SOE
www.cloudshillpress.com
LOOK AWAY NO MORE
A story rich in history & love
at a Georgia college in 1970.
Amazon
Crowded platforms Window Seats
One family's adventures
around Europe by train.
Amazon
The Accidental Boyfriend
Slightly steamy, fake dating,
celebrity young adult romcom
lorifreeland
My Therapy Assistant
Self-Care Journal
& Mood Tracker
YouTube
It Rains in February
A wife's memoir of love,
suicide, grief and loss
Amazon
“Later,†Said Gator
Encourage kids to clean up
in a positive, fun way!
Amazon
A Tree in Time
A fabilious journey into
the distant past.
gentlpresspublishing.co.uk
Girl & the Lock on Her Heart
An empowering book to
ignite everyone’s self love.
Amazon
Esme and Griswald
A WITCH in search of a
POTION to save her PRINCE
Amazon
FIGHT
Thought-provoking poems encou-
raging us to fight for justice
YouTube
Harvey's Hutch
A man, nearly seventy,
looks back on his life.
Amazon
Terracolina-A Place to Belong
A fantasy to delight middle-
graders and nature lovers.
Amazon
The Putaway Monster
A delightful mystery to
solve as toys disappear.
Amazon
A Misfortunate Misfit
Incredible true story of a
man saving his own life
Amazon
RED CHAIR PRESS
Titles in Dyslexic and
/or Large Print editions
ReadHowYouWant
BEHIND THE PICKLE JAR
A fun, relatable,
emotionally powerful read!
Amazon
In the Shadows of Castles
A story of love, hope and
survival in a time of war.
Amazon
DON'T DOUBT THE RAINBOW series
Crime-busting teen
detective adventures!
www.crownhouse.co.uk
THE GRAVITY OF LIES
WHAT IF YOUR WHOLE LIFE
WAS BASED ON LIES?
Amazon
Memoir of Millennial Caregiver
A story of caregiving, loss,
and acceptance of the unknown.
Amazon
A Voice from Heaven
Astounding secrets of life,
death, love and spirituality
wingsofpeacepress.com
Chronicles of MatiLou/PerryAnn
Through it all the girls work
to save Mother Earth.
Amazon
NUDGES FROM THE OTHER SIDE
Must-read for those who grieve
or curious about the afterlife
Amazon
Exclusion Zone
The VORKOSIGAN SAGA
meets DIE HARD.
Amazon
Social Media & Mental Health
‘’Empower your child to be
safe in the digital world’’
Amazon
LADY APPRENTICE
"Love, fighting, mystery and
magic” BRAG Medallion
books2read.com
The Devil has Spoken
2020: The Devil has created a
virus that won't discriminate
Everand
The Girl Who Looked Beyond...
13 yrs old. How can she have
a destiny to save the world?
Amazon
MERCY'S VIEW: BLACKOUT
Memoir - A runaway's reckless
re-entry into society
Amazon
Perfect Middle Grade Series
Montana and her friends
save the forest animals!
Amazon
IT'S OKAY NOT TO BE FABULOUS
A guide to finding self-love
and achieving your destiny💙
Amazon
DRAGONDAH
The Secret Legacy
of Ottillee Bottomly
Amazon
Digging Deep by Dexter Hutt
She can cope with murder -
but what about betrayal?
Amazon
Soar: A Soul's Quest
A young eagle on a quest of
self-discovery & enlightenment
Amazon
REVOLUTION: A NOVEL
Comical misadventures in
modern Los Angeles
Amazon
WELCOME TO OPINE
Homo Sapiens 2.0: Will genetic
blessing be their undoing?
Amazon
Sea Change by Nick Bamford
'A gay romance and adventure
on a yacht at sea'
nickbamford.com
Your Words Your Love
A dazzling explosion
of beauty for your soul.
books2read
Beyond the Brink
Teleportation is just the
beginning...
Amazon
Harmony Dances On
Helping children navigate the
journey through grief
Amazon
Look 'N Up Invasion
A clever mix of fantasy,
family drama & cultural debate
Goodreads
BELIEVING IN HORSES
Ride away with the
Believing in Horses books!
Amazon
The Great Migration
Survive valley. Stop outbreak.
Or watch the kingdom burn.
Amazon
Me and My Shadow
Honest reflection how cancer
took a boy to death’s door.
Amazon
“Hatch Chile Willie”
offers children a heartwarming
tale of friendship
Amazon
Smurgle The Windy Dragon
By Jane Clack, ill. by Lucy
Nicholson. A FUN PICTURE BOOK!
Amazon