 
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
Mirrors & Smoke: A War of 1812
'A smartly plotted, character
novel set in 1800s Canada' WSA
Amazon/Audible
Dinosaur Symphony
A Guide to Dinosaurs
and Classical Music
Amazon
Momma Llama World
Free coloring sheets,
animated stories & more.
Meet Momma Llama
Literary Historical Fiction
Karma and horses drive one
family through 2500 Years.
Amazon
BEHIND THE PICKLE JAR
A fun, relatable,
emotionally powerful read!
Amazon
Chronicles of MatiLou/PerryAnn
Through it all the girls work
to save Mother Earth.
Amazon
Building The Beast:
The Comic Memoir
of a Crazy Idea!
Amazon
Fenix and the Firework Fliers
Can Fenix save the Fireworks
when a firefly gets sick?
creativemovementstories.com
Millie’s Magic
The little mouse
with a big heart.
Amazon
THEY'RE ALL BARKING
Springer Spaniel's eye-opening
view of human behaviour
Amazon
CHARLES DARWIN...
An entertaining learning
resource for curious kids.
www.alanhesse.com
RAVEN'S GRAVE Charlotte Stuart
Betrayal and death in
an Alaskan Tlingit village.
Amazon
Jack's 1st Birthday Adventure
Journey to Jingle Jangle:
A fun story with activities!
Amazon
THE PEBBLE CHAMPION
A stirring tale
of sadness and self-discovery.
Amazon
The Monarchs
"A thought-provoking spiritual
quest" - Kirkus Reviews
Amazon
Crowded platforms Window Seats
One family's adventures
around Europe by train.
Amazon
I Never Said I Love You
A story of travel, friendship,
forgiveness, & roads not taken
Amazon
THE WAY OF WATER
Brilliant YA Fantasy with
Magic, Mystery & Romance
Amazon
❜Twas the Day of Christmas
Join Marco, Pet Pom Dog
and Santa for the Holidays
Amazon
DAUGHTER OF SPIES
Wartime Secrets, Family Lies
A FINALIST in TWSA
Amazon
Sea Change by Nick Bamford
'A gay romance and adventure
on a yacht at sea'
nickbamford.com
THE GREAT MOSQUITO HUNT
Hunting the world for
the causes of disease
Amazon
Misty Black Media, LLC
Get your picture book designed
& formatted by a professional
www.mistyblackauthor.com
Azoria's Blade
They attacked her homeland.
Now, Azoria seeks her revenge.
Amazon
Hanna’s Ascent
A lyrical story of transgender
history and triumph
www.bedazzledink.com
The Putaway Monster
A delightful mystery to
solve as toys disappear.
Amazon
Wartime Secrets, Family Lies
London to life in Washington
in a family of secrets
Amazon
Wild Atlantic Way Anthology
Characters along Ireland’s
Majestic Coast
Amazon
Inspirational Mindset Journey
This book, therapy by power of
fiction, can alter your life.
Amazon
THE COIN
CAN FINDING A COIN
GET YOU KILLED?
books2read
THE SOCIETY
A NATION is on the brink...
Only 1 woman can stop it
Amazon
No Death in Finding Nemo
Stories of mundane lives which
change in surprising ways
www.jeffreyfeingold.com
The Last Professional
A hobo, a wanderer, a madman-
their lives are on the line!
www.eddavisbooks.com
Pure Ink Press
Quality partnership publisher
open for submissions
Pure Ink Press
THE MERMELF
Mystery girl. Mermelves arrive
Dystopian rebellion begins
Amazon
Rainbow Cat and Mouse
How a hungry cat and a feisty
mouse become best friends
Amazon
Touch of the Whimsy
Witty fantasy, this Castaway
romance is an enigma!
Amazon
Beyond the Brink
Teleportation is just the
beginning...
Amazon
THE PORTAL KEEPER
Enter a world of Fantastic
Creatures and Magic!
books2read
Samurai's Gift Among Forest
A grieving child's journey
to healing her spirit.
books2read
Rooted and Remembered
An orphaned boy wonders if
home is a place or a feeling.
Goodreads
JUST RIVER
Hilarious and grave.
A story of resilience.
Amazon
IT'S OKAY NOT TO BE FABULOUS
A guide to finding self-love
and achieving your destiny💙
Amazon
THE TIFFIN
Lost tiffin. Note gone astray.
A boy's search for family.
Amazon
“Hatch Chile Willie”
offers children a heartwarming
tale of friendship
Amazon
Don't Look Too Tasty
Hungry aliens, missing
friends. Who can you trust?
Amazon
Nantucket Monsters
Island monsters on the sly,
live in the corner your eye
B. LAWSON HULL
REVOLUTION: A NOVEL
Comical misadventures in
modern Los Angeles
Amazon
PWF for Women 40+
Paranormal Women's Fiction -
NEW SERIES!
books2read.com
The Shadow of the Volcano
A thrilling 'time travel'
adventure for 7 - 13 yr olds.
Amazon
Winkle and Aster
Urban fantasy that takes
imagination to its limits
books2read
Into The Shadows
Journey from naïve university
student to a great spy.
marinemoments.uk
Popina & Slumberina
Join in a Magical Journey of
Growth and Self Discovery
Amazon
Into the Thicket
Boy finds an injured rabbit
sparks heartfelt journey
Amazon
Crossing Borders
American memoir on prospects
for peace in Palestine/Israel
christabruhn.com
Wild Atlantic Way Anthology
Characters along Ireland’s
Majestic Coast
Amazon
THE WAY OF WATER
Brilliant YA Fantasy with
Magic, Mystery & Romance
Amazon
SEA CHANGE
Gay romance and adventure
on a yacht at sea
Nick Bamford
The Book of Wisdom-ish
Adventure begins with
a book. And an A.
Amazon




































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































