
Finalists 2024
Below is a list of the 2024 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, 2025.
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.

Red Ribbon
'They're All Barking,' A Dog's Guide to Human Behaviour
Author: Professor Daniel Springer-Spaniel

Red Ribbon
Sweet Peas and Bees: Life at the Flower Farm
Author: Mary Murphy
Illustrator: Fiona Van Housen

Red Ribbon
Wanderer's Journey: A Refugee's Search for a Home in the Beautiful Game Author
Author: Vedran Dedic
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SKY ICE
Demon hunters. Slow-burn
romance. Hidden world.
Amazon
Perfect Middle Grade Series
Montana and her friends
save the forest animals!
Amazon
Truth Was Once Taboo
New humanity, ancient
wisdom: spirituality reborn.
Amazon
Hieroglyph
A fantastical mix of history &
fantasy. GOLD medal winner!
Amazon
SIN EATER
A girl with the power to
erase ANY bad memory!
Amazon
Memoir of Millennial Caregiver
A story of caregiving, loss,
and acceptance of the unknown.
Amazon
Puppy Pals and Puppy Tales
Letters from the family
dog’s point of view, 5-9 yrs.
Amazon
The Secrets of Hawthorne House
An unlikely friendship, clash
of cultures, and hidden magic
Amazon
Tilda Finds Her Rainbow
Journey of kindness, courage,
friendship and forgiveness
nicolaalewis.com
Clouds on the Ground
Poems exploring natural beauty
and the realm of dreams
Amazon
THE BOOK
Earth will be fine, humanity
is on track for annihilation!
Amazon
B.A. Bellec
2 x Wishing Shelf
Award Recipient
Amazon
Pippin's Country Adventure
A happy fun educational read
about an adventurous poodle.
Amazon
Your Perfect Freelancer HERE!
Illustrators, Writers, Blurbs,
Editors, Layout Designs
Metaworx
The Fungus Among Us
Encourage children to explore
and connect to nature
Amazon
The Eye of Nineveh (thriller)
They found a gem powered by
the gods. Now, it´s vanished.
Amazon
The Last Professional
A hobo, a wanderer, a madman-
their lives are on the line!
www.eddavisbooks.com
Aunty Jane Knits Up A Storm
Knitting, Friendship, Loss &
Healing in a Children's Story
Amazon
“Hatch Chile Willie”
offers children a heartwarming
tale of friendship
Amazon
Sammie and Pumpkin
An adopted dog learns
how to make new friends.
Amazon
MaryLou
"An engaging, well-crafted
family drama" TWSA
Amazon
A Mixing Colour Adventure
Colour mixing, teamwork &
perseverance for 3 - 7 yr olds
Amazon
The Gemini Connection
An intriguing thriller that
will keep you hooked.
Amazon
Just Janey's Way
Janey wants EVERYTHING her way
Is Janey a STUBBORN BULLY?
Amazon
BEHIND THE PICKLE JAR
A fun, relatable,
emotionally powerful read!
Amazon
Around the Globe
The Adventures of Squishy
and Boo, Book 3
Amazon
The Nephilem
A Sun-soaked setting
with a difference.
www.exquil.com
A Voice from Heaven
Astounding secrets of life,
death, love and spirituality
wingsofpeacepress.com
The Mystery of the Lost Avenge
Multilevel story/ghost/romance
forensics/WWII/espionage
Linda Maria Frank
Wild Atlantic Way Anthology
Characters along Ireland’s
Majestic Coast
Amazon
Beyond a World Apart
Story Nazis attempted to burn
based on historical events
Amazon
MEMOIR OF A MANGLED MIND
Steve's 2 other personalities
wreak havoc all around him
Amazon
EVERKNIGHT
A Heroic Journey of
Uncompromising Honor
Amazon
Marlon and the Scary Something
Scaredy cat finds courage,
foils fear, wins friend
Amazon
LIKE NO OTHER - Cry.
Laugh.
Think.
www.fontreal.com
CLEAR-CUTS
In 72 hours, a legend, a lore
& 2 brothers will all collide
Amazon
Drop the Fake Smile
How to stop people-
pleasing in relationships
Amazon
The Third Estate
WHEN THE TRUTH SURFACES
AND THE LIES are REVEALED
Amazon
MEMOIR OF A MANGLED MIND
Three minds. One body.
And nobody is safe.
Amazon
Churchill’s Secret Army
WW2 courage and sacrifice
in the undercover SOE
www.cloudshillpress.com
Crowded platforms Window Seats
One family's adventures
around Europe by train.
Amazon
Sara My Sara
A moving tale of friendship,
loss, and the gifts of grief.
Amazon
Truth Was Once Taboo
New humanity, ancient
wisdom: spirituality reborn.
Amazon
Nemesis Rising
"Survival comes with a cost
for Sam …his humanity."
Amazon
TOUCH
Gritty coming-of-age
fiction with a purpose
Amazon
The One Week Writing Workshop
7 Days to Spark, Boost
or Revive Your Novel
Karin Adams
What Is the Shape of My Egg?
Introducing children to shape.
"An excellent STEM resource!"
Amazon
Lead the Competition
Read 100 Livestreaming &
Digital Media Predictions.
Amazon
Jemma and the Raven
A luminous adventure in
this epic YA fantasy debut
Amazon
THE S.O.U.R.C.E.
Marine Animals, Kids
Miracle Escape, Powerful Messa
Amazon
It Rains in February
A wife's memoir of love,
suicide, grief and loss
Amazon
CALM POND
TOP 10 BOOK - 9 short stories
for 5 - 9 year olds
Amazon
Pebbles and the Biggest Number
A butterfly’s quest to
find the largest number
Amazon
Sprout's Surprise!
A humorous story with
a gentle ecofriendly message
Amazon
THE BOOK
Earth will be fine, humanity
is on track for annihilation!
Amazon
HENRY
Inspiring WWII Nonfiction
survival account
Amazon
The Broken Wife
A gripping tale of love,
loss, and BETRAYAL.
Amazon
For Evil Done & Evil Suffered
Gripping murder mystery; tease
the brain & stir the senses.
Amazon
THE TRALL SERIES
Middle-grade portal
fantasies set in Australia.
by Gayle Torrens