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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THE TRALL SERIES
Middle-grade portal
fantasies set in Australia.
by Gayle Torrens
101 Ways to Wow! Our World
Insights, ideas, & actions
to WOW your life now!
Amazon
FIELDS OF PROSPERIS
"Bingeable space opera, best
complex villains"-ARK Watson
Amazon
The Princess and the Spy
A witty and heartfelt
YA fantasy mystery
Amazon
ANGELS
A YA LGBTQ+ emotional
rollercoaster.
'Perfect. 5 stars.'
Out of the Darkness...
A memoir of animal
connections, love, and healing
books2read.com
A Portion of Malice
A thought-provoking thrill
ride into the apocalypse
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
The Mystery of the Lost Avenge
Multilevel story/ghost/romance
forensics/WWII/espionage
Linda Maria Frank
THE GREAT MOSQUITO HUNT
Hunting the world for
the causes of disease
Amazon
Pippin's Country Adventure
A happy fun educational read
about an adventurous poodle.
Amazon
The Day After His Crucifixion
At last the women speak,
deepening Yeshua's story.
Amazon
Sea Change by Nick Bamford
'A gay romance and adventure
on a yacht at sea'
nickbamford.com
Esme and Griswald
A WITCH in search of a
POTION to save her PRINCE
Amazon
THE SOCIETY
Elizabeth Grant Thriller-woman
embroiled in a conspiracy
Amazon
Mother To Elephants
A Beautiful Tale of
Care and Compassion
Amazon
Soul Release
An epic fantasy action
adventure in a world of magic.
Amazon
THE COIN
CAN FINDING A COIN
GET YOU KILLED?
books2read
MERCY'S VIEW: BLACKOUT
Memoir - A runaway's reckless
re-entry into society
Amazon
BELIEVING IN HORSES
Ride away with the
Believing in Horses books!
Amazon
Thar She Blows
Brian got swallowed by
a whale. Mom’ll be mad.
www.books2read.com
Lucy Wants To go To School
Perfect for apprehensive
children starting school
Amazon
The Gates of Dark Death
A gripping, faced-pace,
Tudor-period thriller
by Alan Reynolds
Sammie and Pumpkin
An adopted dog learns
how to make new friends.
Amazon
Bentley Makes a Dump Cake
A delightful, messy adventure
with joy, teamwork, & color
Miki Taylor
S.O.S. by Sue C Dugan
An exciting, time-travel
adventure for middle graders
Amazon
Around the Globe
The Adventures of Squishy
and Boo, Book 3
Amazon
REVOLUTION
A contemporary
satirical novel
Amazon
Jemma and the Raven
A luminous adventure in
this epic YA fantasy debut
Amazon
The Fungus Among Us
Encourage children to explore
and connect to nature
Amazon
No Free Speech for Hate
Provocative, chilling, topical
and razor-sharp dystopia
by Stephen Ford
The Crooked Ladder
It's time to climb...
or die
Amazon
Your Words Your Love
A dazzling explosion
of beauty for your soul.
books2read
Lines in the Sand
Edgy and isolating. A perfect
memoir of loss and endurance.
F. Scott Service
Publishing Questions?
Find easy to understand
answers, top tips & more.
oldmatemedia
THE MERMELF
Mystery girl. Mermelves arrive
Dystopian rebellion begins
Amazon
Confidently Mindful
Answers to your most asked
mindfulness questions.
Amazon
A Rage To Live
A true boys' coming of age
story set during the Holocaust
Amazon
Finn's Funny Feelings
Helping children to manage
emotions in a healthy way
Amazon
LADY IN RED
Teen sleuths search for
a missing masterpiece.
Amazon
Growing up Hadley
A story to shatter your heart
then mend it anew.
danawritesbooks
Your Perfect Freelancer HERE!
Illustrators, Writers, Blurbs,
Editors, Layout Designs
Metaworx
Alphamind
Embark on a journey into the
depths of the human spirit!
Amazon
From The Back of a Donkey
Multi-award winning. A
captivating look at Christmas.
by Nancy Elaine Hartman Minor
Smurgle The Windy Dragon
By Jane Clack, ill. by Lucy
Nicholson. A FUN PICTURE BOOK!
Amazon
Crowded platforms Window Seats
One family's adventures
around Europe by train.
Amazon
Millie’s Magic
The little mouse
with a big heart.
Amazon
It Rains in February
A wife's memoir of love,
suicide, grief and loss
Amazon
Terracolina-A Place to Belong
A fantasy to delight middle-
graders and nature lovers.
Amazon
Law of Attraction Game Book
A playful 28-day guide
to joy, clarity, and ease!!
Amazon
Escape From Peconic Bay
A novel of love, impending
war, and espionage.
books2read
CALM POND
TOP 10 BOOK - 9 short stories
for 5 - 9 year olds
Amazon
Escape From Peconic Bay
A fast-paced, historical novel
set during the run up to WW2
books2read
Secrets of a Social Butterfly
How I unstuck my life
and you can too.
Lynn Bruines
TALE OF THE ENGLISH TEMPLAR
Resistance to tyranny starts
with an act of compassion
by Helena P Schrader
Mother To Elephants
A Beautiful Tale of
Care and Compassion
Amazon
The Fungus Among Us
Encourage children to explore
and connect to nature
Amazon
The Book of Wisdom-ish
Adventure begins with
a book. And an A.
Amazon








































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































