Finalists 2025
Below is a list of the 2025 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, 2026.
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
- Adult/Children's Poetry
- Short Story - Novelette
If you happen to be looking for a good read, the readers at The Wishing Shelf Awards thoroughly recommend the following:

The Adventures of Mrs. Crockess and Ivy: No Pockets? No Problem!
Author: Julia Kolouch
Illustrator: Petros Bouloubasis

A Kindness Story for Kids! Rane's Rescue The SPRiTELEES - Book One
Author: Marcia Stankard
Performed by: Kate Sample

A Wild Ride: The Adventures of Misty & Moxie Wyoming, Book 1
Author: Niki Danforth
Performed by: Erin Parker

Miss Pettigrew's Summer School for Exceptional Magical Children
Author: P.N. Garlick
Performed by: Denice Stradling

The Secret of the Magic eyePad: Putney Hicks Inventor Adventures, Book 1
Author: Marsha Tufft
Performed by: JoAnn Sheridan

Excuse Me: Dyslexic Inclusive (Life's Little Lessons From The Countryside Companions)
Author: Diane Hull
Cover Designer: Jeannie Duncanson
A Manner of Art by D. L. Gardner
A Sailor's Final Knot by Patricia McCandless
Any Younger by Chris Orland
Commanding the Cleanest Space Station by Jessica Kaye
Dustoff Down by Linda Naughton
Flashes of You by Lamar D. Vine
No Mead in Heaven? by Stephanie Shields
OH OH OH by Ken Deeprose
The Bird Lady of Novato by William C. Pollard, Jr
The Dreidel by Elisabeth Marrion
The Drowned Dockworker by Kevin Berry
The Horned Women by Christy Matheson
The King, Lady Killer and the Virgin by Mark Sheehan
The Last Tree by Nathaniel M Wrey
The Victorious Son of the Baggage King by Robbie Mahair
Warrior by Niki Danforth
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.
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Demons to Champions
A tale of neurodivergent
awakening and triumph.
Amazon
The Faraway Mountains
A memorable novel about
growing up under dictatorship
Amazon
No Free Speech for Hate
Provocative, chilling, topical
and razor-sharp dystopia
by Stephen Ford
The Broken Wife
A gripping tale of love,
loss, and BETRAYAL.
Amazon
Irish Famine Novel
My novel Hungry Trails
celebrates family resilience
Amazon
The Crooked Ladder
It's time to climb...
or die
Amazon
❜Twas the Day of Christmas
Join Marco, Pet Pom Dog
and Santa for the Holidays
Amazon
Glitching Souls
Award-winning, Mind-bending,
Technothriller
Amazon
ANGEL OF ASHES
Award-winning epic YA
fantasy adventure series!
Amazon
The Pathology of Graphology
Two citizens of the lower
depths kill an aging DJ.
by David Milnes
THE GRAVITY OF LIES
WHAT IF YOUR WHOLE LIFE
WAS BASED ON LIES?
Amazon
Millie’s Magic
The little mouse
with a big heart.
Amazon
The Princess and the Spy
A witty and heartfelt
YA fantasy mystery
Amazon
Winkle and Aster
Urban fantasy that takes
imagination to its limits
books2read
FALSE NEUTRAL
One chance to finally
make sense of it all.
Amazon
THE FISH TANK - short stories
NARRATIVES ABOUT LIFE, EXILE,
GHOSTS…AND MURDER.
books2read
THE MALLARD MELODRAMAS
A captivating series of
Victorian Mysteries
by RJ Williams
The Graffiti Killer
A mind unhinged on
the fulcrum of our age.
by David Milnes
A Portion of Malice
A thought-provoking thrill
ride into the apocalypse
Amazon
My Solo Wedding in Santorini
A true story. Honest,
thought-provoking & funny .
blogaboutl
Thar She Blows
Brian got swallowed by
a whale. Mom’ll be mad.
www.books2read.com
ANGELS
A YA LGBTQ+ emotional
rollercoaster.
'Perfect. 5 stars.'
HENRY
Inspiring WWII Nonfiction
survival account
Amazon
The Book of Jack
Candid and inspiring story of
coming to terms with suicide.
F. Scott Service
MORAL FIBRE
A Lancaster skipper, his crew
and the woman he loves.
by Helena P. Schrader PhD
The Shadow and the Scream
Stranger Things meets
Alice in Wonderland.
Amazon
THE NIGHT SLAYER
Perfect for PERCY JACKSON fans
'Thrill-a-page, fantasy' TWSA
Amazon
THE PHILOSOPHER & THE ASSASSIN
campus novel, moral
philosophy, and murder mystery
Amazon
MUMMY TRUMPS
A rhyming flatulent book that
is fun for all of the family.
Amazon
The Bride's Trunk
A gripping true story of
Anglo-German reconciliation
Amazon
THE TIFFIN
Lost tiffin. Note gone astray.
A boy's search for family.
Amazon
BOBBIN AND THE MAGIC THIEF
A broken rule. A stolen
friend. A faerie rescue.
books2read
Plea to a Frozen God
A desperate trio appeals
to the God of Death.
Amazon
LEGACY
A character-driven sci-fi/
fantasy with a twisting plot.
Amazon
POLE TO POLE (Book 4)
A fast-paced MG graphic
novel on climate change
The Adventures of Captain Polo
THE FOUNDLING
A foundling rises to
reclaim his stolen birthright
Amazon
Drop the Fake Smile
How to stop people-
pleasing in relationships
Amazon
Mother To Elephants
A Beautiful Tale of
Care and Compassion
Amazon
MERCY'S VIEW: BLACKOUT
Memoir - A runaway's reckless
re-entry into society
Amazon
Clifftop Farm in Wartime
A story of WW2
evacuated children
Amazon
The Shadow of the Volcano
A thrilling 'time travel'
adventure for 7 - 13 yr olds.
Amazon
The Great Migration
Survive valley. Stop outbreak.
Or watch the kingdom burn.
Amazon
The Devil has Spoken
2020: The Devil has created a
virus that won't discriminate
Everand
DAUGHTER OF SPIES
Wartime Secrets, Family Lies
A FINALIST in TWSA
Amazon
ULTIMATE OBSESSION
A cracking murder/mystery
packed with twists and turns.
Dai Henley
Esme and Griswald
A WITCH in search of a
POTION to save her PRINCE
Amazon
THE SAD PRINCESS
Refinding joy with our
children is not a fairy tale
Amazon
REVOLUTION
A contemporary
satirical novel
Amazon
Finn's Funny Feelings
Helping children to manage
emotions in a healthy way
Amazon
Escape From Peconic Bay
A novel of love, impending
war, and espionage.
books2read
WELCOME TO OPINE
Homo Sapiens 2.0: Will genetic
blessing be their undoing?
Amazon
Sam & Me & the Hard Pear Tree
A personal account of
a mother’s ultimate loss
Amazon
The Day After His Crucifixion
At last the women speak,
deepening Yeshua's story.
Amazon
KEEPERS OF THE ROCK
THE DEBILIS RISING-YA Fantasy
Seize the rock. Rule the world
Amazon
If Roses Were Blue
A stolen dog, lady of
light, 3 rescues—Inspiring!
Amazon
THE PEBBLE CHAMPION
A stirring tale
of sadness and self-discovery.
Amazon
The Book of Jack
Candid and inspiring story of
coming to terms with suicide.
F. Scott Service
Glitching Souls - Steve Kenney
Neil can read minds...
He can't turn them off.
Amazon
DRAGONDAH
The Secret Legacy
of Ottillee Bottomly
Amazon













































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































