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
If you happen to be looking for a good read, the readers at The Wishing Shelf Awards thoroughly recommend the following:
Excuse Me: Dyslexic Inclusive (Life's Little Lessons From The Countryside Companions)
Author: Diane Hull
Cover Designer: Jeannie Duncanson
Sponsored Ads
Battle for Eklatros
Can Ànifa’s party save
Eklatros from the invasion?
Amazon
Truth Was Once Taboo
New humanity, ancient
wisdom: spirituality reborn.
Amazon
GRAVE SECRETS-Cassandra Aston
The dark fantasy you've
been waiting for
Amazon
My Year at the Good Bean Café
Weird and inexplicable events
and their effect on our lives
Amazon
Comfort in the Wings
A woman’s inspiring quest for
comfort and joy after grief
Amazon
JUST RIVER
Hilarious and grave.
A story of resilience.
Amazon
DEAR JAMES
I know it's been 20 years, but
I needed to tell you I'm sorry
Amazon
Little Puppy's Great Adventure
Adorable story. Great for
both parents as well as kids.
Amazon
RED CHAIR PRESS
Titles in Dyslexic and
/or Large Print editions
ReadHowYouWant
LIKE A HERO
Being a superhero WITHOUT
powers is never easy!
books2read
THE DARK PLACES NOVELS
Paranormal thrillers to
get your pulse racing
kimgravell.com
Prescription for Frozen Heart
Pride & Prejudice meets
Grey's Anatomy - medical rom.
by Jo-Anne Duffett
My Solo Wedding in Santorini
A true story. Honest,
thought-provoking & funny .
blogaboutl
Gollogans of Carrickgollogan
An exciting woodland
adventure story for 7-9s
Amazon
Into The Shadows
Journey from naïve university
student to a great spy.
marinemoments.uk
Millie’s Magic
The little mouse
with a big heart.
Amazon
Clouds on the Ground
Poems exploring natural beauty
and the realm of dreams
Amazon
Changing Tide
A Thrilling First
Contact Novel
www.cougarproductions.com
Guiding Kids Through Anger
Parenting chaos
meets humor therapy
Amazon
Sea Change by Nick Bamford
'A gay romance and adventure
on a yacht at sea'
nickbamford.com
TEMPEST AND THE BRIGHTON
TREASURE - A middle-grade
adventure children will love!
Amazon
Nemesis Rising
"Survival comes with a cost
for Sam …his humanity."
Amazon
Forever Boy
Isaac comes to realize his new
friend harbors dark secrets.
books2read
Children Who Dance in the Rain
A children's book about
gratitude and self-discovery.
Amazon
Book Love
YOUNG READERS become
WORLD LEADERS
Lorilyn Roberts
Misty Black Media, LLC
Get your picture book designed
& formatted by a professional
www.mistyblackauthor.com
Dinosaur Symphony
A Guide to Dinosaurs
and Classical Music
Amazon
S.O.S. by Sue C Dugan
An exciting, time-travel
adventure for middle graders
Amazon
I FEEL YOUR STARE
An Autobiography
BOOK AWARD WINNER!
Amazon
Angry Arthur
and The Run Around Trick
Learn to manage big feelings
Amazon
Me and My Shadow
Honest reflection how cancer
took a boy to death’s door.
Amazon
THE PHILOSOPHER & THE ASSASSIN
campus novel, moral
philosophy, and murder mystery
Amazon
I Never Said I Love You
A story of travel, friendship,
forgiveness, & roads not taken
Amazon
A Rage To Live
A true boys' coming of age
story set during the Holocaust
Amazon
More Future Dreams/Nightmares
Award-winning SF short
stories of AIs and robots.
Donald Firesmith
THE BOOK
Earth will be fine, humanity
is on track for annihilation!
Amazon
BUILDING THE BEAST
Building a home-on-wheels
with zero blueprint.
Amazon
CALM POND
TOP 10 BOOK - 9 short stories
for 5 - 9 year olds
Amazon
The Lost Heir Book 1 and 2
Mash Princess Bride
+ dash of GOT
Amazon
The Day After His Crucifixion
At last the women speak,
deepening Yeshua's story.
Amazon
No Death in Finding Nemo
Stories of mundane lives which
change in surprising ways
www.jeffreyfeingold.com
The Collective Consciousness
Embark on a journey into the
depths of the human spirit!
Amazon
HUNGRY TRAILS
‘A…culturally rich family
chronicle.’ Kirkus Review
Amazon
From The Back of a Donkey
Fresh captivating look at the
Christmas Story told by Mary
by Nancy Elaine Hartman Minor
A Misfortunate Misfit
Incredible true story of a
man saving his own life
Amazon
SOUL WALK
Unexpected Gifts of Grief and
Connection to Those in Spirit
Amazon
Life with psychopathic brother
A quirky philosophical novel
about forgiveness.
linnaspen.com
LOOK AWAY NO MORE
A story rich in history & love
at a Georgia college in 1970.
Amazon
SONG FOR MY FATHER
"A gripping drama...a FINALIST
and highly recommended." TWSA
Amazon
Confidently Mindful
Answers to your most asked
mindfulness questions.
Amazon
Selfish Shellfish & Sick Sea
An environmental gem for the
age. Get your copy at:
theprolificword.com
SKY ICE
Demon hunters. Slow-burn
romance. Hidden world.
Amazon
Chronicles of MatiLou/PerryAnn
Through it all the girls work
to save Mother Earth.
Amazon
The Faraway Mountains
A memorable novel about
growing up under dictatorship
Amazon
A Novel about Life...and death
Will a mom's superhuman
efforts save her family?
Amazon/Apple
The One Week Writing Workshop
7 Days to Spark, Boost
or Revive Your Novel
Amazon
The Toad from Outer Space
A cautionary tale about a
toad-ily historic space flight
www.childrensfunnybooks.co.uk
Lead the Competition
Read 100 Livestreaming &
Digital Media Predictions.
Amazon
CALM POND
TOP 10 BOOK - 9 short stories
for 5 - 9 year olds
Amazon