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.
Sponsored Ads
The Monster Bones of...
A time travel mystery about
an ancient skeleton for kids.
by Linda Maria Frank
ELLA'S WAR
Heart-stopping, spirit-lifting
award-winning historical novel
vineleavespress
Lead the Competition
Read 100 Livestreaming &
Digital Media Predictions.
Amazon
THE UNBROKEN
Love and adventure in
the strange worlds of mind.
Nigel Peace
A Good Day and Other...
A wide-ranging collection
of imaginative, funny stories.
Amazon
JUST RIVER
Hilarious and grave.
A story of resilience.
Amazon
Escape From Peconic Bay
A novel of love, impending
war, and espionage.
books2read
THEY'RE ALL BARKING
Springer Spaniel's eye-opening
view of human behaviour
Amazon
Mother To Elephants
A Beautiful Tale of
Care and Compassion
Amazon
The Ghost of Neil Diamond
A tribute artist scales
the Great Wall of China.
by David Milnes
I Never Said I Love You
A story of travel, friendship,
forgiveness, & roads not taken
Amazon
Secrets of a Social Butterfly
How I unstuck my life
and you can too.
Lynn Bruines
The Shadow and the Scream
Stranger Things meets
Alice in Wonderland.
Amazon
RED CHAIR PRESS
Titles in Dyslexic and
/or Large Print editions
ReadHowYouWant
Law of Attraction Game Book
A playful 28-day guide
to joy, clarity, and ease!!
Amazon
Sammie and Pumpkin
An adopted dog learns
how to make new friends.
Amazon
“Hatch Chile Willie”
offers children a heartwarming
tale of friendship
Amazon
A First Book of Microbiology
A fun learning journey
down the microscope lens.
Amazon
It Rains in February
A wife's memoir of love,
suicide, grief and loss
Amazon
If Roses Were Blue
Inspiring, heart-warming
adventure for ages 8 & up
Amazon
The Boy and the Big White Rock
'...rewarding memoir of coming
of age in the 1960s.' KIRKUS
Barnes and Noble
Don't Look Too Tasty
Adventure: 9- to 12-year-olds:
twists & suspense!
by P G H Hannaford
The Graffiti Killer
A mind unhinged on
the fulcrum of our age.
by David Milnes
From The Back of a Donkey
Multi-award winning. A
captivating look at Christmas.
by Nancy Elaine Hartman Minor
Truth Was Once Taboo
New humanity, ancient
wisdom: spirituality reborn.
Amazon
Prescription for Frozen Heart
Pride & Prejudice meets
Grey's Anatomy - medical rom.
by Jo-Anne Duffett
THOSE DARN STRIPES
A genuine read opening the
doors on love, life, & meaning
Amazon
Demons to Champions
A tale of neurodivergent
awakening and triumph.
Amazon
OUT OF TIME
Love at 78? Life has a
time limit. Love doesn't.
M. Jacqueline Murray
Little Puppy's Great Adventure
Adorable story. Great for
both parents as well as kids.
Amazon
Don't Look Too Tasty
Hungry aliens, missing
friends. Who can you trust?
Amazon
THE SOCIETY
Elizabeth Grant Thriller-woman
embroiled in a conspiracy
Amazon
Rider of the Wind
An exultant celebration
of the magic of music
Amazon
BELIEVING IN HORSES
Ride away with the
Believing in Horses books!
Amazon
Tales Beyond Midnight
Dark, twisty and gripping.
You'll never stop at one.
by Kim Gravell
LADY IN RED
Teen sleuths search for
a missing masterpiece.
Amazon
Terracolina-A Place to Belong
A fantasy to delight middle-
graders and nature lovers.
Amazon
FALSE NEUTRAL
One chance to finally
make sense of it all.
Amazon
The Boy from the Night Sky
Thrilling fantasy adventure
for all ages.
Amazon
Millie’s Magic
The little mouse
with a big heart.
Amazon
MUMMY TRUMPS
A rhyming flatulent book that
is fun for all of the family.
Amazon
The Great Migration
Survive valley. Stop outbreak.
Or watch the kingdom burn.
Amazon
THE FISH TANK - short stories
NARRATIVES ABOUT LIFE, EXILE,
GHOSTS…AND MURDER.
books2read
Esme and Griswald
A WITCH in search of a
POTION to save her PRINCE
Amazon
THE MERMELF
Mystery girl. Mermelves arrive
Dystopian rebellion begins
Amazon
Touch of the Whimsy
Witty fantasy, this Castaway
romance is an enigma!
Amazon
LIVING AT THE EDGE OF THE
WORLD Swap Wi-Fi for Wildlife
Shetland Adventure 9-12
WINTER, Book 1
The Graffiti Killer
A mind unhinged on
the fulcrum of our age.
by David Milnes
Irish Famine Novel
My novel Hungry Trails
celebrates family resilience
Amazon
Gigglet Goes to School
Get your giggle on with
Gigglet. Perfect for 0 - 6 yrs
AMB Kids Books
LOOK AWAY NO MORE
A story rich in history & love
at a Georgia college in 1970.
Amazon
Out of the Darkness...
A memoir of animal
connections, love, and healing
books2read.com
DAUGHTER OF SPIES
Wartime Secrets, Family Lies
A FINALIST in TWSA
Amazon
Winkle and Aster
Urban fantasy that takes
imagination to its limits
books2read
The Bride's Trunk
A gripping true story of
Anglo-German reconciliation
Amazon
I Never Said I Love You
A story of travel, friendship,
forgiveness, & roads not taken
Amazon
THE PORTAL KEEPER
Enter a world of Fantastic
Creatures and Magic!
books2read
Little Puppy's Great Adventure
Adorable story. Great for
both parents as well as kids.
Amazon
BELIEVING IN HORSES
Ride away with the
Believing in Horses books!
Amazon










































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































