Previous Finalists





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:

If you happen to be looking for a good read, the readers at The Wishing Shelf Awards thoroughly recommend the following:









Bigfoot is  a Jerk by J. Ditchburn Patton
Bigfoot is a Jerk
Author: J. Ditchburn Patton
Bob and the Real Dill by Laura Truepenny, Ben Humphreys
Bob and the Real Dill
Author: Laura Truepenny, Ben Humphreys
Cover Designer: Hazel Narbett
Growing up Hadley by Dana Harp
Growing up Hadley
Author: Dana Harp
I'm going to have a Brother by Laura Diebelius
I'm going to have a Brother
Author: Laura Diebelius
Cover Designer: Francesca Watt
Mummy has a Lump by Simone Baldwin
Mummy has a Lump
Author: Simone Baldwin
Now My Life is New by Satyam Chellan, Natasha Chellan
Now My Life is New
Author: Satyam Chellan, Natasha Chellan
Cover Designer: Yogesh Mahajan
Of Mountains And Seas by Emily Renk Hawthorne
Of Mountains And Seas
Author: Emily Renk Hawthorne
Professor Nincompoop by Jimmy Vee
Professor Nincompoop
Author: Jimmy Vee
Cover Designer: Ben Askew
Shadow Apprentice by Linda Browne
Shadow Apprentice
Author: Linda Browne
Tempest's Secret: Brave kids never give up by Ariane Chapelle
Tempest's Secret: Brave kids never give up
Author: Ariane Chapelle
Cover Designer: Macha Yao
The Grumpus Among Us by Sharon R. Miller
The Grumpus Among Us
Author: Sharon R. Miller
Cover Designer: Ashleigh Heyns
The Weight of Water by Dorothy Deene
The Weight of Water
Author: Dorothy Deene
The Worry Wrinkle by Corey Manny
The Worry Wrinkle
Author: Corey Manny
Unfurling the Sails by Sarah Branson
Unfurling the Sails
Author: Sarah Branson
What the Good Girl Knew by L B Anne
What the Good Girl Knew
Author: L B Anne

A Groundhog Career by Dr. Helmut Schuster and Dr. David Oxley
A Groundhog Career
Author: Dr. Helmut Schuster and Dr. David Oxley
Agnes Karapetsa is All at Sea by Jackie Watson
Agnes Karapetsa is All at Sea
Author: Jackie Watson
And So I Took Their Eyes by Ben C. Davies
And So I Took Their Eyes
Author: Ben C. Davies
Demons to Champions by Gary Coulton
Demons to Champions
Author: Gary Coulton
Home for the Bewildered by Michelle Tobin
Home for the Bewildered
Author: Michelle Tobin
Moving Forward: The Widow's Journey by Dr. Arlene Sacks
Moving Forward: The Widow's Journey
Author: Dr. Arlene Sacks
OMNIVIOLENCE by Jones Worthington
OMNIVIOLENCE
Author: Jones Worthington
One More Chance by Reno R. Mist
One More Chance
Author: Reno R. Mist
River of Wrath by Alexandrea Weis and Lucas Astor
River of Wrath
Author: Alexandrea Weis and Lucas Astor
Secrets of a Social Butterfly by Lynn Bruines
Secrets of a Social Butterfly
Author: Lynn Bruines
Splinter by D K Thorne
Splinter
Author: D K Thorne
Stellar Heir by Scott Killian
Stellar Heir
Author: Scott Killian
The Doctor's Future by Dr. Pietro Emanuele Garbelli
The Doctor's Future
Author: Dr. Pietro Emanuele Garbelli
The Horrible Terribles by Diego Barrientos
The Horrible Terribles
Author: Diego Barrientos
The Magician's Daughter by Katy Grabel
The Magician's Daughter
Author: Katy Grabel
The Night Counsellor by L K Pang
The Night Counsellor
Author: L K Pang
The Shattered Truce by Donna Brown
The Shattered Truce
Author: Donna Brown
When I Know My Worth by Laura Linn Knight
When I Know My Worth
Author: Laura Linn Knight
Cover Designer: Paola Cifuentes
You Are Here by J D Turner
You Are Here
Author: J D Turner
Zambies by Matt J. Pike
Zambies
Author: Matt J. Pike



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The Boy and the Jaguar
A magical Mayan tale
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Monty and the Monster
Heartwarming adventure
of an unlikely friendship
Amazon


Mirrors & Smoke: A War of 1812
'A smartly plotted, character
novel set in 1800s Canada' WSA
Amazon/Audible


I FEEL YOUR STARE
An Autobiography by Cheryl
Gillespie - Book Award Winner!
Amazon


The Nephilem
A Sun-soaked setting
with a difference.
www.exquil.com


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Battle for Eklatros
Can Ànifa’s party save
Eklatros from the invasion?
Amazon


SEA CHANGE
Gay romance and adventure
on a yacht at sea
Nick Bamford


I’m Going to Have a Sister
For new siblings teaching
patience & understanding
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The Book of Wisdom-ish
Adventure begins with
a book. And an A.
Amazon


Sprout's Surprise!
A humorous story with
a gentle ecofriendly message
Amazon


False Neutral
A story of choices made & not
made, & the collision of paths
Amazon


Sophia and Sinclair Get Lost!
A rabbit and a turtle get
lost in a hay maze!
Amazon


Sneaky Snobby by Jennifer Kvam
LOOK OUT! Making trouble is
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BELIEVING IN HORSES
Ride away with the
Believing in Horses books!
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The Woodsman
A 5* serial killer thriller
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Amazon


Comfort in the Wings
An inspiring, heartfelt
journey of joy after loss
Amazon


BROKEN
A victim to survivor love
story with a twist.
Amazon


Book Love
YOUNG READERS become
WORLD LEADERS
Lorilyn Roberts


Children of the Knight
When the children rise,
will the city fall?
Amazon


Adventures of Wizard Aquarius
A clever young wizard searches
for his missing grandfather
Amazon


CLOUDY WITH CHANCE OF ANSWERS
"Crazy family. Endless cold
case. Then there's a clue!"
Amazon


The Devil has Spoken
2020: The Devil has created a
virus that won't discriminate
Everand


Hanna’s Ascent
A lyrical story of transgender
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www.bedazzledink.com


THE CURIST
Abby Steel hunts an evil
killer. Can he be caught?
Amazon


The Tree of Life
Come with Lord Robert %
seek out an unknown 5th gospel
Amazon


THE WAY OF WATER
Brilliant YA Fantasy with
Magic, Mystery & Romance
Amazon


A Mixing Colour Adventure
Colour mixing, teamwork &
perseverance for 3 - 7 yr olds
Amazon


Crowded platforms Window Seats
One family's adventures
around Europe by train.
Amazon


Meet the Snozzeralls
Fun & Educational
Kids Picture Book
Amazon


GOING UNDER THE RADAR
Honest, insightful, battling
autism/mental health - TWSA
Amazon


A Lady Newspaperman's Dilemma
Alex’s goal: succeed in a 1926
male world of news reporting
Amazon


SECRET SKY
Everybody wishes they could
fly - until it happens
books2read.com


Glitching Souls - Steve Kenney
Neil can read minds...
He can't turn them off.
Amazon


Winkle and Aster
Urban fantasy that takes
imagination to its limits
books2read


Anna and the Adders
A rhyming counting book
to get little ones learning
Amazon


Fit to Eat
Empower yourself to age
without chronic diseases.
Amazon


Into the BeanStalk
Corrupt megacity, broken world
A girl hiding from her past
Amazon


What You Cannot See
A woman trying to navigate
and understand her life
Amazon


Fenix and the Firework Fliers
Can Fenix save the Fireworks
when a firefly gets sick?
creativemovementstories.com


The Faraway Mountains
A memorable novel about
growing up under dictatorship
Amazon


NUDGES FROM THE OTHER SIDE
Must-read for those who grieve
or curious about the afterlife
Amazon


MERCY'S VIEW: BLACKOUT
Memoir - A runaway's reckless
re-entry into society
Amazon


DRAGONDAH (9 - 12 year olds)
Solving ancient mysteries and
outwitting scheming villains!
Amazon


THE MAGIC OF KINDNESS
Join the adventure with
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A SQUEAKY TOY, A LEASH, AND
A PRAYER Mom's Choice Awards
GOLD - for dog loving families
Amazon


Tuskie’s Travels
Tuskie teaches his crew to
dissolve upsets in 30 seconds!
www.thekidcode.ca


Touch of the Whimsy
Witty fantasy, this Castaway
romance is an enigma!
Amazon


Beyond a World Apart
Story Nazis attempted to burn
based on historical events
Amazon


The Boy from the Night Sky
Thrilling fantasy adventure
for all ages.
Amazon


Terracolina-A Place to Belong
A fantasy to delight middle-
graders and nature lovers.
Amazon


ARNI'S ADVENTURES
8 charming, silly, comic
stories to laugh at & enjoy.
Amazon


Captain Polo Saving the Planet
"Eco-adventure comics
for middle graders"
www.alanhesse.com


THE GREAT MOSQUITO HUNT
Hunting the world for
the causes of disease
Amazon


Wild Asses of Mojave Desert
“Funny & tender, moving &
poetic" Recommended US Review
books2read.com





Mirrors & Smoke: A War of 1812
'A smartly plotted, character
novel set in 1800s Canada' WSA
Amazon/Audible


Thar She Blows
Brian got swallowed by
a whale. Mom’ll be mad.
www.books2read.com


ARNI'S ADVENTURES
8 charming, silly, comic
stories to laugh at & enjoy.
Amazon


The Gift of Knowing You
Discover all of who you are &
the power of your story.
Amazon