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
NEW TRAILS
A queer portal fantasy of
magic, courage, and home
books2read
KEEPERS OF THE ROCK
THE DEBILIS RISING-YA Fantasy
Seize the rock. Rule the world
Amazon
A Rage To Live
A true boys' coming of age
story set during the Holocaust
Amazon
HENRY
Inspiring WWII Nonfiction
survival account
Amazon
Don't Look Too Tasty
Hungry aliens, missing
friends. Who can you trust?
Amazon
Truth Was Once Taboo
New humanity, ancient
wisdom: spirituality reborn.
Amazon
The War Ongoing: Knightfall
Knights embark on adventure
where sci-fi & fantasy collide
Amazon
LoveVortex ... Drakor's Curse
A voyage into the unknown -
and a terrible curse.
Amazon
ANGELS
A YA LGBTQ+ emotional
rollercoaster.
'Perfect. 5 stars.'
Lines in the Sand
Edgy and isolating. A perfect
memoir of loss and endurance.
F. Scott Service
TALE OF THE ENGLISH TEMPLAR
Resistance to tyranny starts
with an act of compassion
by Helena P Schrader
FIREWORKS
Anthology of quirky, cosy
fantasy and sci-fi tales
by Paul Olding
It Rains in February
A wife's memoir of love,
suicide, grief and loss
Amazon
Perfect Middle Grade Series
Montana and her friends
save the forest animals!
Amazon
CALM POND
TOP 10 BOOK - 9 short stories
for 5 - 9 year olds
Amazon
WHEN JESUS CALLS
A Story of Undeniable Faith.
TWSA 2023 FINALIST
marthagayle
THE DARKWOLF SAGA (YA)
Embark on a harrowing journey
into fantasy and adventure.
Amazon
Confidently Mindful
Answers to your most asked
mindfulness questions.
Amazon
MORAL FIBRE
A Lancaster skipper, his crew
and the woman he loves.
by Helena P. Schrader PhD
From B to A:Britain to Albania
Funny road trip memoir–
with 4 dogs & 1 big truck!
by Jacqueline Lambert
BEHIND BULLETPROOF GLASS
A raw memoir about
pregnancy loss and grief
Amazon
Sea Change by Nick Bamford
'A gay romance and adventure
on a yacht at sea'
nickbamford.com
THE FISH TANK - short stories
NARRATIVES ABOUT LIFE, EXILE,
GHOSTS…AND MURDER.
books2read
A Misfortunate Misfit
Incredible true story of a
man saving his own life
Amazon
The Other Side of Nowhere
A fast-paced page turner
southern gothic horror
by Jack Holt
INTO THE BLAZE
A new trilogy where fantasy,
myth, and reality entwine
Amazon
THE TIFFIN
Lost tiffin. Note gone astray.
A boy's search for family.
Amazon
The Collective Consciousness
Embark on a journey into the
depths of the human spirit!
Amazon
Down to Earth
A practical guide to using
intuition for smarter living.
Amazon
If Roses Were Blue
Inspiring, heart-warming
adventure for ages 8 & up
Amazon
LADY IN RED
Teen sleuths search for
a missing masterpiece.
Amazon
NEW TRAILS
One step changed his world.
One man changed his heart.
Amazon
MILLIE'S RAINBOW
Beautiful picture book.
Kindness and rainbows.
by Hilary Hawkes
THE NIGHT SLAYER
Perfect for PERCY JACKSON fans
'Thrill-a-page, fantasy' TWSA
Amazon
THE PORTAL KEEPER
Enter a world of Fantastic
Creatures and Magic!
books2read
Demons to Champions
A tale of neurodivergent
awakening and triumph.
Amazon
GOING UNDER THE RADAR
Honest, insightful, battling
autism/mental health - TWSA
Amazon
Moonshine Mesa
Why are bees, crows &
humans dying at the Mesa?
Amazon
The Ghost of Neil Diamond
A tribute artist scales
the Great Wall of China.
by David Milnes
No Free Speech for Hate
Provocative, chilling, topical
and razor-sharp dystopia
by Stephen Ford
GOING TO MEET DAD
A playful and sensitive tale
about braving the unknown
by Kathleen Nord Heinz
Mirrors & Smoke: A War of 1812
'A smartly plotted, character
novel set in 1800s Canada' WSA
Amazon/Audible
Escape From Peconic Bay
A novel of love, impending
war, and espionage.
books2read
The Gates of Dark Death
The story of the last woman
to escape the Tower of London
by Alan Reynolds
The Graffiti Killer
A mind unhinged on
the fulcrum of our age.
by David Milnes
101 Ways to Wow! Our World
Insights, ideas, & actions
to WOW your life now!
Amazon
Secrets of a Social Butterfly
How I unstuck my life
and you can too.
Lynn Bruines
SIR BARKINGTON AND THE WORRY
WOOF - Helping little worriers
feel calmer every day
by Janine Marsh
Hecatomb of the Vampire
5 horror tales link in book 1
of The Dark Rituals Saga
Amazon
THE COIN
CAN FINDING A COIN
GET YOU KILLED?
books2read
50 SECRETS NOBODY TELLS YOU IN
IN HOLLYWOOD Helping actors
avoid pitfalls & find success
Amazon
SOUL WALK
Unexpected Gifts of Grief and
Connection to Those in Spirit
Amazon
BUILDING THE BEAST
Building a home-on-wheels
with zero blueprint.
Amazon
SOUTH KOREA
A nuanced & engaging analysis
of Korea's rise to prominence.
Amazon
MERCY'S VIEW: BLACKOUT
Memoir - A runaway's reckless
re-entry into society
Amazon
Fenix and the Firework Fliers
Can Fenix save the Fireworks
when a firefly gets sick?
creativemovementstories.com
Wartime Secrets, Family Lies
London to life in Washington
in a family of secrets
Amazon
Smurgle The Windy Dragon
By Jane Clack, ill. by Lucy
Nicholson. A FUN PICTURE BOOK!
Amazon
TEMPEST'S SECRET
Adorable cosy mystery
with a kitten for 7-9 yr olds
Amazon


















































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































