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
Marvelous Mood-Mending Meadow
Picture Book About Gratitude &
Dealing with Kids Emotions
Amazon
THE NIGHT SLAYER
Perfect for PERCY JACKSON fans
'Thrill-a-page, fantasy' TWSA
Amazon
MaryLou
"An engaging, well-crafted
family drama" TWSA
Amazon
Hecatomb of the Vampire
5 horror tales link in book 1
of The Dark Rituals Saga
Amazon
THE UNBROKEN
Love and adventure in
the strange worlds of mind.
Nigel Peace
The Day After His Crucifixion
At last the women speak,
deepening Yeshua's story.
Amazon
The War Ongoing: Knightfall
Knights embark on adventure
where sci-fi & fantasy collide
Amazon
Fenix and the Firework Fliers
Can Fenix save the Fireworks
when a firefly gets sick?
creativemovementstories.com
ANGELS
A YA LGBTQ+ emotional
rollercoaster.
'Perfect. 5 stars.'
RED CHAIR PRESS
Titles in Dyslexic and
/or Large Print editions
ReadHowYouWant
Pure Ink Press
Quality partnership publisher
open for submissions
Pure Ink Press
The Lonely Lighthouse Bogle
A quirky rhyming tale honoring
the magic of friendship
Amazon
MY SHADOW
A storybook for children
of parents with epilepsy
lulu.com
Little Puppy's Great Adventure
Adorable story. Great for
both parents as well as kids.
Amazon
CAME A GENTLE WHISPER
A bittersweet, richly
layered historical romance.
by Rebecca A. Cathey
Building The Beast:
The Comic Memoir
of a Crazy Idea!
Amazon
Churchill’s Secret Army
WW2 courage and sacrifice
in the undercover SOE
www.cloudshillpress.com
Secrets of a Social Butterfly
How I unstuck my life
and you can too.
Lynn Bruines
THE PHILOSOPHER & THE ASSASSIN
campus novel, moral
philosophy, and murder mystery
Amazon
WAYS TO BE EQUALLY HUMAN
A deep dive into being non-
binary,climate activism & love
by Leslie Tate
MORAL FIBRE
A Lancaster skipper, his crew
and the woman he loves.
by Helena P. Schrader PhD
Naked in the Now
What if presence felt like
being seduced by life?
Amazon
Out of the Darkness...
A memoir of animal
connections, love, and healing
books2read.com
The Shadow and the Scream
Stranger Things meets
Alice in Wonderland.
Amazon
The Cup of Christ Trilogy
Epic mystical thriller across
centuries! A must!!!
by Jack Holt
Shadow Apprentice
Fast-paced MG steampunk
with an intrepid girl mechanic
by Linda Browne
From Patriarchy to Paradise
The script is flipped:
Women steer back to garden.
expandjoy
TEMPEST AND THE BRIGHTON
TREASURE - A middle-grade
adventure children will love!
Amazon
Wartime Secrets, Family Lies
London to life in Washington
in a family of secrets
Amazon
Bentley's Fantabulous Idea
Embark on a whimsical colorful
journey filled with fun
MikiTaylor
BEHIND BULLETPROOF GLASS
A raw memoir about
pregnancy loss and grief
Amazon
The Gates of Dark Death
The story of the last woman
to escape the Tower of London
by Alan Reynolds
Prescription for Frozen Heart
Pride & Prejudice meets
Grey's Anatomy - medical rom.
by Jo-Anne Duffett
The Graffiti Killer
A mind unhinged on
the fulcrum of our age.
by David Milnes
DEAR JAMES
I know it's been 20 years, but
I needed to tell you I'm sorry
Amazon
Perfect Middle Grade Series
Montana and her friends
save the forest animals!
Amazon
Forever Boy
Isaac comes to realize his new
friend harbors dark secrets.
books2read
No Free Speech for Hate
Provocative, chilling, topical
and razor-sharp dystopia
by Stephen Ford
101 Ways to Wow! Our World
Insights, ideas, & actions
to WOW your life now!
Amazon
SECRET SKY
Everybody wishes they could
fly - until it happens
books2read.com
Rooted and Remembered
An orphaned boy wonders if
home is a place or a feeling.
Goodreads
FIREWORKS
Anthology of quirky, cosy
fantasy and sci-fi tales
by Paul Olding
KIRKYARD MOON
Two women, One body.
A historical fantasy novel.
by Rhys Shaw
SIR BARKINGTON AND THE WORRY
WOOF - Helping little worriers
feel calmer every day
by Janine Marsh
THE MALLARD MELODRAMAS
A captivating series of
Victorian Mysteries
by RJ Williams
Glitching Souls - Steve Kenney
Neil can read minds...
He can't turn them off.
Amazon
AT WARBLE'S BAR
Pregnant Lucy searches for the
father...ADULT FICTION
by Galahad Porter
THE MUTT FOR ME
Heartwarming memoir of
healing & second chances
by Don Hughes
The Ghost of Neil Diamond
A tribute artist scales
the Great Wall of China.
by David Milnes
Popina & Slumberina
Join in a Magical Journey of
Growth and Self Discovery
Amazon
The Shadow Deception
Can a pranking pixie and a
grumpy angel save the world?
Amazon
WHINGEY WILLIAMS Term 1
Follow Whingey on her FIRST
adventure on Gower
Amazon
The Book Witch
A thrilling, fast paced
fantasy book for MGs
Amazon
SIN EATER
A girl with the power to
erase ANY bad memory!
Amazon
WHINGEY WILLIAMS Term 1
Follow Whingey on her FIRST
adventure on Gower
Amazon
The Lonely Lighthouse Bogle
A quirky rhyming tale honoring
the magic of friendship
Amazon
KIRKYARD MOON
Two women, One body.
A historical fantasy novel.
by Rhys Shaw
Marvelous Mood-Mending Meadow
Picture Book About Gratitude &
Dealing with Kids Emotions
Amazon
Arni's Adventures
Pet dinosaur, bear, cat story
for the young reader.
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