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
The Collective Consciousness
Embark on a journey into the
depths of the human spirit!
Amazon
MERCY'S VIEW: BLACKOUT
Memoir - A runaway's reckless
re-entry into society
Amazon
Shadow Apprentice
Fast-paced MG steampunk
with an intrepid girl mechanic
by Linda Browne
There's a Duck in the House
TWSA FINALIST 2023
Large Format with Large Text
Amazon
Nantucket Monsters
Island monsters on the sly,
live in the corner your eye
B. LAWSON HULL
One Year, One Night, 2nd Ed.
A beautiful story set in an
English village during WWII.
Amazon
NEW TRAILS
One step changed his world.
One man changed his heart.
Amazon
Sam & Me & the Hard Pear Tree
A personal account of
a mother’s ultimate loss
Amazon
The Ghost of Neil Diamond
A tribute artist scales
the Great Wall of China.
by David Milnes
It Rains in February
A wife's memoir of love,
suicide, grief and loss
Amazon
LADY IN RED
Teen sleuths search for
a missing masterpiece.
Amazon
Pure Ink Press
Quality partnership publisher
open for submissions
Pure Ink Press
A QUEST FOR HIDDEN THINGS
A cozy, coming-of-age
fantasy adventure
by Karen Eisenbrey
WELCOME TO OPINE
Homo Sapiens 2.0: Will genetic
blessing be their undoing?
Amazon
THE GRAVITY OF LIES
WHAT IF YOUR WHOLE LIFE
WAS BASED ON LIES?
Amazon
Connecting Threads
A graphic memoir of
resilience and hope
Amazon
Sea Change by Nick Bamford
'A gay romance and adventure
on a yacht at sea'
nickbamford.com
SECRET SKY
Everybody wishes they could
fly - until it happens
books2read.com
Prescription for Frozen Heart
Pride & Prejudice meets
Grey's Anatomy - medical rom.
by Jo-Anne Duffett
The Book of Wisdom-ish
Adventure begins with
a book. And an A.
Amazon
Happisad Memories
Where magic meets grief.
A page-turning novel.
by M.P.B. Clairette
Millie’s Magic
The little mouse
with a big heart.
Amazon
Around the Globe
The Adventures of Squishy
and Boo, Book 3
Amazon
THE CURIST
Abby Steel hunts an evil
killer. Can he be caught?
Amazon
Confidently Mindful
Answers to your most asked
mindfulness questions.
Amazon
A Rage To Live
A true boys' coming of age
story set during the Holocaust
Amazon
Perfect Middle Grade Series
Montana and her friends
save the forest animals!
Amazon
REVOLUTION: A NOVEL
Comical misadventures in
modern Los Angeles
Amazon
“Hatch Chile Willie”
offers children a heartwarming
tale of friendship
Amazon
The Day After His Crucifixion
At last the women speak,
deepening Yeshua's story.
Amazon
CLEAR-CUTS
In 72 hours, a legend, a lore
& 2 brothers will all collide
Amazon
Drop the Fake Smile
How to stop people-
pleasing in relationships
Amazon
THEY'RE ALL BARKING
Springer Spaniel's eye-opening
view of human behaviour
Amazon
MINIMUM SAFE DISTANCE (2022)
NOT pro-US Sci-Fi
weltweite, profond, prisbelönt
by X. Ho Yen
S.O.S. by Sue C Dugan
An exciting, time-travel
adventure for middle graders
Amazon
THE PORTAL KEEPER
Enter a world of Fantastic
Creatures and Magic!
books2read
❜Twas the Day of Christmas
Join Marco, Pet Pom Dog
and Santa for the Holidays
Amazon
THE ART IN MY PALM
Queer coming-of-age tale
set in Cyprus & Australia.
by Luke Icarus Simon
The Beast Keepers
A young vet discovers a
world of mythical creatures
Amazon
BEHIND BULLETPROOF GLASS
A raw memoir about
pregnancy loss and grief
Amazon
The Third Estate
WHEN THE TRUTH SURFACES
AND THE LIES are REVEALED
Amazon
BELIEVING IN HORSES
Ride away with the
Believing in Horses books!
Amazon
Touch of the Whimsy
Witty fantasy, this Castaway
romance is an enigma!
Amazon
THE SAD PRINCESS
Refinding joy with our
children is not a fairy tale
Amazon
Bentley's Fantabulous Idea
Embark on a whimsical colorful
journey filled with fun
MikiTaylor
Sara My Sara
A moving tale of friendship,
loss, and the gifts of grief.
Amazon
THE DARK PLACES NOVELS
Paranormal thrillers to
get your pulse racing
kimgravell.com
Gigglet Goes to School
Get your giggle on with
Gigglet. Perfect for 0 - 6 yrs
AMB Kids Books
THE WAY OF WATER
Brilliant YA Fantasy with
Magic, Mystery & Romance
Amazon
VR,AR &AI in Special Education
Tech transforming special ed:
benefits, risks & apps
Amazon
TEMPEST AND THE BRIGHTON
TREASURE - A middle-grade
adventure children will love!
Amazon
The Other Lotus Girl
He was buying tea.
She was running for her life.
danielariddle.com
CALM POND
TOP 10 BOOK - 9 short stories
for 5 - 9 year olds
Amazon
FIELDS OF PROSPERIS
"Bingeable space opera, best
complex villains"-ARK Watson
Amazon
TALE OF THE ENGLISH TEMPLAR
Resistance to tyranny starts
with an act of compassion
by Helena P Schrader
TEMPEST AND THE BRIGHTON
TREASURE - A middle-grade
adventure children will love!
Amazon
The Other Side of Nowhere
A fast-paced page turner
southern gothic horror
by Jack Holt
The Halloween Candy MONSTER
Jimmy teaches the Halloween
candy monster a lesson
Amazon


















































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































