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Winners 2025

Below is a list of the 2025 WINNERS 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.

Jump straight to:

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

5 Different Boo-Boos by  Maggie Keefe
Gold

5 Different Boo-Boos
Author: Maggie Keefe
Illustrator: Vaughan Duck
No Books for Benjamin!  by R.G. de Rouen
Silver

No Books for Benjamin!
Author: R.G. de Rouen
Illustrator: Uliana Barabash
The Eyelash Wish by Bethany Cooke
Silver

The Eyelash Wish
Author: Bethany Cooke
Illustrator: Sinem Kilic Rabito
A TAIL OF TWIRLS, KITTINA AND THE STARLIGHT BALLERINA by Once Upon A Dance
Bronze

A TAIL OF TWIRLS, KITTINA AND THE STARLIGHT BALLERINA
Author: Once Upon A Dance
Illustrator:
Monkey See, Monkey Do. Monkey Can Do It, Can You? by Harriet Cobb
Bronze

Monkey See, Monkey Do. Monkey Can Do It, Can You?
Author: Harriet Cobb
Illustrator: Patrizia Donaera
The Moose that Saved Christmas  by Emily Lloyd-Gale
Bronze

The Moose that Saved Christmas
Author: Emily Lloyd-Gale
Illustrator: Lorna Humphreys

The Adventures of Mrs. Crockess and Ivy: No Pockets? No Problem! by Julia Kolouch
Gold

The Adventures of Mrs. Crockess and Ivy: No Pockets? No Problem!
Author: Julia Kolouch
Illustrator: Petros Bouloubasis
Galactic Dog! by Donna Vann
Silver

Galactic Dog!
Author: Donna Vann
Illustrator: Joseph Wilkins
Nuts About Dinosaurs by Andrew Woolnough
Silver

Nuts About Dinosaurs
Author: Andrew Woolnough
Illustrator: Justin Runfola
The Sheep Magnet by Bernice Seward
Silver

The Sheep Magnet
Author: Bernice Seward
Illustrator:
Ferdinand Fox Saves the Day by Karen Inglis
Bronze

Ferdinand Fox Saves the Day
Author: Karen Inglis
Illustrator: Andrew Smith
Into the Thicket by Gail Kuhnlein
Bronze

Into the Thicket
Author: Gail Kuhnlein
Illustrator: John Megahan
Snoodles in Space: Escape from Zoodletraz by Steven Joseph
Bronze

Snoodles in Space: Escape from Zoodletraz
Author: Steven Joseph
Illustrator: Andy Case

A Pirates' Pact by Sarah Branson
Gold

A Pirates' Pact
Author: Sarah Branson
Liv Forever: Never Say Zombie  by Diana Davis
Gold

Liv Forever: Never Say Zombie
Author: Diana Davis
North of Tomboy by Julie A. Swanson
Silver

North of Tomboy
Author: Julie A. Swanson
THE OASIS by Lorisa D. Wiedenheft
Silver

THE OASIS
Author: Lorisa D. Wiedenheft
Bigfoot Is a Jerk by J. Ditchburn Patton
Bronze

Bigfoot Is a Jerk
Author: J. Ditchburn Patton
The Girl Who Sold Time by V S Nelson
Bronze

The Girl Who Sold Time
Author: V S Nelson
The Hidden Heirloom by David Gorman
Bronze

The Hidden Heirloom
Author: David Gorman

Dirt by Laura Baggaley
Gold

Dirt
Author: Laura Baggaley
Biology Made Simple by Rion Iwano
Silver

Biology Made Simple
Author: Rion Iwano
Juice by Peter Deadman
Silver

Juice
Author: Peter Deadman
Against All Odds: A Memoir by Tristian Smith
Bronze

Against All Odds: A Memoir
Author: Tristian Smith
The Rules by Paul Orton
Bronze

The Rules
Author: Paul Orton
The Weight of Water by Dorothy Deene
Bronze

The Weight of Water
Author: Dorothy Deene

After Amba by Stephanie Shields
Gold

After Amba
Author: Stephanie Shields
The Bourbon Bet by D K Marie
Gold

The Bourbon Bet
Author: D K Marie
The Butterfly Witch by E. L. Williams
Gold

The Butterfly Witch
Author: E. L. Williams
Annie's Day by Apple Gidley
Silver

Annie's Day
Author: Apple Gidley
Bad Americans: Part 1 by Tejas Desai
Silver

Bad Americans: Part 1
Author: Tejas Desai
The Never Witch by JP McLean
Silver

The Never Witch
Author: JP McLean
The Steal by Ella Kane
Silver

The Steal
Author: Ella Kane
Beautiful and Terrible Things by S.M. Stevens
Bronze

Beautiful and Terrible Things
Author: S.M. Stevens
Deadly Gold Rush by Landis Wade
Bronze

Deadly Gold Rush
Author: Landis Wade
Hive (Madders of Time) by D L Orton
Bronze

Hive (Madders of Time)
Author: D L Orton
Mathey Girls by Melody Chu
Bronze

Mathey Girls
Author: Melody Chu
The Game by Eve M. Riley
Bronze

The Game
Author: Eve M. Riley
Truth in Blue by Mirai Amell
Bronze

Truth in Blue
Author: Mirai Amell

The Magician's Daughter, A Memoir by Katy Grabel
Gold

The Magician's Daughter, A Memoir
Author: Katy Grabel
SOAP Notes by Frannie O'Callaghan
Silver

SOAP Notes
Author: Frannie O'Callaghan
Thrive in Chaos by Jace Parker
Silver

Thrive in Chaos
Author: Jace Parker
Artificial Death of a Career by Dr. Helmut Schuster, Dr. David Oxley
Bronze

Artificial Death of a Career
Author: Dr. Helmut Schuster, Dr. David Oxley
Girl in FLIGHT by Cat Buchanan
Bronze

Girl in FLIGHT
Author: Cat Buchanan
The Mutt for Me by Don Hughes
Bronze

The Mutt for Me
Author: Don Hughes

Predestined by RACHEL BYRNE
Gold

Predestined
Author: RACHEL BYRNE
Performed by: Madeline Smith
Why, Oh Why, Can't Carrie Fly?   by Rose Wyshharder
Silver

Why, Oh Why, Can't Carrie Fly?
Author: Rose Wyshharder
Performed by: Amy Weaver
The Titanic Test by Ann K. Simpson
Bronze

The Titanic Test
Author: Ann K. Simpson
Performed by: Lillian Field

Thar She Blows by Susan Emshwiller
Gold

Thar She Blows
Author: Susan Emshwiller
Performed by: Gabrielle de Cuir
Blood Mark: Dark Dreams, Book 1 by JP McLean
Silver

Blood Mark: Dark Dreams, Book 1
Author: JP McLean
Performed by:
Watching Sarah Rise: a Journey of Thriving with Autism by Jennifer Celeste Briggs
Bronze

Watching Sarah Rise: a Journey of Thriving with Autism
Author: Jennifer Celeste Briggs
Performed by:
Bigfoot is  a Jerk by J. Ditchburn Patton
Gold

Bigfoot is a Jerk
Author: J. Ditchburn Patton
Professor Nincompoop by Jimmy Vee
Silver

Professor Nincompoop
Author: Jimmy Vee
The Grumpus Among Us by Sharon R. Miller
Bronze

The Grumpus Among Us
Author: Sharon R. Miller
The Night Counsellor by L K Pang
Gold

The Night Counsellor
Author: L K Pang
Secrets of a Social Butterfly by Lynn Bruines
Silver

Secrets of a Social Butterfly
Author: Lynn Bruines
A Guy with Cancer Walks into a Bar by Sergio Jablon
Bronze

A Guy with Cancer Walks into a Bar
Author: Sergio Jablon
Exits, Selected Poems by Stephen C. Pollock
Gold

Exits, Selected Poems
Author: Stephen C. Pollock
Clouds on the Ground by Autumn Williams
Silver

Clouds on the Ground
Author: Autumn Williams
Laughing in Her Sleep by Alycia and Jon Vreeland
Silver

Laughing in Her Sleep
Author: Alycia and Jon Vreeland
The Weeping Degree by Kelly Watt
Bronze

The Weeping Degree
Author: Kelly Watt
This Is Not About Poems by Diana Button
Bronze

This Is Not About Poems
Author: Diana Button
WHEN WILL I EVER LEARN by Lynn Marceau
Bronze

WHEN WILL I EVER LEARN
Author: Lynn Marceau

Gold


The Horned Women by Christy Matheson

Silver


Commanding the Cleanest Space Station by Jessica Kaye

Bronze


The King, Lady Killer and the Virgin by Mark Sheehan


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The Gates of Dark Death
A gripping, faced-pace,
Tudor-period thriller
by Alan Reynolds


Sam & Me & the Hard Pear Tree
A personal account of
a mother’s ultimate loss
Amazon


Gigglet Goes to School
Get your giggle on with
Gigglet. Perfect for 0 - 6 yrs
AMB Kids Books


101 Ways to Wow! Our World
Insights, ideas, & actions
to encourage & empower
Amazon


THEY'RE ALL BARKING
Discover how your lifestyle
and emotions affect your dog
Amazon


MUPPIT BOY - ALLERGIES OF EVIL
"Suspense-filled, humor-filled
adventure for 9 – 12s" TWSA
by Michael J. Bowler


The Other Lotus Girl
He was buying tea.
She was running for her life.
danielariddle.com


The Beast Keepers
A young vet discovers a
world of mythical creatures
Amazon


AT WARBLE'S BAR
Pregnant Lucy searches for the
father...ADULT FICTION
by Galahad Porter


Little Puppy's Great Adventure
Adorable story. Great for
both parents as well as kids.
Amazon


The Lonely Lighthouse Bogle
A quirky tale celebrating
the magic of friendship.
Amazon


MILLIE'S RAINBOW
Beautiful picture book.
Kindness and rainbows.
by Hilary Hawkes


SUKIE – QUEEN OF CATS
A warm rescue-cat picture book
about finding family.
by Jan Falconer


Forever Boy
Isaac comes to realize his new
friend harbors dark secrets.
books2read


Glitching Souls
Award-winning, Mind-bending,
Technothriller
Amazon


A Portion of Malice
A thought-provoking thrill
ride into the apocalypse
Amazon


KEEPERS OF THE ROCK
THE DEBILIS RISING-YA Fantasy
Seize the rock. Rule the world
Amazon


MEMOIR OF A MANGLED MIND
Steve's 2 other personalities
wreak havoc all around him
Amazon


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


THE ART IN MY PALM
Queer coming-of-age tale
set in Cyprus & Australia.
by Luke Icarus Simon


Holy Hell
Diabolical Delights: Twisted
Tales of Faith and Fear
Memoir & creative non-fiction


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


Hecatomb of the Vampire
5 horror tales link in book 1
of The Dark Rituals Saga
Amazon


Soar: A Soul's Quest
A young eagle on a quest of
self-discovery & enlightenment
Amazon


50 SECRETS NOBODY TELLS YOU IN
IN HOLLYWOOD Helping actors
avoid pitfalls & find success
Amazon





Churchill’s Secret Army
WW2 courage and sacrifice
in the undercover SOE
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Don't Look Too Tasty
Hungry aliens, missing
friends. Who can you trust?
Amazon


A Good Day and Other...
A wide-ranging collection
of imaginative, funny stories.
Amazon


50 SECRETS NOBODY TELLS YOU IN
IN HOLLYWOOD Helping actors
avoid pitfalls & find success
Amazon