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:
- 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
- Category 12: 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:
Bronze
Monkey See, Monkey Do. Monkey Can Do It, Can You?
Author: Harriet Cobb
Illustrator: Patrizia Donaera
Gold
The Adventures of Mrs. Crockess and Ivy: No Pockets? No Problem!
Author: Julia Kolouch
Illustrator: Petros Bouloubasis
Bronze
Watching Sarah Rise: a Journey of Thriving with Autism
Author: Jennifer Celeste Briggs
Performed by:
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 Devil has Spoken
2020: The Devil has created a
virus that won't discriminate
Everand
Happisad Memories
Where magic meets grief.
A page-turning novel.
by M.P.B. Clairette
THEY'RE ALL BARKING
Springer Spaniel's eye-opening
view of human behaviour
Amazon
Shadow Apprentice
Fast-paced MG steampunk
with an intrepid girl mechanic
by Linda Browne
The Monster Bones of...
A time travel mystery about
an ancient skeleton for kids.
by Linda Maria Frank
Marvelous Mood-Mending Meadow
Picture Book About Gratitude &
Dealing with Kids Emotions
Amazon
IF I COULD REMEMBER
A tender, unflinching memoir
on Alzheimer's caregiving
by Donna Costa
There's a Duck in the House
TWSA FINALIST 2023
Large Format with Large Text
Amazon
Sprout's Surprise!
A humorous story with
a gentle ecofriendly message
Amazon
THE FOUNDLING
A foundling rises to
reclaim his stolen birthright
Amazon
Lines in the Sand
Edgy and isolating. A perfect
memoir of loss and endurance.
F. Scott Service
50 SECRETS NOBODY TELLS YOU IN
IN HOLLYWOOD Helping actors
avoid pitfalls & find success
Amazon
I Never Said I Love You
A story of travel, friendship,
forgiveness, & roads not taken
Amazon
Publishing Questions?
Find easy to understand
answers, top tips & more.
oldmatemedia
Plea to a Frozen God
A desperate trio appeals
to the God of Death.
Amazon
HABITAT MAN
Midlife crisis meets eco-
fiction in heartwarming romcom
Amazon
GOING TO MEET DAD
A playful and sensitive tale
about braving the unknown
by Kathleen Nord Heinz
Irish Famine Novel
My novel Hungry Trails
celebrates family resilience
Amazon
ANGEL OF ASHES
Award-winning epic YA
fantasy adventure series!
Amazon
THE PEBBLE CHAMPION
A stirring tale
of sadness and self-discovery.
Amazon
Losing Austin
A gripping drama for teens
full of suspense & mystery
Amazon
THE COIN
CAN FINDING A COIN
GET YOU KILLED?
books2read
The Gates of Dark Death
The story of the last woman
to escape the Tower of London
by Alan Reynolds
Don't Look Too Tasty
Hungry aliens, missing
friends. Who can you trust?
Amazon
Millie’s Magic
The little mouse
with a big heart.
Amazon
MEMOIR OF A MANGLED MIND
Steve's 2 other personalities
wreak havoc all around him
Amazon
Connecting Threads
A graphic memoir of
resilience and hope
Amazon
THE GIFT OF BELONGING
A compelling tale of love,
war & finding your way
by Cheryl Burman
Truth Was Once Taboo
New humanity, ancient
wisdom: spirituality reborn.
Amazon