Previous Finalists





Finalists 2015

Below is a list of the 2015 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, .

Jump straight to:

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

Category 1: Pre-school picture books
Do You Dream of Dinosaurs by Sally Alce
Do You Dream of Dinosaurs
Author: Sally Alce
Feeding Time at the Zoo by Kevin Price
Feeding Time at the Zoo
Author: Kevin Price
How It Happened in Hotterly Hollow by Tracey L Coutts
How It Happened in Hotterly Hollow
Author: Tracey L Coutts
Illustrator: Colleen Holub
My Mummy is an Engineer by Kerrine Bryan, Jason Bryan
My Mummy is an Engineer
Author: Kerrine Bryan, Jason Bryan
Odysseus by Simon Spence
Odysseus
Author: Simon Spence
Space Cop Zack, Protector of the Galaxy by Don Winn
Space Cop Zack, Protector of the Galaxy
Author: Don Winn
The Adventures of Zuma the Dog, Zuma Likes To Dig by Samantha Bertish
The Adventures of Zuma the Dog, Zuma Likes To Dig
Author: Samantha Bertish
The Frog Who Loved Mathematics by Faiz Kermani
The Frog Who Loved Mathematics
Author: Faiz Kermani
The Pirate Train by Nicole Plyler Fisk
The Pirate Train
Author: Nicole Plyler Fisk

Category 2: Books for 6 - 8 year olds
A Knock at the Door by Helen Yeomans
A Knock at the Door
Author: Helen Yeomans
Do Not Feed the Troll! by Ryan Cartwright
Do Not Feed the Troll!
Author: Ryan Cartwright
Ginger the Buddha Cat by Frank Kusy
Ginger the Buddha Cat
Author: Frank Kusy
Gollywood, Here I Come! by Terry John Barto
Gollywood, Here I Come!
Author: Terry John Barto
Horace Burp by Chris Tennent
Horace Burp
Author: Chris Tennent
Nickerbacher, The Funniest Dragon by Terry John Barto
Nickerbacher, The Funniest Dragon
Author: Terry John Barto
Tales of Mr. Snuggywhiskers: The Autumn Tales by C. F. Crawford
Tales of Mr. Snuggywhiskers: The Autumn Tales
Author: C. F. Crawford
The Forever Tree by Hilary Hawkes
The Forever Tree
Author: Hilary Hawkes
The Most Ferocious of Creatures by Chris Sykes
The Most Ferocious of Creatures
Author: Chris Sykes
The Mouse Who Howled at the Moon by Sarah Hindmarsh
The Mouse Who Howled at the Moon
Author: Sarah Hindmarsh

Category 3: Books for 9 - 12 year olds
Aoleon, The Martian Girl by Brent LeVasseur
Aoleon, The Martian Girl
Author: Brent LeVasseur
Bees in my Bananas by Neal Zetter
Bees in my Bananas
Author: Neal Zetter
Beggar Charlie by Madeleine McLaughlin
Beggar Charlie
Author: Madeleine McLaughlin
Danny Chaucer's Flying Saucer by Christopher Peter
Danny Chaucer's Flying Saucer
Author: Christopher Peter
Frankie Dupont and the High Seas Heist by Julie Grasso
Frankie Dupont and the High Seas Heist
Author: Julie Grasso
Frankie Dupont and the Lemon Festival Fiasco by Julie Grasso
Frankie Dupont and the Lemon Festival Fiasco
Author: Julie Grasso
Gorgeous George and the Zigzag Zit-faced Zombies by Stuart Reid
Gorgeous George and the Zigzag Zit-faced Zombies
Author: Stuart Reid
Hieroglyph by Wendy Scott
Hieroglyph
Author: Wendy Scott
Jesper Jinx by Marko Kitti
Jesper Jinx
Author: Marko Kitti
Klubbe the Turkle and the Golden Star Coracle by Philip Dodd
Klubbe the Turkle and the Golden Star Coracle
Author: Philip Dodd
Oldenglen by Robin Mason Michael Mason
Oldenglen
Author: Robin Mason Michael Mason
Sunny Turner and the Deadly Bite by Libby Whittaker
Sunny Turner and the Deadly Bite
Author: Libby Whittaker
Taylor Davis and the Flame of Findul by Michelle Isenhoff
Taylor Davis and the Flame of Findul
Author: Michelle Isenhoff
The Amazing Brain of O C Longbotham by Barbara Spencer
The Amazing Brain of O C Longbotham
Author: Barbara Spencer
The Extraordinary Book of Doors by Anne Nydam
The Extraordinary Book of Doors
Author: Anne Nydam
The Fantastic House by Jennifer Lewis
The Fantastic House
Author: Jennifer Lewis
The Roads of Luhonono: Book1 LEGEND OF THE EAST ROAD by Hamilton Hill
The Roads of Luhonono: Book1 LEGEND OF THE EAST ROAD
Author: Hamilton Hill
The Sound Catcher by Graham Garrity
The Sound Catcher
Author: Graham Garrity
The Staircase on Pine Street by Mariana Llanos
The Staircase on Pine Street
Author: Mariana Llanos
There Is No Fear (Children of the Knight III), Book 3 by Michael J Bowler
There Is No Fear (Children of the Knight III), Book 3
Author: Michael J Bowler
Warrior Kids: A Tale of New Camelot by Michael Bowler
Warrior Kids: A Tale of New Camelot
Author: Michael Bowler

Category 4: Books for Teenagers
Alby and Me by John C Bird
Alby and Me
Author: John C Bird
Alex Finch: Monster Hunter (The Monster Files Book 1) by Cate Dean
Alex Finch: Monster Hunter (The Monster Files Book 1)
Author: Cate Dean
Apocalypse: Diary of a Survivor by Matt Pike
Apocalypse: Diary of a Survivor
Author: Matt Pike
Beyond the Gloaming by Brendan Murphy
Beyond the Gloaming
Author: Brendan Murphy
Collision by P J Byer
Collision
Author: P J Byer
Community 17 by James Cardona
Community 17
Author: James Cardona
Connected by Kat Stiles
Connected
Author: Kat Stiles
Counteract by Tracy Lawson
Counteract
Author: Tracy Lawson
dEaDINBURGH: Vantage by Mark Wilson
dEaDINBURGH: Vantage
Author: Mark Wilson
Don't Call Me Kit Kat by K. J. Farnham
Don't Call Me Kit Kat
Author: K. J. Farnham
Echo Across Time, Book 1 in the Echo Saga by Skye Genaro
Echo Across Time, Book 1 in the Echo Saga
Author: Skye Genaro
Escape from B-Movie Hell by M T McGuire
Escape from B-Movie Hell
Author: M T McGuire
Eternal Hearts by Alice Berman
Eternal Hearts
Author: Alice Berman
Fraud at Snowfields by Daniel Klock
Fraud at Snowfields
Author: Daniel Klock
H.A.L.F. The Deep Beneath by Natalie Wright
H.A.L.F. The Deep Beneath
Author: Natalie Wright
Joshua's Island by Patrick Hodges
Joshua's Island
Author: Patrick Hodges
Oy Yew by Ana Salote
Oy Yew
Author: Ana Salote
Seventh Child by Peter R Ellis
Seventh Child
Author: Peter R Ellis
Spinner by Michael J Bowler
Spinner
Author: Michael J Bowler
The Secrets of the Home Wood: The Sacrifice by Julie Whitley
The Secrets of the Home Wood: The Sacrifice
Author: Julie Whitley

Category 5: Books for adults (fiction)
All the Skies I will not See: A Novella (A Touch of Cinnamon series) by Petra March
All the Skies I will not See: A Novella (A Touch of Cinnamon series)
Author: Petra March
Along the Far Shores by Kristin Gleeson
Along the Far Shores
Author: Kristin Gleeson
Anonymous by Christine Benedict
Anonymous
Author: Christine Benedict
Broken by Angela B. Chrysler
Broken
Author: Angela B. Chrysler
Day Trips to Heaven, Adventures in the Afterlife by T J Hobbs
Day Trips to Heaven, Adventures in the Afterlife
Author: T J Hobbs
Friends Like These by Hannah Ellis
Friends Like These
Author: Hannah Ellis
Holy Island by L J Ross
Holy Island
Author: L J Ross
Lavender & Haddock by Mike Williams
Lavender & Haddock
Author: Mike Williams
Love and Other Acts of Courage by Ann Warner
Love and Other Acts of Courage
Author: Ann Warner
Orphan Moon by T.K. Lukas
Orphan Moon
Author: T.K. Lukas
Orphans, Assassins and the Existential Eggplant by J.T. Gillett
Orphans, Assassins and the Existential Eggplant
Author: J.T. Gillett
Plaint for Provence by Jean Gill
Plaint for Provence
Author: Jean Gill
Project Butterfly by K. A. Angliss
Project Butterfly
Author: K. A. Angliss
Raven Bought the Light by Kristen Gleeson
Raven Bought the Light
Author: Kristen Gleeson
Sea Music by Briege Brannigan
Sea Music
Author: Briege Brannigan
Second Chances by Lincoln Cole
Second Chances
Author: Lincoln Cole
Send My Love by Mike Crowley
Send My Love
Author: Mike Crowley
The Black Swans by N.W. Moors
The Black Swans
Author: N.W. Moors
The Borderline Diaries by Elisa Frank
The Borderline Diaries
Author: Elisa Frank
The Erotica Club for Nice Ladies by Connie Spittler
The Erotica Club for Nice Ladies
Author: Connie Spittler
The Forgotten by Amanda Witt
The Forgotten
Author: Amanda Witt
The Galician Parallax by James Skinner
The Galician Parallax
Author: James Skinner
The Gift Counselor by Sheila M. Cronin
The Gift Counselor
Author: Sheila M. Cronin
The House of Three Murders by Gary J George
The House of Three Murders
Author: Gary J George
The Improbable Wonders of Moojie Littleman by Robin Gregory
The Improbable Wonders of Moojie Littleman
Author: Robin Gregory
The Kota Bk 1 by Sunshine Somerville
The Kota Bk 1
Author: Sunshine Somerville
The Piltdown Picasso by Robin Richards
The Piltdown Picasso
Author: Robin Richards
The Porter's Wife by Lisa Brown
The Porter's Wife
Author: Lisa Brown
The Post-It-Note Affair by Justine Avery
The Post-It-Note Affair
Author: Justine Avery
The Rival by Sandra Gustafsson
The Rival
Author: Sandra Gustafsson
The Seeds of Sorrow by Lisa Brown
The Seeds of Sorrow
Author: Lisa Brown
The Watch by Amanda Witt
The Watch
Author: Amanda Witt
The Watercress Girls by Kay Seeley
The Watercress Girls
Author: Kay Seeley
The Wrong Kind of Man by Lolli Powell
The Wrong Kind of Man
Author: Lolli Powell
Wanton Regard by Geoffrey Neil
Wanton Regard
Author: Geoffrey Neil
Wild Water by Jan Ruth
Wild Water
Author: Jan Ruth

Category 6: Books for Adults (non-fiction)
A Scion of Heroes by Stuart McCulloch
A Scion of Heroes
Author: Stuart McCulloch
Chickens Eat Pasta: Escape to Umbria by Clare Pedrick
Chickens Eat Pasta: Escape to Umbria
Author: Clare Pedrick
Days of Love: Celebrating LGBT History One Story at a Time by Ellisa Rolle
Days of Love: Celebrating LGBT History One Story at a Time
Author: Ellisa Rolle
Don't Cry, Pappa by Gunnar Skollingsberg
Don't Cry, Pappa
Author: Gunnar Skollingsberg
Free Yourself from Workplace Bullying: Become Bully-Proof and Regain Control of Your Life by Aryanne Oade
Free Yourself from Workplace Bullying: Become Bully-Proof and Regain Control of Your Life
Author: Aryanne Oade
Inside the Crocodile, The Papua New Guinea Journals by Trish Nicholson
Inside the Crocodile, The Papua New Guinea Journals
Author: Trish Nicholson
London's Firefighters by David Pike
London's Firefighters
Author: David Pike
Managing Bubbie by Russel Lazega
Managing Bubbie
Author: Russel Lazega
Spices and Seasons: Simple, Sustainable Indian Flavors by Rinku Bhattacharya
Spices and Seasons: Simple, Sustainable Indian Flavors
Author: Rinku Bhattacharya
The Perpetual Paycheck: by Lori B. Rassas
The Perpetual Paycheck:
Author: Lori B. Rassas
The Secrets of Islay: A tale of golf, marathons, and single malt by Robert Kroeger
The Secrets of Islay: A tale of golf, marathons, and single malt
Author: Robert Kroeger
Track-Two Diplomacy toward an Israeli-Palestinian Solution, 1978–2014 by Yair Hirschfeld
Track-Two Diplomacy toward an Israeli-Palestinian Solution, 1978–2014
Author: Yair Hirschfeld
Tutorin' Tim's Phonics: Lessons by Timothy Houge
Tutorin' Tim's Phonics: Lessons
Author: Timothy Houge
Watery Ways by Val Poore
Watery Ways
Author: Val Poore
Woody Allen, Reel to Real by Alex Sheremet
Woody Allen, Reel to Real
Author: Alex Sheremet


Sponsored Ads



It Rains in February
A wife's memoir of love,
suicide, grief and loss
Amazon

REVOLUTION
A contemporary
satirical novel
Amazon

MINIMUM SAFE DISTANCE (2022)
NOT pro-US Sci-Fi
weltweite, profond, prisbelönt
by X. Ho Yen

THE CURIST
Abby Steel hunts an evil
killer. Can he be caught?
Amazon

DREAMER OF DESTINY
Her dreams are calling to her.
Should she listen?
Barbara Pelham

BOBBIN AND THE MAGIC THIEF
A broken rule. A stolen
friend. A faerie rescue.
books2read

The Cup of Christ Trilogy
Epic mystical thriller across
centuries! A must!!!
by Jack Holt

Naked in the Now
What if presence felt like
being seduced by life?
Amazon

A First Book of Microbiology
A fun learning journey
down the microscope lens.
Amazon

TEMPEST AND THE BRIGHTON
TREASURE - A middle-grade
adventure children will love!
Amazon

Escape From Peconic Bay
A fast-paced, historical novel
set during the run up to WW2
books2read

THE SOCIETY
Elizabeth Grant Thriller-woman
embroiled in a conspiracy
Amazon

NEW TRAILS
One step changed his world.
One man changed his heart.
Amazon

Arctic Dinosaurs
Her first Arctic year -
middle grade - free activities
Fathom Publishing

Playing Soldier
A savagely haunting true
journey of self-discovery.
F. Scott Service

Demons to Champions
A tale of neurodivergent
awakening and triumph.
Amazon

Dance Along
A curious cat, a magical
mirror & a world of twirls
Amazon

HABITAT MAN
Midlife crisis meets eco-
fiction in heartwarming romcom
Amazon

A Lion's Head
Myth brought to life.
A fantasy novel for YA.
by D.M. De Alwis

TALE OF THE ENGLISH TEMPLAR
Resistance to tyranny starts
with an act of compassion
by Helena P Schrader

Truth Was Once Taboo
New humanity, ancient
wisdom: spirituality reborn.
Amazon

Law of Attraction Game Book
A playful 28-day guide
to joy, clarity, and ease!!
Amazon

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

HENRY
Inspiring WWII Nonfiction
survival account
Amazon

Nantucket Monsters
Island monsters on the sly,
live in the corner your eye
B. LAWSON HULL

MOTHER TO ELEPHANTS
A heartwarming, inspiring kids
picture book biography
THE STORY OF DAPHNE SHELDRICK

The Book of Jack
Candid and inspiring story of
coming to terms with suicide.
F. Scott Service

Of Mountains and Seas
A multigenerational urban
fantasy mystery.
Amazon

THE MALLARD MELODRAMAS
A captivating series of
Victorian Mysteries
by RJ Williams

Drop the Fake Smile
How to stop people-
pleasing in relationships
Amazon

A Mixing Colour Adventure
Colour mixing, teamwork &
perseverance for 3 - 7 yr olds
Amazon

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

DRAGONDAH (9 - 12 year olds)
Solving ancient mysteries and
outwitting scheming villains!
Amazon

SECRET SKY
Everybody wishes they could
fly - until it happens
books2read.com

ANGEL OF ASHES
Award-winning epic YA
fantasy adventure series!
Amazon

Clifftop Farm in Wartime
A story of WW2
evacuated children
Amazon

The Madigan Chronicles
Witchy - Spellbinding - Addict
Urban Fantasy
by Marieke Lexmond

The Monster Bones of...
A time travel mystery about
an ancient skeleton for kids.
by Linda Maria Frank

Momma Llama World
Free coloring sheets,
animated stories & more.
Meet Momma Llama

Rider of the Wind
An exultant celebration
of the magic of music
Amazon

The Monarchs
"A thought-provoking spiritual
quest" - Kirkus Reviews
Amazon

ONE FOOL'S GOLD
Is that nugget you seek gold,
or only fool's gold?
Amazon

Lead the Competition
Read 100 Livestreaming &
Digital Media Predictions.
Amazon

POLE TO POLE (Book 4)
A fast-paced MG graphic
novel on climate change
The Adventures of Captain Polo

Moonshine Mesa
Why are bees, crows, & humans
dying at Moonshine Mesa?
Amazon

Marvelous Mood-Mending Meadow
Picture Book About Gratitude &
Dealing with Kids Emotions
Amazon

Connecting Threads
A graphic memoir of
resilience and hope
Amazon

Shadow Apprentice
Fast-paced MG steampunk
with an intrepid girl mechanic
by Linda Browne

Prescription for Frozen Heart
Pride & Prejudice meets
Grey's Anatomy - medical rom.
by Jo-Anne Duffett

JUST RIVER
Hilarious and grave.
A story of resilience.
Amazon

THE PHILOSOPHER & THE ASSASSIN
campus novel, moral
philosophy, and murder mystery
Amazon

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

FIREWORKS
Anthology of quirky, cosy
fantasy and sci-fi tales
by Paul Olding

FIELDS OF PROSPERIS
"Bingeable space opera, best
complex villains"-ARK Watson
Amazon

THE FISH TANK - short stories
NARRATIVES ABOUT LIFE, EXILE,
GHOSTS…AND MURDER.
books2read


Advertise Here Now


The Day After His Crucifixion
At last the women speak,
deepening Yeshua's story.
Amazon

Finn's Funny Feelings
Helping children to manage
emotions in a healthy way
Amazon

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

❜Twas the Day of Christmas
Join Marco, Pet Pom Dog
and Santa for the Holidays
Amazon


Advertise Here Now


Useful Links

What Authors Say | Important Stuff | Our Supporters | Medals | Meet Billy Bob Buttons | For Readers | Gallery | Editing
Archived Finalists | Archived Winners | Rules | Winning a Book Award, A Tool in a Toolbox | Editorial Reviews | Books of the Month | BOOKS OF THE DECADE | Blurbs | Between Sips

Sign Up to our Newsletter