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



SO YOU WANT TO BE A DOCTOR
Race the clock to save
a life in the ER tonight
by Linda Soules

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

DRAGONDAH
The Secret Legacy
of Ottillee Bottomly
Amazon

The Mystery of the Lost Avenge
Multilevel story/ghost/romance
forensics/WWII/espionage
Linda Maria Frank

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

The Devil has Spoken
2020: The Devil has created a
virus that won't discriminate
Everand

THE TIFFIN
Lost tiffin. Note gone astray.
A boy's search for family.
Amazon

GOING TO MEET DAD
A playful and sensitive tale
about braving the unknown
by Kathleen Nord Heinz

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

KIRKYARD MOON
Two women, One body.
A historical fantasy novel.
by Rhys Shaw

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

A Misfortunate Misfit
Incredible true story of a
man saving his own life
Amazon

The Princess and the Spy
A witty and heartfelt
YA fantasy mystery
Amazon

Arni's Adventures
Pet dinosaur, bear, cat story
for the young reader.
Ashok

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

TAILS
A magical story children will
love; and probably adults too.
by WJ Scott

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

A QUEST FOR HIDDEN THINGS
A cozy, coming-of-age
fantasy adventure
by Karen Eisenbrey

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

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

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

WELCOME TO OPINE
Homo Sapiens 2.0: Will genetic
blessing be their undoing?
Amazon

SIN EATER
A unique, funny, and
emotional novel for YA
Amazon

THE DARKWOLF SAGA (YA)
Embark on a harrowing journey
into fantasy and adventure.
Amazon

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

36
A lyrical, heartbreaking,
hilarious novel about family.
Amazon

Sprout's Surprise!
A humorous story with
a gentle ecofriendly message
Amazon

REVOLUTION: A NOVEL
Comical misadventures in
modern Los Angeles
Amazon

The Collective Consciousness
Embark on a journey into the
depths of the human spirit!
Amazon

THE SAD PRINCESS
Refinding joy with our
children is not a fairy tale
Amazon

MaryLou
"An engaging, well-crafted
family drama" TWSA
Amazon

THE MUTT FOR ME
Heartwarming memoir of
healing & second chances
by Don Hughes

Secrets of a Social Butterfly
How I unstuck my life
and you can too.
Lynn Bruines

Terracolina-A Place to Belong
Magic & wonder collide
in this bold MG adventure
by Carla Kessler

NEW TRAILS
A queer portal fantasy of
magic, courage, and home
books2read

BEAUTIFUL AND TERRIBLE THINGS
A NOVEL. Award-winning story
of social justice & friendship
Amazon

Building The Beast:
The Comic Memoir
of a Crazy Idea!
Amazon

Connecting Threads
A graphic memoir of
resilience and hope
Amazon

THE JEWEL OF WENZLO
An epic conflict
between rodent kings
Amazon

Jack's 1st Birthday Adventure
Journey to Jingle Jangle:
A fun story with activities!
Amazon

Three Children's Stories
Child-approved SEL story
time plans & activities
by Adria Chalfin

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

Churchill’s Secret Army
WW2 courage and sacrifice
in the undercover SOE
www.cloudshillpress.com

LOOK AWAY NO MORE
A story rich in history & love
at a Georgia college in 1970.
Amazon

Sea Change by Nick Bamford
'A gay romance and adventure
on a yacht at sea'
nickbamford.com

REVOLUTION
A contemporary
satirical novel
Amazon

BEHIND BULLETPROOF GLASS
A raw memoir about
pregnancy loss and grief
Amazon

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

Beyond a World Apart
Story Nazis attempted to burn
based on historical events
Amazon

MY SHADOW
A storybook for children
of parents with epilepsy
lulu.com

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

Sara My Sara
A moving tale of friendship,
loss, and the gifts of grief.
Amazon

DEAR JAMES
I know it's been 20 years, but
I needed to tell you I'm sorry
Amazon

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

From The Back of a Donkey
Fresh captivating look at the
Christmas Story told by Mary
by Nancy Elaine Hartman Minor


Advertise Here Now


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

Sammie and Pumpkin
An adopted dog learns
how to make new friends.
Amazon

Alphamind
Embark on a journey into the
depths of the human spirit!
Amazon

Lead the Competition
Read 100 Livestreaming &
Digital Media Predictions.
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