
Finalists 2021
Below is a list of the 2021 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, 2022.
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
If you happen to be looking for a good read, the readers at The Wishing Shelf Awards thoroughly recommend the following:

Nurse Bear Does First Aid: Picture Book to Learn First Aid Skills for Toddlers and Kids
Author: Marta Almansa Esteva

Olive the Worrying Wiener: A Short Tale about a Particularly Long Dog
Author: Ally Arena
Illustrator: Rafaela Sukiyama

Monster in the Water: Fighting Back Against Harmful Algal Blooms
Author: Dylan Dagate
Illustrator: Maria Decerce

Sticky Icky Vicky: Courage over Fear
Author: Alysia Ssentamu, Michael Ssentamu
Illustrator: Noor Alshalabi

Audacious Goals, Remarkable Results: How an Explorer, an Engineer and a Statesman shaped our Modern World
Author: Brad Borkan and David Hirzel

Black, White, And Gray All Over; A Black Man’s Odyssey in Life and Law Enforcement
Author: Frederick Reynolds

Just Say "$%#&! NO!” Book Dedicated to the Well-Intended Overextended!
Author: Heather Tobin
Illustrator: Karen Tobin

Kings, Conquerors, Psychopaths: From Alexander to Hitler to the Corporation
Author: Joseph N Abraham MD

Grandpa Jock and the Incredible Iron-Bru-Man Incident: Gorgeous George
Author: Stuart Reid
Performed by: Stuart Reid

Fries & Alibis: Paranormal Cozy Mystery: Mitzy Moon Mysteries Series, Book 1
Author: Trixie Silvertale
Performed by: Coleen Marlo

Systemology: Create Time, Reduce Errors and Scale Your Profits with Proven Business Systems
Author: David Jenyns

The Essential Family Guide to Caring for Older People
Author: Deborah Stone
Performed by: Maggie Ollerenshaw

Little Wade and Watchtower: Abigail and the Great Gang Trap
Author: Sean March
Cover Designer: Joe Ruiz

Rory, Quest for the Northern Lights
Author: Sarah Cullen, Carmen Ellis
Cover Designer: Zuzana Svobodova

The Young Adult’s Collection of Short Scary Stories
Author: Michael Ross
Cover Designer: Magdalena Adić
A Red Ribbon is awarded to a book that did NOT get over 30/40 to be a finalist, but was still very much enjoyed by the readers.
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Running from Covid in our...
Paradoxical journey of losing
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Amazon
Book Of Greatness
A parable about unlocking
your destiny today.
Amazon
Fate By Design, M J Walsh
Historical fiction climaxing
with a dramatic twist
Amazon
COLONY
A mist-shrouded island with
an ancient terror at its heart
www.benjamin-cross.com
TRIVIA BOOKS
Educational and Entertaining.
In audio format! Bestseller!!!
www.raiseyourbrain.com
The Strange Woman
Witch trials, feminism,
farming and wildflowers.
www.sheepshedpress.com
Everyone Is an Entrepreneur
Discover the limitations of
life in a post-Soviet economy.
Amazon
Last Star Standing
Kirkus-starred adventure
"A deeply addictive read" SPR
Amazon
The Wandering Investor
Personal adventures, business
outlooks and observations
Bookbaby
Billy the Brave
Multi-award winning comics
powered by healthy eating.
Amazon
BATTLE GROUND
Award-winning UK-based
dystopia. Time to be brave…
Amazon
Crooked Fences: A Novel
An honest story of change
and overcoming prejudice.
www.amazon.com
THE CHOCOLATE CLOUDS
A magical journey through
a world of chocolate & sweets.
Amazon
PETRIFIED PETE
Read along as Pete makes
an important discovery.
Amazon
Kissed: A Cat Miranda Mystery
Complex characters, perfect
for mystery lovers!
Amazon
PARIS BLUE by Julie Scolnik
A true fairy-tale memoir
with a dark underbelly
Amazon
NIGHT GODDESS
A world on the edge.
An ancient prophecy awakening.
Amazon
THE TIFFIN
Lost tiffin. Note gone astray.
A boy's search for family.
Amazon
The Midas Effect
What if you could make all
your wishes come true.
Amazon
Dancing Shapes
Visual stunning & interactive
award-winning delight
Amazon
Horrifically Half-Baked Ham
Hilarious Zombies and Vampires
and Witches—Oh My!
www.reganwhmacaulay.com
Bad Bitches & Power Pitches
Use your inner bad-bitch
to achieve EVERYTHING!
www.amazon.com
Oh Daddy Chronicles
Laugh at Trump...Then
laugh some more...Repeat.
Amazon
The Whimple Inn
Clean children’s book about
shapeshifters! Ages (9-14)
Amazon
ALL FISH FACES
Photos & fun facts about
tropical reef fish
www.amazon.co.uk
Requiem For A Genocide
War is hell,
even if you're a robot.
Amazon
THE MADIGAN CHRONICLES
A magical read! Full of
witches, mermaids, and fairies
Amazon
Captivity (Faction War #1)
"A superb work of
graphic dystopian fiction.”
books2read.com
Fascinating Family Facts
Educational and Entertaining.
Audiobook + Kindle + Paperback
www.amazon.com
TARO: Legendary Hero of Japan
In the mists of Mount Fuji...
...no one can escape destiny.
Amazon
NILE CAT
A YA historical thriller
set in Egypt
Amazon
Kings, Conquerors, Psychopaths
Kings were serial killers
who preyed upon nations.
Amazon
The World Against Her Skin
"A rousing portrait of a
brave, imperfect woman."
Amazon
Masquerade
Personal tragedy, hardship...
AND A LOVE OF JAZZ
Amazon
Gobbledy - a fun-filled story
2 brothers, 3 friends, and 1
little alien far from home.
www.amazon.com
Raindrops: How Meditation...
Searching for spiritual
stability and mental health.
Take Care of Yourself!
Education for prevention of
all forms of child abuse
Amazon
Your Words Your World
Inspirational poetry book
with nature photographs.
www.louisebelangerauthor.com
THE PAX PRINCIPLES
An awesome story for teens...
life in a very different world
Amazon
No Deadly Medicine
A gripping debut thriller
fast paced and unputdownable!
www.amazon.co.uk
Yes and Pigs Might Fly
'Genuinely insightful'
FINALIST in the WSBA
www.amazon.co.uk
Ford the Tooting Truck Truck
Empowering book about
changing your perspective.
Amazon
BELIEVE
An exciting, fantasy adventure
for all the family!’
Amazon
Deficiency
"How far would you go to
keep your dreams alive?"
Amazon
Let Me Tell You Something
Human relationships
hilariously explored
Amazon
Thriving After Sexual Abuse
Well-written and sensitive
guidebook for a wide audience
thrivingaftersexualabusebook
THE BELLYBUTTON QUESTION
Do dinosaurs have
bellybuttons? For ages 2-5
www.damonartsnola.com
Broken Twigs
A fantasy story brimming
with chaos and danger!
Amazon
Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secret
Crime-fighting teens meet
ancient Egyptian intrigue!
Amazon
GRAY IS THE NEW BLACK
A Memoir of Self-Acceptance
Cracking the code to happiness
www.amazon.com
An Only Child's Diary
For girls facing the
challenge of growing up
Amazon
FIRST MAGYC
A Prophecy & a choice will tip
the Balance, for light or dark
Amazon
Karen Nicksich
angel reader, children's
author, dog trainer
www.pet-angelreader.com
Adventures of Bentley Hippo
What happens when the
bully becomes the victim?
www.bentleythehippo.com
Code of Rainbow Series
An Epic teen fantasy series
that links MAGIC with SCIENCE
Amazon
The Tap-Dancing Pigeon
An inspiring adventure
for 3 to 8 year olds.
www.amazon.com
Limerick Comics
Lighthearted, original with
lots of exciting facts!
www.limerickcomics.com
Passionate Travellers
Around the World on 21
Incredible Journeys in History
www.amazon.co.uk
The Young Testament - preteen
A kids’-eye view
of the Jesus story!
www.amazon.com