
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.
Sponsored Ads
The Pond of Reflection
A Fantasy Adventure - Teamwork
Friendship & Self-Discovery
Amazon
SECRET SKY
Everybody wishes they could
fly - until it happens
books2read.com
The Boy and the Jaguar
A magical Mayan tale
for middle-grade readers.
Amazon
Mother To Elephants
A Beautiful Tale of
Care and Compassion
Amazon
The Boy from the Night Sky
Thrilling fantasy adventure
for all ages.
Amazon
Battle for Eklatros
Can Ànifa’s party save
Eklatros from the invasion?
Amazon
Captain Polo Saving the Planet
"Eco-adventure comics
for middle graders"
www.alanhesse.com
Starr of the Show
SEL shows a new squad how to
shine. MG Reader/School Issues
shinyfriendssupersquad.com
Naked in the Now
What if presence felt like
being seduced by life?
Amazon
Look 'N Up Invasion
Celebrate diversity by
imagining a world without it.
looknup.us
Mirrors & Smoke: A War of 1812
'A smartly plotted, character
novel set in 1800s Canada' WSA
Amazon/Audible
Gollogans of Carrickgollogan
An exciting woodland
adventure story for 7-9s
Amazon
The Girl Who Looked Beyond...
13 yrs old. How can she have
a destiny to save the world?
Amazon
MUMMY TRUMPS
A rhyming flatulent book that
is fun for all of the family.
Amazon
Momma Llama World
Free coloring sheets,
animated stories & more.
Meet Momma Llama
Winkle and Aster
Urban fantasy that takes
imagination to its limits
books2read
Escape From Peconic Bay
A fast-paced, historical novel
set during the run up to WW2
books2read
NUDGES FROM THE OTHER SIDE
Must-read for those who grieve
or curious about the afterlife
Amazon
Of Mountains and Seas
A multigenerational urban
fantasy mystery.
Amazon
The Pivotal Pastor
A pastor and famous
architect transform a parish
Amazon
DRAGONDAH (9 - 12 year olds)
Solving ancient mysteries and
outwitting scheming villains!
Amazon
JOYFUL LIFE PRESS
Books and workbooks that
entertain, support and inspire
www.joyfullifepress.com
Sammie and Pumpkin
An adopted dog learns
how to make new friends.
Amazon
Tales of Witches and Wyverns
Join Enid’s quest to save
friends from a fae queen
Amazon
Truth Was Once Taboo
New humanity, ancient
wisdom: spirituality reborn.
Amazon
Social Media & Mental Health
‘’Empower your child to be
safe in the digital world’’
Amazon
Epistolary
Mandy writes about her
life until tragedy strikes.
Amazon
HUNGRY TRAILS
‘A…culturally rich family
chronicle.’ Kirkus Review
Amazon
A Lady Newspaperman's Dilemma
Alex’s goal: succeed in a 1926
male world of news reporting
Amazon
Confidently Mindful
Answers to your most asked
mindfulness questions.
Amazon
The Collective Consciousness
Embark on a journey into the
depths of the human spirit!
Amazon
A Good Day and Other...
A wide-ranging collection
of imaginative, funny stories.
Amazon
For Evil Done & Evil Suffered
Gripping murder mystery; tease
the brain & stir the senses.
Amazon
The Book of Wisdom-ish
Adventure begins with
a book. And an A.
Amazon
Crossing Borders
American memoir on prospects
for peace in Palestine/Israel
christabruhn.com
GOING UNDER THE RADAR
Honest, insightful, battling
autism/mental health - TWSA
Amazon
Clifftop Farm in Wartime
A story of WW2
evacuated children
Amazon
Life with psychopathic brother
A quirky philosophical novel
about forgiveness.
linnaspen.com
Tuskie’s Travels
Tuskie teaches his crew to
dissolve upsets in 30 seconds!
www.thekidcode.ca
Puppy Pals and Puppy Tales
Letters from the family
dog’s point of view, 5-9 yrs.
Amazon
THE DARKWOLF SAGA (YA)
Embark on a harrowing journey
into fantasy and adventure.
Amazon
Publishing Questions?
Find easy to understand
answers, top tips & more.
oldmatemedia
Into The Shadows
Journey from naïve university
student to a great spy.
marinemoments.uk
The Ghosts of Nothing
The town of Nothing is haunted
...and fairies are to blame.
Amazon
LADY REAPER
Disorderly ghosts. Dejected
fays. Dreadful elves.
books2read.com
Marlon and the Scary Something
Scaredy cat finds courage,
foils fear, wins friend
Amazon
Lucy Wants To go To School
Perfect for apprehensive
children starting school
Amazon
The Shadow Deception
Can a pranking pixie and a
grumpy angel save the world?
Amazon
What Is the Shape of My Egg?
Introducing children to shape.
"An excellent STEM resource!"
Amazon
100% SUCCESS MINDSET
Achieve your goals and
improve personal development
Amazon
I’m Going to Have a Sister
For new siblings teaching
patience & understanding
thegreatbritishbookshop
My Solo Wedding in Santorini
A true story. Honest,
thought-provoking & funny .
blogaboutl
I FEEL YOUR STARE
An Autobiography by Cheryl
Gillespie - Book Award Winner!
Amazon
THE BOOK
Earth will be fine, humanity
is on track for annihilation!
Amazon
TREACHERY!
A WW2 child
evacuee thriller
Amazon
MORATURI LOST
Ship lost in Andromeda:
The vet is now Captain!
Amazon
BURT, THE AIRPORT CAT
Follow Burt, the black cat,
on a fun family adventure
Amazon
Wild Asses of Mojave Desert
“Funny & tender, moving &
poetic" Recommended US Review
books2read.com
A Portion of Malice
A thought-provoking thrill
ride into the apocalypse
Amazon