Finalists 2024
Below is a list of the 2024 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, 2025.
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:
A Red Ribbon is awarded to a book that did NOT get over 25/35 to be a finalist, but was still very much enjoyed by the readers.

Red Ribbon
'They're All Barking,' A Dog's Guide to Human Behaviour
Author: Professor Daniel Springer-Spaniel

Red Ribbon
Sweet Peas and Bees: Life at the Flower Farm
Author: Mary Murphy
Illustrator: Fiona Van Housen

Red Ribbon
Wanderer's Journey: A Refugee's Search for a Home in the Beautiful Game Author
Author: Vedran Dedic
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RED CHAIR PRESS
Titles in Dyslexic and
/or Large Print editions
ReadHowYouWant
Popina & Slumberina
Join in a Magical Journey of
Growth and Self Discovery
Amazon
Mirrors & Smoke: A War of 1812
'A smartly plotted, character
novel set in 1800s Canada' WSA
Amazon/Audible
FALSE NEUTRAL
One chance to finally
make sense of it all.
Amazon
The Great Migration
Survive valley. Stop outbreak.
Or watch the kingdom burn.
Amazon
The Puppet Maker's Daughter
Marika protects her family &
orphaned children from Nazis.
Amazon
Winkle and Aster
Urban fantasy that takes
imagination to its limits
books2read
SOUL WALK
Unexpected Gifts of Grief and
Connection to Those in Spirit
Amazon
SIN EATER
A girl with the power to
erase ANY bad memory!
Amazon
Into the Thicket
Boy finds an injured rabbit
sparks heartfelt journey
Amazon
Fenix and the Firework Fliers
Can Fenix save the Fireworks
when a firefly gets sick?
creativemovementstories.com
Soar: A Soul's Quest
A young eagle on a quest of
self-discovery & enlightenment
Amazon
You're Gone
Meet Arthur: Widower, Son,
Brother, Friend, Murderer.
Amazon
Perfect Middle Grade Series
Montana and her friends
save the forest animals!
Amazon
Children Who Dance in the Rain
A children's book about
gratitude and self-discovery.
Amazon
HENRY
Inspiring WWII Nonfiction
survival account
Amazon
PWF for Women 40+
Paranormal Women's Fiction -
NEW SERIES!
books2read.com
Oscar and Friends...
will help you along, sharing
a world where everyone belongs
mollyarbuthnott
Harmony Dances On
Helping children navigate the
journey through grief
Amazon
Sara My Sara
A moving tale of friendship,
loss, and the gifts of grief.
Amazon
Nemesis Rising
"Survival comes with a cost
for Sam … his humanity."
Amazon
SECRET SKY
Everybody wishes they could
fly - until it happens
books2read.com
Digging Deep by Dexter Hutt
She can cope with murder -
but what about betrayal?
Amazon
Day & Night
A behind the scenes tour
and evening immersion!
Amazon
❜Twas the Day of Christmas
Join Marco, Pet Pom Dog
and Santa for the Holidays
Amazon
Finn's Funny Feelings
Helping children to manage
emotions in a healthy way
Amazon
CLOUDY WITH CHANCE OF ANSWERS
"Crazy family. Endless cold
case. Then there's a clue!"
Amazon
TEMPEST'S SECRET
Adorable cosy mystery
with a kitten for 7-9 yr olds
Amazon
NUDGES FROM THE OTHER SIDE
Must-read for those who grieve
or curious about the afterlife
Amazon
Top Psychological Thriller
Two couples befriend each
other with tragic consequences
Amazon
The Princess and the Spy
A witty and heartfelt
YA fantasy mystery
Amazon
Portraits of a Pandemic
The story of how a microscopic
virus changed our lives.
Amazon
Drop the Fake Smile
How to stop people-
pleasing in relationships
Amazon
CREATIVE NONFICTION CONTEST
$1000 prize & publication.
Open internationally.
VINE LEAVES PRESS
Sammie and Pumpkin
An adopted dog learns
how to make new friends.
Amazon
Chronicles of MatiLou/PerryAnn
Through it all the girls work
to save Mother Earth.
Amazon
THE TRALL SERIES
Middle-grade portal
fantasies set in Australia.
by Gayle Torrens
THE COIN
CAN FINDING A COIN
GET YOU KILLED?
books2read
THE JEWEL OF WENZLO
An epic conflict
between rodent kings
Amazon
THE PHILOSOPHER & THE ASSASSIN
campus novel, moral
philosophy, and murder mystery
Amazon
NEW TRAILS
A queer portal fantasy of
magic, courage, and home
books2read
50 SECRETS NOBODY TELLS YOU IN
IN HOLLYWOOD Helping actors
avoid pitfalls & find success
Amazon
Literary Historical Fiction
Karma and horses drive one
family through 2500 Years.
Amazon
Irish Famine Novel
My novel Hungry Trails
celebrates family resilience
Amazon
An Enemy Like Me
A story not only of war but of
love & what we will do for it.
Amazon
The Crooked Ladder
It's time to climb...
or die
Amazon
From The Back of a Donkey
Multi-award winning. A
captivating look at Christmas.
by Nancy Elaine Hartman Minor
Thar She Blows
Brian got swallowed by
a whale. Mom’ll be mad.
www.books2read.com
Moving Men by Karene Horst
A modern novel, relationships
% the scars they leave behind
Flying Trees Publishing
No Death in Finding Nemo
Stories of mundane lives which
change in surprising ways
www.jeffreyfeingold.com
S.O.S. by Sue C Dugan
An exciting, time-travel
adventure for middle graders
Amazon
HEALER'S BLADE
Can a young woman change
the fate of England?
StoryOrigin
MaryLou
"An engaging, well-crafted
family drama" TWSA
Amazon
Tales of Witches and Wyverns
Join Enid’s quest to save
friends from a fae queen
Amazon
Misty Black Media, LLC
Get your picture book designed
& formatted by a professional
www.mistyblackauthor.com
Look 'N Up Invasion
Celebrate diversity by
imagining a world without it.
looknup.us
THE FISH TANK - short stories
NARRATIVES ABOUT LIFE, EXILE,
GHOSTS…AND MURDER.
books2read
INTO THE BLAZE
A new trilogy where fantasy,
myth, and reality entwine
Amazon
The Gemini Connection
An intriguing thriller that
will keep you hooked.
Amazon








































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































