
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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Pebbles and the Biggest Number
A butterfly’s quest to
find the largest number
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Wartime Secrets, Family Lies
London to life in Washington
in a family of secrets
Amazon
Wild Asses of Mojave Desert
“Funny & tender, moving &
poetic" Recommended US Review
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The Puppet Maker's Daughter
Marika protects her family &
orphaned children from Nazis.
Amazon
Meet the Snozzeralls
Fun & Educational
Kids Picture Book
Amazon
THE WAY OF WATER
Brilliant YA Fantasy with
Magic, Mystery & Romance
Amazon
CREATIVE NONFICTION CONTEST
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VINE LEAVES PRESS
The Campbell Sisters
3 sisters work towards very
different goals in 1955 NYC
Amazon
RAIN FALLING ON EMBERS
A grieving, fish out of water
teen struggles to survive.
KatieMcCabeSeries.com
A Trip From God, Book 1
NEW gods NEW religion NEW
prophet NEW order OLD insanity
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HENRY
Inspiring WWII Nonfiction
survival account
Amazon
THE UNBROKEN
Love and adventure in
the strange worlds of mind.
Nigel Peace
Beyond the Brink
Teleportation is just the
beginning...
Amazon
The Shadow of the Volcano
A thrilling 'time travel'
adventure for 7 - 13 yr olds.
Amazon
The Pivotal Pastor
A pastor and famous
architect transform a parish
Amazon
Wild Atlantic Way Anthology
Characters along Ireland’s
Majestic Coast
Amazon
Ghoul of Sherwood
Robin Hood and his men solve
a grisly murder near a nunnery
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Clifftop Farm in Wartime
A story of WW2
evacuated children
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My Solo Wedding in Santorini
A true story. Honest,
thought-provoking & funny .
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WELCOME TO OPINE
Homo Sapiens 2.0: Will genetic
blessing be their undoing?
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PWF for Women 40+
Paranormal Women's Fiction -
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Rainbow Bridge
Ever wondered where your
dog ends up after this life?
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Sam & Me & the Hard Pear Tree
A personal account of
a mother’s ultimate loss
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I’m Going to Have a Sister
For new siblings teaching
patience & understanding
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Little Puppy's Great Adventure
Adorable story. Great for
both parents as well as kids.
Amazon
THE TRALL SERIES
Middle-grade portal
fantasies set in Australia.
by Gayle Torrens
Truth Was Once Taboo
New humanity, ancient
wisdom: spirituality reborn.
Amazon
Harvey's Hutch
A man, nearly seventy,
looks back on his life.
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BROKEN
A victim to survivor love
story with a twist.
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SEA CHANGE
Gay romance and adventure
on a yacht at sea
Nick Bamford
Pure Ink Press
Quality partnership publisher
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It Rains in February
A wife's memoir of love,
suicide, grief and loss
Amazon
What Death Taught Terrence
A man reviews life from the
beyond. What will he learn?
Amazon
DEAR JAMES
I know it's been 20 years, but
I needed to tell you I'm sorry
Amazon
CHILDREN OF HORSESHOE HIDEOUT
A modern day Boxcar Children,
loved the world over
Amazon
RAIN FALLING ON EMBERS
A grieving, fish out of water
teen struggles to survive.
KatieMcCabeSeries.com
Finn's Funny Feelings
Helping children to manage
emotions in a healthy way
Amazon
SECRET SKY
Everybody wishes they could
fly - until it happens
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Sara My Sara
A moving tale of friendship,
loss, and the gifts of grief.
Amazon
HEALER'S BLADE
Can a young woman change
the fate of England?
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CLEAR-CUTS
Raw, visceral, unflinching...
ties that bind coming unbound
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Moonshine Mesa
Why are bees, crows &
humans dying at the Mesa?
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Dinosaur Symphony
A Guide to Dinosaurs
and Classical Music
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Nemesis Rising
"Survival comes with a cost
for Sam … his humanity."
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Into The Shadows
Journey from naïve university
student to a great spy.
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Winds of Discontent
Gun running, investigative
reporter and Yvonne
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Naked in the Now
What if presence felt like
being seduced by life?
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The Broken Wife
A gripping tale of love,
loss, and BETRAYAL.
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THE COIN
CAN FINDING A COIN
GET YOU KILLED?
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THE SAD PRINCESS
Refinding joy with our
children is not a fairy tale
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JUST RIVER
Hilarious and grave.
A story of resilience.
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Tilda Finds Her Rainbow
Journey of kindness, courage,
friendship and forgiveness
nicolaalewis.com
Sammie and Pumpkin
An adopted dog learns
how to make new friends.
Amazon
The Stress Book
STRESS MANAGEMENT & PREVENTION
BOOK, WINNER OF 40+ AWARDS
Amazon
CLEAR-CUTS
In 72 hours, a legend, a lore
& 2 brothers will all collide
Amazon
Book Love
YOUNG READERS become
WORLD LEADERS
Lorilyn Roberts
Moving Men by Karene Horst
A modern novel, relationships
% the scars they leave behind
Flying Trees Publishing
Nantucket Monsters
Island monsters on the sly,
live in the corner your eye
B. LAWSON HULL