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
Sponsored Ads
THE FOUNDLING
A foundling rises to
reclaim his stolen birthright
Amazon
THE ART IN MY PALM
Queer coming-of-age tale
set in Cyprus & Australia.
by Luke Icarus Simon
The Word Gobblers
A handbook for parents with
children struggling to read
by Catherine Matthias
THE MERMELF
Mystery girl. Mermelves arrive
Dystopian rebellion begins
Amazon
BUILDING THE BEAST
Building a home-on-wheels
with zero blueprint.
Amazon
BEAUTIFUL AND TERRIBLE THINGS
A NOVEL. Award-winning story
of social justice & friendship
Amazon
FIELDS OF PROSPERIS
"Bingeable space opera, best
complex villains"-ARK Watson
Amazon
RED CHAIR PRESS
Titles in Dyslexic and
/or Large Print editions
ReadHowYouWant
NEW TRAILS
One step changed his world.
One man changed his heart.
Amazon
Angry Arthur
and The Run Around Trick
Learn to manage big feelings
Amazon
Moonshine Mesa
Why are bees, crows, & humans
dying at Moonshine Mesa?
Amazon
101 Ways to Wow! Our World
Insights, ideas, & actions
to encourage & empower
Amazon
Burt: The Airport Cat
Heartwarming cat adventure
about friendship!
by Christine Henry
Soul Release
An epic fantasy action
adventure in a world of magic.
Amazon
WHINGEY WILLIAMS Term 1
Follow Whingey on her FIRST
adventure on Gower
Amazon
Pippin's Country Adventure
A happy fun educational read
about an adventurous poodle.
Amazon
THOSE DARN STRIPES
A genuine read opening the
doors on love, life, & meaning
Amazon
CALM POND
TOP 10 BOOK - 9 short stories
for 5 - 9 year olds
Amazon
DOWN TO EARTH
Master the art of combining
logic with intuition
Amazon
Churchill’s Secret Army
WW2 courage and sacrifice
in the undercover SOE
www.cloudshillpress.com
THE DARK PLACES NOVELS
Paranormal thrillers to
get your pulse racing
kimgravell.com
REVOLUTION: A NOVEL
Comical misadventures in
modern Los Angeles
Amazon
RAVEN'S GRAVE Charlotte Stuart
Betrayal and death in
an Alaskan Tlingit village.
Amazon
From B to A:Britain to Albania
Funny road trip memoir–
with 4 dogs & 1 big truck!
by Jacqueline Lambert
AMAZING WORLD BENEATH THE
WAVES Satisfy your curiosity
about oceans
www.barnettauthor.co.uk
From The Back of a Donkey
Fresh captivating look at the
Christmas Story told by Mary
by Nancy Elaine Hartman Minor
Smurgle The Windy Dragon
By Jane Clack, ill. by Lucy
Nicholson. A FUN PICTURE BOOK!
Amazon
DRAGONDAH
The Secret Legacy
of Ottillee Bottomly
Amazon
DAUGHTER OF SPIES
Wartime Secrets, Family Lies
A FINALIST in TWSA
Amazon
LADY IN RED
Teen sleuths search for
a missing masterpiece.
Amazon
The Shadow of the Volcano
A thrilling 'time travel'
adventure for 7 - 13 yr olds.
Amazon
Your Words Your Love
A dazzling explosion
of beauty for your soul.
books2read
REVOLUTION
A contemporary
satirical novel
Amazon
The Boy from the Night Sky
Thrilling fantasy adventure
for all ages.
Amazon
My Solo Wedding in Santorini
A true story. Honest,
thought-provoking & funny .
blogaboutl
LoveVortex ... Drakor's Curse
A voyage into the unknown -
and a terrible curse.
Amazon
BELIEVING IN HORSES
Ride away with the
Believing in Horses books!
Amazon
A Portion of Malice
A thought-provoking thrill
ride into the apocalypse
Amazon
Sea Change by Nick Bamford
'A gay romance and adventure
on a yacht at sea'
nickbamford.com
Finn's Funny Feelings
Helping children to manage
emotions in a healthy way
Amazon
Bentley Makes a Dump Cake
A delightful, messy adventure
with joy, teamwork, & color
Miki Taylor
No Free Speech for Hate
Provocative, chilling, topical
and razor-sharp dystopia
by Stephen Ford
The Halloween Candy MONSTER
Jimmy teaches the Halloween
candy monster a lesson
Amazon
MINIMUM SAFE DISTANCE (2022)
NOT pro-US Sci-Fi
weltweite, profond, prisbelönt
by X. Ho Yen
The Ghost of Neil Diamond
A tribute artist scales
the Great Wall of China.
by David Milnes
Winkle and Aster
Urban fantasy that takes
imagination to its limits
books2read
THE GREAT MOSQUITO HUNT
Hunting the world for
the causes of disease
Amazon
The Lonely Lighthouse Bogle
A quirky tale celebrating
the magic of friendship.
Amazon
THE NIGHT SLAYER
Perfect for PERCY JACKSON fans
'Thrill-a-page, fantasy' TWSA
Amazon
Naked in the Now
What if presence felt like
being seduced by life?
Amazon
The War Ongoing: Knightfall
Knights embark on adventure
where sci-fi & fantasy collide
Amazon
A Rage To Live
A true boys' coming of age
story set during the Holocaust
Amazon
The Graffiti Killer
A mind unhinged on
the fulcrum of our age.
by David Milnes
Jemma and the Raven
A luminous adventure in
this epic YA fantasy debut
Amazon
Of Mountains and Seas
A multigenerational urban
fantasy mystery.
Amazon
THE SOCIETY
Elizabeth Grant Thriller-woman
embroiled in a conspiracy
Amazon
Truth Was Once Taboo
New humanity, ancient
wisdom: spirituality reborn.
Amazon
Sea Change by Nick Bamford
'A gay romance and adventure
on a yacht at sea'
nickbamford.com
A QUEST FOR HIDDEN THINGS
A cozy, coming-of-age
fantasy adventure
by Karen Eisenbrey








































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































