Finalists 2025
Below is a list of the 2025 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, 2026.
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
- Adult/Children's Poetry
If you happen to be looking for a good read, the readers at The Wishing Shelf Awards thoroughly recommend the following:
Excuse Me: Dyslexic Inclusive (Life's Little Lessons From The Countryside Companions)
Author: Diane Hull
Cover Designer: Jeannie Duncanson
Sponsored Ads
Growing up Hadley
A story to shatter your heart
then mend it anew.
danawritesbooks
Winds of Discontent
Gun running, investigative
reporter and Yvonne
Amazon
Girl & the Lock on Her Heart
An empowering book to
ignite everyone’s self love.
Amazon
Thar She Blows
Brian got swallowed by
a whale. Mom’ll be mad.
www.books2read.com
Samurai's Gift Among Forest
A grieving child's journey
to healing her spirit.
books2read
Top Psychological Thriller
Two couples befriend each
other with tragic consequences
Amazon
Ships in the Desert
Timely, illuminating, and wise
—Julian Hoffman
Amazon
A Trip From God, Book 1
NEW gods NEW religion NEW
prophet NEW order OLD insanity
Amazon
Writing in a Nutshell
Writing Workshops to
Improve Your Craft
Amazon
Hecatomb of the Vampire
5 horror tales link in book 1
of The Dark Rituals Saga
Amazon
Digging Deep by Dexter Hutt
She can cope with murder -
but what about betrayal?
Amazon
Aunty Jane Knits Up A Storm
Loss & healing through friend-
ship knitting and community.
Amazon
Fit to Eat
Empower yourself to age
without chronic diseases.
Amazon
What You Cannot See
A woman trying to navigate
and understand her life
Amazon
RED CHAIR PRESS
Titles in Dyslexic and
/or Large Print editions
ReadHowYouWant
Dinosaur Symphony
A Guide to Dinosaurs
and Classical Music
Amazon
MEMOIR OF A MANGLED MIND
Three minds. One body.
And nobody is safe.
Amazon
Children of the Realm
Girl finds mythical origins
in YA urban fantasy
Amazon
THE FOUNDLING
A foundling rises to
reclaim his stolen birthright
Amazon
A Mixing Colour Adventure
Colour mixing, teamwork &
perseverance for 3 - 7 yr olds
Amazon
WHINGEY WILLIAMS Term 1
Follow Whingey on her FIRST
adventure on Gower
Amazon
Life with psychopathic brother
A quirky philosophical novel
about forgiveness.
linnaspen.com
BELIEVING IN HORSES
Ride away with the
Believing in Horses books!
Amazon
FALSE NEUTRAL
One chance to finally
make sense of it all.
Amazon
TOUCH
Gritty coming-of-age
fiction with a purpose
Amazon
HEALER'S BLADE
Can a young woman change
the fate of England?
StoryOrigin
Soul Release
An epic fantasy action
adventure in a world of magic.
Amazon
THEY'RE ALL BARKING
Springer Spaniel's eye-opening
view of human behaviour
Amazon
Into the BeanStalk
Corrupt megacity, broken world
A girl hiding from her past
Amazon
The B-17 Tomahawk Warrior
"This happened in 1944 but
honored 80 years later!"
Amazon
The Boy from the Night Sky
Thrilling fantasy adventure
for all ages.
Amazon
THE TIFFIN
Lost tiffin. Note gone astray.
A boy's search for family.
Amazon
Harvey's Hutch
A man, nearly seventy,
looks back on his life.
Amazon
I FEEL YOUR STARE
An Autobiography by Cheryl
Gillespie - Book Award Winner!
Amazon
Rooted and Remembered
An orphaned boy wonders if
home is a place or a feeling.
Goodreads
SONG FOR MY FATHER
"A gripping drama...a FINALIST
and highly recommended." TWSA
Amazon
Bentley Makes a Dump Cake
A delightful, messy adventure
with joy, teamwork, & color
Miki Taylor
Forever Boy
Isaac comes to realize his new
friend harbors dark secrets.
books2read
Nemesis Rising
"Survival comes with a cost
for Sam …his humanity."
Amazon
My Year at the Good Bean Cafe
A riveting tale of unlikely
and inexplicable events.
Amazon
HENRY
Inspiring WWII Nonfiction
survival account
Amazon
NEW TRAILS
A queer portal fantasy of
magic, courage, and home
books2read
Drop the Fake Smile
How to stop people-
pleasing in relationships
Amazon
When Secrets Come to Light
A novel of love, mystery
friendships, and murder
www.georgerhopkins.com
Book Love
YOUNG READERS become
WORLD LEADERS
Lorilyn Roberts
CREATIVE NONFICTION CONTEST
$1000 prize & publication.
Open internationally.
VINE LEAVES PRESS
BUILDING THE BEAST
Building a home-on-wheels
with zero blueprint.
Amazon
Selfish Shellfish & Sick Sea
An environmental gem for the
age. Get your copy at:
theprolificword.com
PWF for Women 40+
Paranormal Women's Fiction -
NEW SERIES!
books2read.com
LIKE NO OTHER - Cry.
Laugh.
Think.
www.fontreal.com
A Rage To Live
A true boys' coming of age
story set during the Holocaust
Amazon
The Monarchs
"A thought-provoking spiritual
quest" - Kirkus Reviews
Amazon
CATNIP
Cosy mystery with catnapping,
murder and a dash of romance.
Amazon
Exclusion Zone
The VORKOSIGAN SAGA
meets DIE HARD.
Amazon
Me and My Shadow
Honest reflection how cancer
took a boy to death’s door.
Amazon
CATNIP
Cosy mystery with catnapping,
murder and a dash of romance.
Amazon
Pumpkin King Saves Christmas
How Santa became jolly with
the help of the Pumpkin King.
Amazon
DAUGHTER OF SPIES
Wartime Secrets, Family Lies
A FINALIST in TWSA
Amazon
WHEN JESUS CALLS
A Story of Undeniable Faith.
TWSA 2023 FINALIST
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