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
Irish Famine Novel
My novel Hungry Trails
celebrates family resilience
Amazon
Then We'll Say Goodnight
How would you get your
unruly puppies back to bed?
Amazon
Moonshine Mesa
Why are bees, crows, & humans
dying at Moonshine Mesa?
Amazon
Mother To Elephants
A Beautiful Tale of
Care and Compassion
Amazon
Secrets of The Sealed Forest
Magic awakens in this
modern fantasy adventure.
Amazon
Puppy Pals and Puppy Tales
Letters from the family
dog’s point of view, 5-9 yrs.
Amazon
WHINGEY WILLIAMS Term 1
Follow Whingey on her FIRST
adventure on Gower
Amazon
Gigglet Goes to School
Get your giggle on with
Gigglet. Perfect for 0 - 6 yrs
AMB Kids Books
I FEEL YOUR STARE
An Autobiography
BOOK AWARD WINNER!
Amazon
DANCE STANCE
"Highly recommended! A truly
excellent book" Wishing Shelf
bookshop.org
Azoria's Blade
They attacked her homeland.
Now, Azoria seeks her revenge.
Amazon
The Ghosts of Nothing
The town of Nothing is haunted
...and fairies are to blame.
Amazon
THE UNBROKEN
Love and adventure in
the strange worlds of mind.
Nigel Peace
Drop the Fake Smile
How to stop people-
pleasing in relationships
Amazon
RED CHAIR PRESS
Titles in Dyslexic and
/or Large Print editions
ReadHowYouWant
HEALER'S BLADE
Can a young woman change
the fate of England?
StoryOrigin
Hieroglyph
A fantastical mix of history &
fantasy. GOLD medal winner!
Amazon
The Mystery of the Lost Avenge
Multilevel story/ghost/romance
forensics/WWII/espionage
Linda Maria Frank
Lead the Competition
Read 100 Livestreaming &
Digital Media Predictions.
Amazon
LIKE A HERO
Being a superhero WITHOUT
powers is never easy!
books2read
The Halloween Candy MONSTER
Jimmy teaches the Halloween
candy monster a lesson
Amazon
Anna and the Adders
A rhyming counting book
to get little ones learning
Amazon
BELIEVING IN HORSES
Ride away with the
Believing in Horses books!
Amazon
DEAR JAMES
I know it's been 20 years, but
I needed to tell you I'm sorry
Amazon
THE COIN
CAN FINDING A COIN
GET YOU KILLED?
books2read
NUDGES FROM THE OTHER SIDE
Must-read for those who grieve
or curious about the afterlife
Amazon
A Bloody Hot Summer
Bloody murders occur in 1920s
England during a heatwave
Amazon
Marlon and the Scary Something
Scaredy cat finds courage,
foils fear, wins friend
Amazon
DAUGHTER OF SPIES
Wartime Secrets, Family Lies
A FINALIST in TWSA
Amazon
Into the BeanStalk
Corrupt megacity, broken world
A girl hiding from her past
Amazon
The Boy from the Night Sky
Thrilling fantasy adventure
for all ages.
Amazon
In Other Words, Poetic Journey
Explore life through the eyes
of a tireless wanderer
Amazon
More Future Dreams/Nightmares
Award-winning SF short
stories of AIs and robots.
Donald Firesmith
SIN EATER
A girl with the power to
erase ANY bad memory!
Amazon
“Hatch Chile Willie”
offers children a heartwarming
tale of friendship
Amazon
The Open Book
A family memoir of adventure,
trauma, & resilience
Amazon
The Eye of Nineveh (thriller)
They found a gem powered by
the gods. Now, it´s vanished.
Amazon
THE TRALL SERIES
Middle-grade portal
fantasies set in Australia.
by Gayle Torrens
Children of the Knight
When the children rise,
will the city fall?
Amazon
Look 'N Up Invasion
Celebrate diversity by
imagining a world without it.
looknup.us
LADY IN RED
Teen sleuths search for
a missing masterpiece.
Amazon
A Rage To Live
A true boys' coming of age
story set during the Holocaust
Amazon
Fit to Eat
Empower yourself to age
without chronic diseases.
Amazon
Alfie Slider vs Shape Shifter
It’s no ordinary key –
it breaks the laws of physics!
Amazon
Pumpkin King Saves Christmas
How Santa became jolly with
the help of the Pumpkin King.
Amazon
Destiny Lives on Fairhaven St.
A father's true story to his
sons. Winner of 17 awards.
Amazon
Rooted and Remembered
An orphaned boy wonders if
home is a place or a feeling.
Goodreads
THE IMPROBABLE WONDERS OF
MOOJIE LITTLEMAN "Visionary,
magical, rich" -MC WEEKLY
Amazon
BROKEN
A victim to survivor love
story with a twist.
Amazon
Publishing Questions?
Find easy to understand
answers, top tips & more.
oldmatemedia
THE WAY OF WATER
Brilliant YA Fantasy with
Magic, Mystery & Romance
Amazon
THE DARKWOLF SAGA (YA)
Embark on a harrowing journey
into fantasy and adventure.
Amazon
Sibby's Secret
Heart-stopping adventure
for our detective Buccaneers
Amazon
What You Cannot See
A woman trying to navigate
and understand her life
Amazon
Inspirational Mindset Journey
This book, therapy by power of
fiction, can alter your life.
Amazon
The Stranger of Ul Darak BK 1
A new intriguing epic
high fantasy series
sceston.com
The Secrets of Hawthorne House
An unlikely friendship, clash
of cultures, and hidden magic
Amazon
The Tree of Life
Come with Lord Robert %
seek out an unknown 5th gospel
Amazon
THE DARK PLACES NOVELS
Paranormal thrillers to
get your pulse racing
kimgravell.com