Finalists 2026
Below is a list of the 2026 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, 2027.
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
- Short Story - Novelette
If you happen to be looking for a good read, the readers at The Wishing Shelf Awards thoroughly recommend the following:
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The Day After His Crucifixion
Jesus' women followers
finally tell their stories
by Merikay McLeod
THE SAD PRINCESS
Refinding joy with our
children is not a fairy tale
Amazon
The Collective Consciousness
Embark on a journey into the
depths of the human spirit!
Amazon
THE FISH TANK - short stories
NARRATIVES ABOUT LIFE, EXILE,
GHOSTS…AND MURDER.
books2read
DREAMER OF DESTINY
Her dreams are calling to her.
Should she listen?
Barbara Pelham
Of Mountains and Seas
A multigenerational urban
fantasy mystery.
Amazon
THE PHILOSOPHER & THE ASSASSIN
campus novel, moral
philosophy, and murder mystery
Amazon
Half a Faerie
A disgraced rockstar falls for
a half-faerie single mom.
by Toni Cabell
The Madigan Chronicles
Witchy - Spellbinding - Addict
Urban Fantasy
by Marieke Lexmond
Into the Thicket
Boy finds an injured rabbit
sparks heartfelt journey
Amazon
Momma Llama World
Free coloring sheets,
animated stories & more.
Meet Momma Llama
THE SIGIL MASTERS
Face-paced and engaging
Young Adult epic fantasy.
Amazon
Around the Globe
The Adventures of Squishy
and Boo, Book 3
Amazon
The Boy from the Night Sky
Thrilling fantasy adventure
for all ages.
Amazon
It Rains in February
A wife's memoir of love,
suicide, grief and loss
Amazon
THEY'RE ALL BARKING
Springer Spaniel's eye-opening
view of human behaviour
Amazon
Out of the Darkness...
A memoir of animal
connections, love, and healing
books2read.com
GOING TO MEET DAD
A playful and sensitive tale
about braving the unknown
by Kathleen Nord Heinz
HENRY
Inspiring WWII Nonfiction
survival account
Amazon
TEMPEST'S SECRET
Adorable cosy mystery
with a kitten for 7-9 yr olds
Amazon
Sammie and Pumpkin
An adopted dog learns
how to make new friends.
Amazon
FIREWORKS
Anthology of quirky, cosy
fantasy and sci-fi tales
by Paul Olding
Losing Austin
A gripping drama for teens
full of suspense & mystery
Amazon
The Great Migration
Survive valley. Stop outbreak.
Or watch the kingdom burn.
Amazon
I Never Said I Love You
A story of travel, friendship,
forgiveness, & roads not taken
Amazon
AT WARBLE'S BAR
Pregnant Lucy searches for the
father...ADULT FICTION
by Galahad Porter
A QUEST FOR HIDDEN THINGS
A cozy, coming-of-age
fantasy adventure
by Karen Eisenbrey
Smurgle The Windy Dragon
By Jane Clack, ill. by Lucy
Nicholson. A FUN PICTURE BOOK!
Amazon
LEGACY
A character-driven sci-fi/
fantasy with a twisting plot.
Amazon
Burt: The Airport Cat
Heartwarming cat adventure
about friendship!
by Christine Henry
NEW TRAILS
A queer portal fantasy of
magic, courage, and home
books2read
A Mixing Colour Adventure
Colour mixing, teamwork &
perseverance for 3 - 7 yr olds
Amazon
POLO IN BRAZIL (BOOK 5)
A fast-paced MG graphic
novel exploring climate action
The Adventures of Captain Polo
A First Book of Microbiology
A fun learning journey
down the microscope lens.
Amazon
Story and Structure
A book on story: 'beats Joseph
Campbell at his own game.'
Amazon
MINIMUM SAFE DISTANCE (2022)
NOT pro-US Sci-Fi
weltweite, profond, prisbelönt
by X. Ho Yen
SOUL WALK
Unexpected Gifts of Grief and
Connection to Those in Spirit
Amazon
Confidently Mindful
Answers to your most asked
mindfulness questions.
Amazon
DRAGONDAH (9 - 12 year olds)
Solving ancient mysteries and
outwitting scheming villains!
Amazon
THE MUTT FOR ME
Heartwarming memoir of
healing & second chances
by Don Hughes
LIVING AT THE EDGE OF THE
WORLD Swap Wi-Fi for Wildlife
Shetland Adventure 9-12
WINTER, Book 1
The War Ongoing: Knightfall
Knights embark on adventure
where sci-fi & fantasy collide
Amazon
Tree Singer
Direct, engaging YA quest with
a delightful focus on family
by Jacci Turner
One Year, One Night, 2nd Ed.
A beautiful story set in an
English village during WWII.
Amazon
LITERARY ECHOES
Sharp analyses of the
world's great short stories
Amazon
More Future Dreams/Nightmares
Award-winning SF short
stories of AIs and robots.
Donald Firesmith
Rider of the Wind
An exultant celebration
of the magic of music
Amazon
Crowded platforms Window Seats
One family's adventures
around Europe by train.
Amazon
Secrets of a Social Butterfly
How I unstuck my life
and you can too.
Lynn Bruines
Pause... and Effect
A sun-kissed journey through
menopause and beyond.
Amazon
Finn's Funny Feelings
Helping children to manage
emotions in a healthy way
Amazon
Sara My Sara
A moving tale of friendship,
loss, and the gifts of grief.
Amazon
SUKIE – QUEEN OF CATS
A warm rescue-cat picture book
about finding family.
by Jan Falconer
ARNI'S ADVENTURES
8 charming, silly, comic
stories to laugh at & enjoy.
Amazon
Down to Earth
A practical guide to using
intuition for smarter living.
Amazon
Rooted and Remembered
An orphaned boy wonders if
home is a place or a feeling.
Goodreads
THE WORD GOBBLERS
A handbook for parents whose
children struggle to read
by Catherine Matthias
Glitching Souls
Award-winning, Mind-bending,
Technothriller
Amazon
A Mixing Colour Adventure
Colour mixing, teamwork &
perseverance for 3 - 7 yr olds
Amazon