Previous Finalists





Winners 2021

Below is a list of the 2021 WINNERS 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.

Jump straight to:

If you happen to be looking for a good read, the readers at The Wishing Shelf Awards thoroughly recommend the following:

Noah, No! by Kristen Cornell
Gold

Noah, No!
Author: Kristen Cornell
Illustrator: Rebeca J. Pintos
Too Cute to Spook by Diana Aleksandrova
Gold

Too Cute to Spook
Author: Diana Aleksandrova
Illustrator: Alicia Young
Caleb's Adventures with Granddad by Christian Kueng
Silver

Caleb's Adventures with Granddad
Author: Christian Kueng
Illustrator: Nana Melkadze
Kita and the Magic Paint by Laura Schaumer
Silver

Kita and the Magic Paint
Author: Laura Schaumer
Illustrator: Pardeep Mehra
Alastair McAllister Goes to School by Valerie Ramer
Bronze

Alastair McAllister Goes to School
Author: Valerie Ramer
Illustrator: Kat Harrington
Mary and Me by Kate Woodard
Bronze

Mary and Me
Author: Kate Woodard
Illustrator: Sara Sanchez
Olive the Worrying Wiener: A Short Tale about a Particularly Long Dog by Ally Arena
Bronze

Olive the Worrying Wiener: A Short Tale about a Particularly Long Dog
Author: Ally Arena
Illustrator: Rafaela Sukiyama

Mighty Mila by Katie Petruzziello
Gold

Mighty Mila
Author: Katie Petruzziello
Illustrator: Nadja Sarell
Treasure Isle by Catherine Corcoran
Gold

Treasure Isle
Author: Catherine Corcoran
Illustrator: Natalie Lundeen
Be Mindful of Monsters by Lauren Stockly
Silver

Be Mindful of Monsters
Author: Lauren Stockly
Illustrator: Ellen Surrey
Spike by Sarah Cullen, Carmen Ellis
Silver

Spike
Author: Sarah Cullen, Carmen Ellis
Illustrator: Zuzana Svobodova
Millie’s Magic by Hilary Hawkes
Bronze

Millie’s Magic
Author: Hilary Hawkes
Illustrator: Andrea Petrlik
Sticky Icky Vicky: Courage over Fear by Alysia Ssentamu, Michael Ssentamu
Bronze

Sticky Icky Vicky: Courage over Fear
Author: Alysia Ssentamu, Michael Ssentamu
Illustrator: Noor Alshalabi
The Whisker Twitchers by Kathy Tallentire
Bronze

The Whisker Twitchers
Author: Kathy Tallentire
Illustrator: Becky Stout

The Chocolate Clouds by Marc Remus
Gold

The Chocolate Clouds
Author: Marc Remus
Beyond the Doors by Clay Kelly
Silver

Beyond the Doors
Author: Clay Kelly
The Children of Horseshoe Hideout by Rebecca Matthews Vorkapich
Silver

The Children of Horseshoe Hideout
Author: Rebecca Matthews Vorkapich
Octavia Bloom and the Missing Key by Estelle Grace Tudor
Bronze

Octavia Bloom and the Missing Key
Author: Estelle Grace Tudor
Osasu and The Great Wall of The Benin Empire by Tamkara Olayinka Adun
Bronze

Osasu and The Great Wall of The Benin Empire
Author: Tamkara Olayinka Adun
The Fall of a Sparrow by Griselda Heppel
Bronze

The Fall of a Sparrow
Author: Griselda Heppel

Guardian Angel Academy, Year 1: Renegade by Tamara Hart Heiner
Gold

Guardian Angel Academy, Year 1: Renegade
Author: Tamara Hart Heiner
Malcolm and Me by Robin Farmer
Silver

Malcolm and Me
Author: Robin Farmer
Super by Grant Smits
Silver

Super
Author: Grant Smits
Monologues for Kids and Tweens II by Mike Kimmel
Bronze

Monologues for Kids and Tweens II
Author: Mike Kimmel
Starvation by Molly Fennig
Bronze

Starvation
Author: Molly Fennig
The Vault by L. Wood
Bronze

The Vault
Author: L. Wood

The Crocodile Makes No Sound by N L Holmes
Gold

The Crocodile Makes No Sound
Author: N L Holmes
The House on the Lake by Holly Hill Mangin
Gold

The House on the Lake
Author: Holly Hill Mangin
Backstory, A Novel by William Michael Ried
Silver

Backstory, A Novel
Author: William Michael Ried
How Icasia Bloom Touched Happiness by Jessica Bell
Silver

How Icasia Bloom Touched Happiness
Author: Jessica Bell
Song of the Nile by Hannah Fielding
Silver

Song of the Nile
Author: Hannah Fielding
What Death Taught Terrence by Derek McFadden
Silver

What Death Taught Terrence
Author: Derek McFadden
A Quiet Dissonance by Poornima Manco
Bronze

A Quiet Dissonance
Author: Poornima Manco
Calling Mr. Nelson Pugh by Christopher Opyr
Bronze

Calling Mr. Nelson Pugh
Author: Christopher Opyr
Sentinals Awaken by Helen Garraway
Bronze

Sentinals Awaken
Author: Helen Garraway
Sin Eater by Amanda Denham
Bronze

Sin Eater
Author: Amanda Denham
Skiathos by Boris L. Slocum
Bronze

Skiathos
Author: Boris L. Slocum
The Poison Keeper by Deborah Swift
Bronze

The Poison Keeper
Author: Deborah Swift

Your Next Big Idea by Samuel Sanders
Silver

Your Next Big Idea
Author: Samuel Sanders
Surrender: A Memoir of Nature, Nurture, and Love by Marylee MacDonald
Bronze

Surrender: A Memoir of Nature, Nurture, and Love
Author: Marylee MacDonald

The Girl Who Looked Beyond the Stars: Sheena Meyer by L. B. Anne
Gold

The Girl Who Looked Beyond the Stars: Sheena Meyer
Author: L. B. Anne
Performed by: Alaura Howery
Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy by Paula Berinstein
Silver

Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy
Author: Paula Berinstein
Performed by: Allan Corduner
The Pumpkin Master by Mark Milbrath
Bronze

The Pumpkin Master
Author: Mark Milbrath
Performed by: Livia Zita

When Your Life Depends on It by Brad Borkan, David Hirzel
Gold

When Your Life Depends on It
Author: Brad Borkan, David Hirzel
Performed by: Dennis Kleinman
My Memory Told Me a Secret by Jeremy C. Bradley-Silverio Donato
Silver

My Memory Told Me a Secret
Author: Jeremy C. Bradley-Silverio Donato
Performed by: Matthew Lyon
Unethical: A Psychological Thriller by Marla L. Anderson
Bronze

Unethical: A Psychological Thriller
Author: Marla L. Anderson
Performed by: Tara Langella
The Sigil Masters by Rick Duffy
Gold

The Sigil Masters
Author: Rick Duffy
Cover Designer: Damonza
Trouble at the Monster Zoo by Kristina Rowlands
Silver

Trouble at the Monster Zoo
Author: Kristina Rowlands
Cover Designer: Mia Lloyd
Taro by Blue Spruell
Bronze

Taro
Author: Blue Spruell
Cover Designer: Miya Outlaw
From Steam to Salt by McKenzie Austin
Gold

From Steam to Salt
Author: McKenzie Austin
Cover Designer: Biserka Design
How Icasia Bloom Touched Happiness by Jessica Bell
Silver

How Icasia Bloom Touched Happiness
Author: Jessica Bell
Cover Designer: Jessica Bell
Barefoot Alice by Jan Porter
Bronze

Barefoot Alice
Author: Jan Porter
Cover Designer: Rebecacovers

Sponsored Ads



Three Children's Stories
Child-approved SEL story
time plans & activities
by Adria Chalfin


Playing Soldier
A savagely haunting true
journey of self-discovery.
F. Scott Service


INTO THE BLAZE
A new trilogy where fantasy,
myth, and reality entwine
Amazon


The Other Side of Nowhere
A fast-paced page turner
southern gothic horror
by Jack Holt


NEW TRAILS
A queer portal fantasy of
magic, courage, and home
books2read


A Good Day and Other...
A wide-ranging collection
of imaginative, funny stories.
Amazon


Down to Earth
A practical guide to using
intuition for smarter living.
Amazon


JUST RIVER
Hilarious and grave.
A story of resilience.
Amazon


The Ghost of Neil Diamond
A tribute artist scales
the Great Wall of China.
by David Milnes


Then We'll Say Goodnight
How would you get your
unruly puppies back to bed?
Amazon


Escape From Peconic Bay
A fast-paced, historical novel
set during the run up to WW2
books2read


MOTHER TO ELEPHANTS
A heartwarming, inspiring kids
picture book biography
THE STORY OF DAPHNE SHELDRICK


Beyond a World Apart
Story Nazis attempted to burn
based on historical events
Amazon


THE MERMELF
Mystery girl. Mermelves arrive
Dystopian rebellion begins
Amazon


Burt: The Airport Cat
Heartwarming cat adventure
about friendship!
by Christine Henry


CLEAR-CUTS
In 72 hours, a legend, a lore
& 2 brothers will all collide
Amazon


MILLIE'S RAINBOW
Beautiful picture book.
Kindness and rainbows.
by Hilary Hawkes


Plea to a Frozen God
A desperate trio appeals
to the God of Death.
Amazon


If Roses Were Blue
Inspiring, heart-warming
adventure for ages 8 & up
Amazon


Into the Thicket
Boy finds an injured rabbit
sparks heartfelt journey
Amazon


THE SOCIETY
Elizabeth Grant Thriller-woman
embroiled in a conspiracy
Amazon


LIVING AT THE EDGE OF THE
WORLD Swap Wi-Fi for Wildlife
Shetland Adventure 9-12
WINTER, Book 1


A Rage To Live
A true boys' coming of age
story set during the Holocaust
Amazon


Prescription for Frozen Heart
Pride & Prejudice meets
Grey's Anatomy - medical rom.
by Jo-Anne Duffett


The Graffiti Killer
A mind unhinged on
the fulcrum of our age.
by David Milnes





The Graffiti Killer
A mind unhinged on
the fulcrum of our age.
by David Milnes


A Rage To Live
A true boys' coming of age
story set during the Holocaust
Amazon


BEHIND BULLETPROOF GLASS
A raw memoir about
pregnancy loss and grief
Amazon


Drop the Fake Smile
How to stop people-
pleasing in relationships
Amazon