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:

Category 1: Pre-school picture books
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

Category 2: Books for 6 - 8 year olds
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

Category 3: Books for 9 - 12 year olds
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

Category 4: Books for Teenagers
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

Category 5: Books for adults (fiction)
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

Category 6: Books for Adults (non-fiction)
Go: A Memoir about Binge-drinking, Self-hatred, and Finding Happiness by Jessica Bell
Gold

Go: A Memoir about Binge-drinking, Self-hatred, and Finding Happiness
Author: Jessica Bell
Breakdown: A Therapist's Journey of Losing It and Finding It by Ali Psiuk
Silver

Breakdown: A Therapist's Journey of Losing It and Finding It
Author: Ali Psiuk
Your Next Big Idea by Samuel Sanders
Silver

Your Next Big Idea
Author: Samuel Sanders
Audacious Goals, Remarkable Results: How an Explorer, an Engineer and a Statesman shaped our Modern World by Brad Borkan and David Hirzel
Bronze

Audacious Goals, Remarkable Results: How an Explorer, an Engineer and a Statesman shaped our Modern World
Author: Brad Borkan and David Hirzel
Surrender: A Memoir of Nature, Nurture, and Love by Marylee MacDonald
Bronze

Surrender: A Memoir of Nature, Nurture, and Love
Author: Marylee MacDonald
The Burning Light of Two Stars: A Mother-Daughter Story by Laura Davis
Bronze

The Burning Light of Two Stars: A Mother-Daughter Story
Author: Laura Davis

Category 7: Audio Book - Children/Young Adult
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

Category 8: Audio Book - Adult
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
Category 9: Best Book Cover - Children/Young Adult
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
Category 10: Best Book Cover - Adult
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



The Day After His Crucifixion
At last the women speak,
deepening Yeshua's story.
Amazon

Chronicles of MatiLou/PerryAnn
Through it all the girls work
to save Mother Earth.
Amazon

THE PHILOSOPHER & THE ASSASSIN
campus novel, moral
philosophy, and murder mystery
Amazon

MUPPIT BOY - ALLERGIES OF EVIL
"Suspense-filled, humor-filled
adventure for 9 – 12s" TWSA
by Michael J. Bowler

“Hatch Chile Willie”
offers children a heartwarming
tale of friendship
Amazon

KEEPERS OF THE ROCK
THE DEBILIS RISING-YA Fantasy
Seize the rock. Rule the world
Amazon

VR,AR &AI in Special Education
Tech transforming special ed:
benefits, risks & apps
Amazon

MEMOIR OF A MANGLED MIND
Steve's 2 other personalities
wreak havoc all around him
Amazon

THE GIFT OF BELONGING
A compelling tale of love,
war & finding your way
by Cheryl Burman

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

Your Words Your Love
A dazzling explosion
of beauty for your soul.
books2read

REVOLUTION
A contemporary
satirical novel
Amazon

The Word Gobblers
A handbook for parents with
children struggling to read
by Catherine Matthias

The Book Witch
A thrilling, fast paced
fantasy book for MGs
Amazon

Mirrors & Smoke: A War of 1812
'A smartly plotted, character
novel set in 1800s Canada' WSA
Amazon/Audible

The One Week Writing Workshop
7 Days to Spark, Boost
or Revive Your Novel
Karin Adams

Law of Attraction Game Book
A playful 28-day guide
to joy, clarity, and ease!!
Amazon

Sara My Sara
A moving tale of friendship,
loss, and the gifts of grief.
Amazon

THE SANDS OF DEE
A moving WW2 evacuee
adventure for Middle Grade.
Amazon

GOING TO MEET DAD
A playful and sensitive tale
about braving the unknown
by Kathleen Nord Heinz

LEGACY
A character-driven sci-fi/
fantasy with a twisting plot.
Amazon

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

THE PEBBLE CHAMPION
A stirring tale
of sadness and self-discovery.
Amazon

The Mystery of the Lost Avenge
Multilevel story/ghost/romance
forensics/WWII/espionage
Linda Maria Frank

From Patriarchy to Paradise
The script is flipped:
Women steer back to garden.
expandjoy


Advertise Here Now


LOOK AWAY NO MORE
A story rich in history & love
at a Georgia college in 1970.
Amazon

THE NIGHT SLAYER
Perfect for PERCY JACKSON fans
'Thrill-a-page, fantasy' TWSA
Amazon

No Free Speech for Hate
Provocative, chilling, topical
and razor-sharp dystopia
by Stephen Ford

Connecting Threads
A graphic memoir of
resilience and hope
Amazon


Advertise Here Now


Useful Links

What Authors Say | Important Stuff | Our Supporters | Medals | Meet Billy Bob Buttons | For Readers | Gallery | Editing
Archived Finalists | Archived Winners | Rules | Winning a Book Award, A Tool in a Toolbox | Editorial Reviews | Books of the Month | BOOKS OF THE DECADE | Blurbs | Between Sips

Sign Up to our Newsletter