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Winners 2023

Below is a list of the 2023 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.

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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
I'm Going to Have a Sister by Laura Diebelius
Gold

I'm Going to Have a Sister
Author: Laura Diebelius
Illustrator: Francesca Watt
"ABSURD," SAID BIRD by Tricia Gardella
Silver

"ABSURD," SAID BIRD
Author: Tricia Gardella
Illustrator: Ginger Nielson
Popina & Slumberina by Irit Tal
Silver

Popina & Slumberina
Author: Irit Tal
Illustrator: Anat Davis
1, 2, 3 The Castles I See by Sarah Downie and Deborah Motycka Downie
Bronze

1, 2, 3 The Castles I See
Author: Sarah Downie and Deborah Motycka Downie
Illustrator:
I Will Be... by Susan Pivero
Bronze

I Will Be...
Author: Susan Pivero
Illustrator: Jo Renfro
There's a Dinosaur on the Sofa by Samuel A McGuire
Bronze

There's a Dinosaur on the Sofa
Author: Samuel A McGuire
Illustrator:

Category 2: Books for 6 - 8 year olds
The Boy Who Burped by Beth Lewis
Gold

The Boy Who Burped
Author: Beth Lewis
Illustrator: Daniel Wtodarski
Pebbles and the Biggest Number by Joey Benun
Silver

Pebbles and the Biggest Number
Author: Joey Benun
Illustrator: Laura Watson
Sue from Class Two has a Problem with Poo by Victoria Smith
Silver

Sue from Class Two has a Problem with Poo
Author: Victoria Smith
Illustrator: Dr. J J Smith
Corbin Speaks Bee by Emma Pesis
Bronze

Corbin Speaks Bee
Author: Emma Pesis
Illustrator: Divya George
Natalie and the Nazi Soldiers by Annette Gendler
Bronze

Natalie and the Nazi Soldiers
Author: Annette Gendler
Illustrator:
The Lonely Lighthouse Bogle by Lindsey Millar
Bronze

The Lonely Lighthouse Bogle
Author: Lindsey Millar
Illustrator: Vivien Sarkany

Category 3: Books for 9 - 12 year olds
Ghosts of Mars by Stuart White
Gold

Ghosts of Mars
Author: Stuart White
River of Crows by N.P. Thompson
Silver

River of Crows
Author: N.P. Thompson
The Animal in Amy’s Mirror by Joe Richardson
Silver

The Animal in Amy’s Mirror
Author: Joe Richardson
ELIZA JANE FINDS HER HERO by Eliza Kelley, Debra Whiting Alexander
Bronze

ELIZA JANE FINDS HER HERO
Author: Eliza Kelley, Debra Whiting Alexander
Elvia and the Gift of Passion by Ruthy Ballard
Bronze

Elvia and the Gift of Passion
Author: Ruthy Ballard
Starr of the Show by Leigh Reagan Alley
Bronze

Starr of the Show
Author: Leigh Reagan Alley

Category 4: Books for Teenagers
Eternal Inka by Clare-Rose Trevelyan
Gold

Eternal Inka
Author: Clare-Rose Trevelyan
Illustrator: Yongho Moon
The Nameless by Stuart White
Gold

The Nameless
Author: Stuart White
Idriel's Children by Hayley Reese Chow
Silver

Idriel's Children
Author: Hayley Reese Chow
RAIN FALLING ON EMBERS by Liana Gardner
Silver

RAIN FALLING ON EMBERS
Author: Liana Gardner
Stealing Glass by Liv Strom
Silver

Stealing Glass
Author: Liv Strom
LADY SPY by Toni Cabell
Bronze

LADY SPY
Author: Toni Cabell
Powerless by Jacqueline Pretty
Bronze

Powerless
Author: Jacqueline Pretty
WINKLE AND ASTER by Derek Corsaro
Bronze

WINKLE AND ASTER
Author: Derek Corsaro

Category 5: Books for adults (fiction)
Shooters by Julia Boggio
Gold

Shooters
Author: Julia Boggio
The Broken Bridge by Iris March
Gold

The Broken Bridge
Author: Iris March
Ella's War by Rusty Allen
Silver

Ella's War
Author: Rusty Allen
Losing My Breath by J Rose Black
Silver

Losing My Breath
Author: J Rose Black
Outside the Lines by Mary Perrine
Silver

Outside the Lines
Author: Mary Perrine
River of Ashes by Alexandrea Weis, Lucas Astor
Silver

River of Ashes
Author: Alexandrea Weis, Lucas Astor
An Enemy Like Me by Teri M. Brown
Bronze

An Enemy Like Me
Author: Teri M. Brown
Love in the Cupboard by Mari Jane Law
Bronze

Love in the Cupboard
Author: Mari Jane Law
moving men by Karene Horst
Bronze

moving men
Author: Karene Horst
Pass the Cyanide by Karmen Špiljak
Bronze

Pass the Cyanide
Author: Karmen Špiljak
Rapture of the Deep by Christopher Dainton
Bronze

Rapture of the Deep
Author: Christopher Dainton
The Repurposed Spy by Oliver Dowson
Bronze

The Repurposed Spy
Author: Oliver Dowson

Category 6: Books for Adults (non-fiction)
Speak Kindly, You're Listening by Jessica Metcalfe
Gold

Speak Kindly, You're Listening
Author: Jessica Metcalfe
BAD KARMA by Paul Wilson
Silver

BAD KARMA
Author: Paul Wilson
Not the Breast Year of My Life by Cara Sapida
Silver

Not the Breast Year of My Life
Author: Cara Sapida
A HARD SILENCE by Melanie Brooks
Bronze

A HARD SILENCE
Author: Melanie Brooks
Painting Over Rust by T.C. Fuller
Bronze

Painting Over Rust
Author: T.C. Fuller
The Half-Known Life by Ryan Lindner
Bronze

The Half-Known Life
Author: Ryan Lindner

Category 7: Audio Book - Children/Young Adult
I Fail at the Afterlife by Anni Sezate
Gold

I Fail at the Afterlife
Author: Anni Sezate
Performed by: Zachary Boersma
Nature Ninja Saves the Natural World, by Tania Moloney
Silver

Nature Ninja Saves the Natural World,
Author: Tania Moloney
Performed by: Daniel Burton
The Twelve Fartrageous Days of Christmas by I M Witty
Bronze

The Twelve Fartrageous Days of Christmas
Author: I M Witty
Performed by: Brooke Persoon

Category 8: Audio Book - Adult
Miranda and the D-Day Caper by Shelly Frome
Gold

Miranda and the D-Day Caper
Author: Shelly Frome
Performed by: Alexandra Ralph
My Cousin Darcy by Robin Elizabeth Kobayashi
Silver

My Cousin Darcy
Author: Robin Elizabeth Kobayashi
Performed by: Lucas Keen
Forced to Marry Him by Davinder Kaur
Bronze

Forced to Marry Him
Author: Davinder Kaur
Performed by: Gill Mills
Category 9: Best Book Cover - Children/Young Adult
A Colorful Beginning by Raven Howell
Gold

A Colorful Beginning
Author: Raven Howell
Cover Designer: Carina Povarchik
Vlad and the Roman Triumph by Kate and Sam Cunningham
Silver

Vlad and the Roman Triumph
Author: Kate and Sam Cunningham
Cover Designer:
Pieces of Me Everywhere by Regina Felty
Bronze

Pieces of Me Everywhere
Author: Regina Felty
Cover Designer:
Category 10: Best Book Cover - Adult
Not the Breast Year of My Life by Cara Sapida
Gold

Not the Breast Year of My Life
Author: Cara Sapida
An Enemy Like Me by Teri M. Brown
Silver

An Enemy Like Me
Author: Teri M. Brown
Cover Designer: Matthew Fielder
Tales From Old Japan by P D R Lindsay
Bronze

Tales From Old Japan
Author: P D R Lindsay

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The Faces She Sees
A thrilling mind-freak of a
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by Elizabeth Scozzari

HENRY
Inspiring WWII Nonfiction
survival account
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Smurgle The Windy Dragon
By Jane Clack, ill. by Lucy
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Irish Famine Novel
My novel Hungry Trails
celebrates family resilience
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RAVEN'S GRAVE Charlotte Stuart
Betrayal and death in
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Amazon

My Year at the Good Bean Cafe
A riveting tale of unlikely
and inexplicable events.
Amazon

THE GREAT MOSQUITO HUNT
Hunting the world for
the causes of disease
Amazon

Churchill’s Secret Army
WW2 courage and sacrifice
in the undercover SOE
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MERCY'S VIEW: BLACKOUT
Memoir - A runaway's reckless
re-entry into society
Amazon

Truth Was Once Taboo
New humanity, ancient
wisdom: spirituality reborn.
Amazon

Building The Beast:
The Comic Memoir
of a Crazy Idea!
Amazon

THE CURIST
Abby Steel hunts an evil
killer. Can he be caught?
Amazon

Esme and Griswald
A WITCH in search of a
POTION to save her PRINCE
Amazon

WHINGEY WILLIAMS Term 1
Follow Whingey on her FIRST
adventure on Gower
Amazon

THE DARKWOLF SAGA (YA)
Embark on a harrowing journey
into fantasy and adventure.
Amazon

LoveVortex ... Drakor's Curse
A voyage into the unknown -
and a terrible curse.
Amazon

GOING UNDER THE RADAR
Honest, insightful, battling
autism/mental health - TWSA
Amazon

Sam & Me & the Hard Pear Tree
A personal account of
a mother’s ultimate loss
Amazon

THE COIN
CAN FINDING A COIN
GET YOU KILLED?
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Terracolina-A Place to Belong
A fantasy to delight middle-
graders and nature lovers.
Amazon

THE MERMELF
Mystery girl. Mermelves arrive
Dystopian rebellion begins
Amazon

OUT OF TIME
Love at 78? Life has a
time limit. Love doesn't.
M. Jacqueline Murray

MaryLou
"An engaging, well-crafted
family drama" TWSA
Amazon

There's a Duck in the House
TWSA FINALIST 2023
Large Format with Large Text
Amazon

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


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Jemma and the Raven
A luminous adventure in
this epic YA fantasy debut
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FALSE NEUTRAL
One chance to finally
make sense of it all.
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TALE OF THE ENGLISH TEMPLAR
Resistance to tyranny starts
with an act of compassion
by Helena P Schrader

DREAMER OF DESTINY
Her dreams are calling to her.
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Barbara Woster


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