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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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