Winners 2025
Below is a list of the 2025 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:
- 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
- Category 12: 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:
Bronze
Monkey See, Monkey Do. Monkey Can Do It, Can You?
Author: Harriet Cobb
Illustrator: Patrizia Donaera
Gold
The Adventures of Mrs. Crockess and Ivy: No Pockets? No Problem!
Author: Julia Kolouch
Illustrator: Petros Bouloubasis
Bronze
Watching Sarah Rise: a Journey of Thriving with Autism
Author: Jennifer Celeste Briggs
Performed by:
Gold
The Horned Women by Christy Matheson
Silver
Commanding the Cleanest Space Station by Jessica Kaye
Bronze
The King, Lady Killer and the Virgin by Mark Sheehan
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POLE TO POLE (Book 4)
A fast-paced MG graphic
novel on climate change
The Adventures of Captain Polo
AT WARBLE'S BAR
Pregnant Lucy searches for the
father...ADULT FICTION
by Galahad Porter
CAME A GENTLE WHISPER
A bittersweet, richly
layered historical romance.
by Rebecca A. Cathey
Escape From Peconic Bay
A fast-paced, historical novel
set during the run up to WW2
books2read
CLEAR-CUTS
In 72 hours, a legend, a lore
& 2 brothers will all collide
Amazon
AT RECEPTION
Will Sally fall for the charms
of a guest? ADULT FICTION
by Galahad Porter
IF I COULD REMEMBER
A tender, unflinching memoir
on Alzheimer's caregiving
by Donna Costa
The Pathology of Graphology
Two citizens of the lower
depths kill an aging DJ.
by David Milnes
BUILDING THE BEAST
Building a home-on-wheels
with zero blueprint.
Amazon
Lead the Competition
Read 100 Livestreaming &
Digital Media Predictions.
Amazon
Bentley Makes a Dump Cake
A delightful, messy adventure
with joy, teamwork, & color
Miki Taylor
The Shadow and the Scream
Stranger Things meets
Alice in Wonderland.
Amazon
Sammie and Pumpkin
An adopted dog learns
how to make new friends.
Amazon
The Faraway Mountains
A memorable novel about
growing up under dictatorship
Amazon
THE NIGHT SLAYER
Perfect for PERCY JACKSON fans
'Thrill-a-page, fantasy' TWSA
Amazon
FALSE NEUTRAL
One chance to finally
make sense of it all.
Amazon
The Boy and the Big White Rock
'...rewarding memoir of coming
of age in the 1960s.' KIRKUS
Barnes and Noble
Building The Beast:
The Comic Memoir
of a Crazy Idea!
Amazon
Tally and the Angel
Unstoppable middle-grade
adventures around the world!
by Eleanor Dixon
Demons to Champions
A tale of neurodivergent
awakening and triumph.
Amazon
THE SAD PRINCESS
Refinding joy with our
children is not a fairy tale
Amazon
The Shadow Deception
Can a pranking pixie and a
grumpy angel save the world?
Amazon
DEAR JAMES
I know it's been 20 years, but
I needed to tell you I'm sorry
Amazon
LIVING AT THE EDGE OF THE
WORLD Swap Wi-Fi for Wildlife
Shetland Adventure 9-12
WINTER, Book 1
From The Back of a Donkey
Fresh captivating look at the
Christmas Story told by Mary
by Nancy Elaine Hartman Minor
Truth Was Once Taboo
New humanity, ancient
wisdom: spirituality reborn.
Amazon
THE MERMELF
Mystery girl. Mermelves arrive
Dystopian rebellion begins
Amazon
Little Puppy's Great Adventure
Adorable story. Great for
both parents as well as kids.
Amazon
The Great Migration
Survive valley. Stop outbreak.
Or watch the kingdom burn.
Amazon