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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VR,AR &AI in Special Education
Tech transforming special ed:
benefits, risks & apps
Amazon
Rooted and Remembered
An orphaned boy wonders if
home is a place or a feeling.
Goodreads
More Future Dreams/Nightmares
Award-winning SF short
stories of AIs and robots.
Donald Firesmith
Forever Boy
Isaac comes to realize his new
friend harbors dark secrets.
books2read
The Halloween Candy MONSTER
Jimmy teaches the Halloween
candy monster a lesson
Amazon
Sara My Sara
A moving tale of friendship,
loss, and the gifts of grief.
Amazon
“Hatch Chile Willie”
offers children a heartwarming
tale of friendship
Amazon
WHERE DO BEARS SLEEP?
Bedtime for Animals & Children
Illustrated Songbook
by Chris Meade
The Source of The Wind
A powerful & tender women's
fiction novel with soul
by Ella Capek
Then We'll Say Goodnight
How would you get your
unruly puppies back to bed?
Amazon
THE WELL
A cleverly plotted YA fantasy
packed full of suspense.
Amazon
Moonshine Mesa
Why are bees, crows &
humans dying at the Mesa?
Amazon
DISCOVER YOUR NEXT INDIE
OBSESSION - Find & follow
indie books you'll love.
INDIEGUANA
One Year, One Night, 2nd Ed.
A beautiful story set in an
English village during WWII.
Amazon
Fenix and the Firework Fliers
Can Fenix save the Fireworks
when a firefly gets sick?
creativemovementstories.com
Pause... and Effect
A sun-kissed journey through
menopause and beyond.
Amazon
Nantucket Monsters
Island monsters on the sly,
live in the corner your eye
B. LAWSON HULL
Losing Austin
A gripping drama for teens
full of suspense & mystery
Amazon
ULTIMATE OBSESSION
A cracking murder/mystery
packed with twists and turns.
Dai Henley
The Jumperell
A mysterious Jumperell
and a clever frog
Amazon
A Mixing Colour Adventure
Colour mixing, teamwork &
perseverance for 3 - 7 yr olds
Amazon
Publishing Questions?
Find easy to understand
answers, top tips & more.
oldmatemedia
There's a Duck in the House
TWSA FINALIST 2023
Large Format with Large Text
Amazon
DREAMER OF DESTINY
Her dreams are calling to her.
Should she listen?
Barbara Pelham
SECRET SKY
Everybody wishes they could
fly - until it happens
books2read.com
MERCY'S VIEW: BLACKOUT
Memoir - A runaway's reckless
re-entry into society
Amazon
The Day After His Crucifixion
At last the women speak,
deepening Yeshua's story.
Amazon
It Rains in February
A wife's memoir of love,
suicide, grief and loss
Amazon
SOUTH KOREA
Where old traditions and
modern change collide.
by John Gonzalez