rush-to-press
The Week's News in Christian Publishing
  • Industry News
  • Milestones
  • Media Announcements
  • Product News
  • Other News

Bestselling children’s author, internationally known storyteller Bob Hartman launches first-ever Clever Cub Bible Stories series, Sept. 1 from David C Cook

Author of the YouVersion Bible App for Kids Bible Stories Releases First Four Bible Story Picture Books in All New Series to Remind Young Children Of Their Part In God’s Story

Internationally known Performance Storyteller and bestselling author Bob Hartman is set to entertain and inspire children with the launch of his all new Clever Cub Bible Stories series available Sept. 1 from David C Cook. Geared to little ones ages three to six, the first four books to be released from this delightful and affordable 16-book series of Bible story picture books makes reading time a faith-building adventure as Clever Cub reminds kids of their part in God’s story.

Through Hartman’s gifted storytelling and vibrant illustrations by Steve Brown, God’s Word comes alive as children follow along with Clever Cub to discover more about Jesus, Creation and the Bible in this engaging picture book series.

“Clever Cub is a curious little bear who LOVES to cuddle up with the Bible and learn about God,” says Hartman, who is also the author of the YouVersion Bible App for Kids Bible stories that have been downloaded 70 million times. “What better way to help young readers discover more about their part in God’s story than to share His love and biblical truths based on Scripture through faith-filled adventures.

“My dream for this series is that Clever Cub helps children see the love of God in their own lives,” continues Hartman, “and that they receive the joy that Christ brings when we enter into a relationship with Him!”

Featuring colorful illustrations, kid-friendly questions and engaging stories from the wonders of Creation to the songs of the Psalms to the arrival of Baby Jesus, this series of Bible story picture books invites readers to join Clever Cub as he “Welcomes Baby Jesus, Explores God’s Creation, Sings to God and Gives Thanks to God.” A note at the end of each book includes questions about the story’s theme to help parents and ministry leaders begin conversations with children about their own part in God’s story.

Furthermore, there are helpful resources and downloadable content available for parents and adults to share with children, including free Clever Cub coloring pages, animated story videos narrated by Hartman, and more “freebies” available through signing up for email updates at https://davidccook.org/clever-cub-books/. Subscribers may also receive notifications to hear about all the new Clever Club adventures coming soon and the latest free resources being offered.

Clever Cub Bible Stories Series Description for books 1 – 4:

Clever Cub Welcomes Baby Jesus

  • On a starry night, Clever Cub imagines what it would have been like to welcome baby Jesus as Mama Bear tells the story of Jesus’ birth from Luke 2.

Clever Cub Explores God’s Creation

  • Clever Cub snuggles up with Mama Bear as she teaches him from Genesis 1 about how God created sky, water, mountains, beaches—and clever cubs like him!

Clever Cub Sings to God

  • A wonderful way to introduce young readers to praying and singing the psalms, this lively exploration of Psalm 104 inspires kids to praise God for all He has done.

Clever Cub Gives Thanks to God

  • As Mama Bear tells Clever Cub the story of Peter and John healing a man in Acts 3, Clever Cub learns ways he can show gratitude to God, too!

About Bob Hartman:
Performance storyteller Bob Hartman is the author of the YouVersion Bible App for Kids Bible stories, that have been downloaded 70 million times. His long list of children’s titles have sold over a million copies, including The Lion Storyteller Bible, which has been printed in eleven different languages. As an ordained minister, his passion is to help people of every age find their way into the Bible, engage with it and discover the God who inspired it. Bob is married to Sue, has two married children, Kari and Chris, and five grandchildren. For more information or to connect with Hartman, visit Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Steve Brown:
Steve Brown (stevebrownillustration.co.uk) is a UK-based freelance children’s illustrator with a passion for telling stories through his art and using humor to delight children and adults alike.

About David C Cook:
David C Cook is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the global Church with life-transforming, Christ-centered materials. Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado—with offices in Illinois, Ohio, Tennessee, and the United Kingdom—David C Cook produces resources that are published in over 150 languages and distributed in more than 170 countries. Originally founded in 1875 as a curriculum publisher, David C Cook now also publishes numerous bestselling books, resources, music (Integrity Music), and media from a variety of award-winning authors and artists. Learn more about David C Cook’s mission at DavidCCook.org.

ATTN MEDIA:
Bob Hartman, Clever Cub Bible Stories review and giveaway copies are available upon request. High-resolution cover artwork and other press materials are available now at https://app.box.com/v/BobHartmanCleverCubPress.

For additional information, contact:
Maureen Hoganson, MaureenHoganson@comcast.net
Rick Hoganson, Hoganson@comcast.net
Hoganson Media Relations, 615-459-9870

Sign Up To Receive Industry News Each Week

Subscribe

This Month’s Bestsellers

VIEW BY GENRE
1 ONE MINUTE WITH GOD FOR MEN
RONALD A. BEERS AND GILBERT BEERS
2 18 DAYS IN HEAVEN
GABE POIROT
3 THE KING IS COMING
JOHN BEVERE
4 BREATH AS PRAYER
JENNIFER TUCKER
5 THE WAY OF THE WILDFLOWER
RUTH CHOU SIMONS
6 SHIFT YOUR LIFE
JOSHUA GILES
7 NEW MORNING MERCIES
PAUL DAVID TRIPP
8 THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES®
GARY CHAPMAN
9 JESUS CALLING, Hardcover
SARAH YOUNG
10 THE RUTHLESS ELIMINATION OF HURRY
JOHN MARK COMER
View All
1 ONE MINUTE WITH GOD FOR MEN
RONALD A. BEERS AND GILBERT BEERS
2 THE KING IS COMING
JOHN BEVERE
3 BREATH AS PRAYER
JENNIFER TUCKER
4 THE WAY OF THE WILDFLOWER
RUTH CHOU SIMONS
5 SHIFT YOUR LIFE
JOSHUA GILES
6 NEW MORNING MERCIES
PAUL DAVID TRIPP
7 JESUS CALLING, Hardcover
SARAH YOUNG
8 THE RUTHLESS ELIMINATION OF HURRY
JOHN MARK COMER
9 THE AWE OF GOD
JOHN BEVERE
10 STAND FIRM AND ACT LIKE MEN
JOBY MARTIN WITH CHARLES MARTIN
View All
1 18 DAYS IN HEAVEN
GABE POIROT
2 THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES®
GARY CHAPMAN
3 BOUNDARIES UPDATED AND EXPANDED EDITION
HENRY CLOUD AND JOHN TOWNSEND
4 THE CASE FOR CHRIST
LEE STROBEL
5 THE JESUS DISCOVERIES
JEREMIAH J. JOHNSTON
6 THE PRACTICE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD
BROTHER LAWRENCE
7 NO MORE BORING BIBLE STUDY
FAITH WOMACK
8 WILD AT HEART EXPANDED EDITION
JOHN ELDREDGE
9 DISCIPLINES OF A GODLY MAN UPDATED EDITION
R. KENT HUGHES
10 THE 7 SKILLS TO LASTING HEALTH
PEARL BARRETT AND SERENE ALLISON
View All
1 WHEN CRICKETS CRY
CHARLES MARTIN
2 SHATTERED
DAVID JEREMIAH WITH SAM O'NEAL
3 REDEEMING LOVE
FRANCINE RIVERS
4 HINDS' FEET ON HIGH PLACES
HANNAH HURNARD
5 THE NEXT WAR: VOLUME 1
AMIR TSARFATI AND STEVE YOHN
6 BRIGHTER THAN BEFORE
COURTNEY WALSH
7 A LINEAGE OF GRACE
FRANCINE RIVERS
8 HARBOR POINTE
IRENE HANNON
9 HINDS' FEET ON HIGH PLACES: AN ENGAGING VISUAL JOURNEY
HANNAH HURNARD
10 THE LUMBER BARON'S WIFE
LYNN AUSTIN
View All
1 BECOMING LIKE JESUS
MATT CHANDLER
2 LEGACY LETTERS
CHRIS HODGES
3 THE LIGHTNING-FAST FIELD GUIDE TO THE BIBLE
MATT WHITMAN
4 THE LUMBER BARON'S WIFE
LYNN AUSTIN
5 KNOWING
TOURE ROBERTS
6 THE SOWING SEASON
ASHLEY HETHERINGTON
7 YOU CAN BE BRAVE
MAX LUCADO
8 BRACE FOR IMPACT
AMANDA GRACE
9 GUARDRAILS
JIM RAMOS
10 THE DIVINE COUNSELOR
ALEX SEELEY
View All
1 AMERICA, I'M SO GLAD YOU WERE BORN
AINSLEY EARHARDT
2 THE BEGINNER'S BIBLE
THE BEGINNER'S BIBLE
3 THE ACTION BIBLE
THE ACTION BIBLE
4 THE JESUS STORYBOOK BIBLE
SALLY LLOYD-JONES
5 GREAT AND SMALL PRAYERS FOR BABIES
PAMELA KENNEDY
6 I'M SO GLAD YOU WERE BORN
AINSLEY EARHARDT
7 BEDTIME PRAYERS FOR LITTLE ONES
MAX LUCADO AND DENALYN LUCADO
8 THE WORLD NEEDS WHO YOU WERE MADE TO BE
JOANNA GAINES
9 I PRAYED FOR YOU
JEAN FISCHER
10 THE BIGGEST STORY BIBLE STORYBOOK
KEVIN DEYOUNG
View All
1 SINGLE, DATING, ENGAGED, MARRIED
BEN STUART
2 DO HARD THINGS
ALEX HARRIS AND BRETT HARRIS
3 LIVE ON PURPOSE
SADIE ROBERTSON HUFF WITH BETH CLARK AND TAMA FORTNER
4 OUTDATED
JONATHAN POKLUDA AND KEVIN MCCONAGHY
5 THE CASE FOR CHRIST STUDENT EDITION
LEE STROBEL WITH JANE VOGEL
6 EVERY MOMENT HOLY: RITES OF PASSAGE
DOUGLAS KAINE MCKELVEY
7 WELCOME TO ADULTING
JONATHAN POKLUDA AND KEVIN MCCONAGHY
8 THE PRAYER MAP FOR TEENS
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
9 THE 5-MINUTE BIBLE STUDY FOR TEEN GIRLS
CAREY SCOTT
10 ARMED AND DANGEROUS
KEN ABRAHAM
View All
1 SINGLE, DATING, ENGAGED, MARRIED
BEN STUART
2 DO HARD THINGS
ALEX HARRIS AND BRETT HARRIS
3 LIVE ON PURPOSE
SADIE ROBERTSON HUFF WITH BETH CLARK AND TAMA FORTNER
4 OUTDATED
JONATHAN POKLUDA AND KEVIN MCCONAGHY
5 THE CASE FOR CHRIST STUDENT EDITION
LEE STROBEL WITH JANE VOGEL
6 EVERY MOMENT HOLY: RITES OF PASSAGE
DOUGLAS KAINE MCKELVEY
7 WELCOME TO ADULTING
JONATHAN POKLUDA AND KEVIN MCCONAGHY
8 THE PRAYER MAP FOR TEENS
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
9 THE 5-MINUTE BIBLE STUDY FOR TEEN GIRLS
CAREY SCOTT
10 ARMED AND DANGEROUS
KEN ABRAHAM
View All
1 THE GOSPEL STORY
MARY WILEY
2 ONE-MINUTE INSIGHTS FOR MEN
JIM GEORGE
3 COUNT IT ALL JOY
HELEN ROSEVEARE
4 MINI DEVOTIONS THE POWER OF PRAYER
EDWARD M. BOUNDS
5 BIBLE PROMISE BOOK - KJV
BARBOUR PUBLISHING
6 MINI DEVOTIONS GRACE FOR TODAY
CHRISTIAN ART GIFTS
7 KNOW YOUR BIBLE
PAUL KENT
8 199 PROMISES OF GOD
BARBOUR PUBLISHING
9 ONE-MINUTE INSPIRATIONS FOR WOMEN
ELIZABETH GEORGE
10 365 READ-ALOUD BEDTIME BIBLE STORIES
DANIEL PARTNER
View All
1 ESV STUDY BIBLE
PACKER, J. I.
2 NIRV ADVENTURE BIBLE FOR EARLY READERS
ZONDERVAN
3 NIV THE WOMAN'S STUDY BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
4 ESV CHURCH BIBLE
ESV BIBLES
5 KJV LARGE PRINT PEW BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
6 NASB CHARLES F. STANLEY LIFE PRINCIPLES DAILY BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
7 NIV ADVENTURE BIBLE, Hardcover
ZONDERVAN
8 NKJV PERSONAL SIZE LARGE PRINT REFERENCE BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
9 KJV GIANT PRINT FULL-SIZE BIBLE, Pink
CHRISTIAN ART PUBLISHERS
10 NLT LARGE PRINT PREMIUM VALUE THINLINE BIBLE, Garden Pink
NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
View All
1 NIV LARGER PRINT HOLY BIBLE ECONOMY EDITION
ZONDERVAN
2 KJV GIFT & AWARD BIBLE, Black
THOMAS NELSON
3 ESV ECONOMY BIBLE
ESV BIBLES
4 NLT LARGE PRINT HOLY BIBLE ECONOMY OUTREACH EDITION, Softcover
NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
5 NIV ECONOMY BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
6 NIV GIFT & AWARD BIBLE, Pink
ZONDERVAN
7 NLT ECONOMY BIBLE
NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
8 NIV HOLY BIBLE FOR KIDS ECONOMY EDITION
ZONDERVAN
9 NLT CHILDREN'S HOLY BIBLE ECONOMY OUTREACH EDITION
NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
10 NKJV VALUE OUTREACH BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
View All
1 New International Version
2 English Standard Version
3 King James Version
4 New Living Translation
5 New King James Version
6 Christian Standard Bible
7 Reina Valera
8 New American Standard Bible
9 New International Reader's Version
10 New Revised Standard Version
View All
1 UN ANO CON DIOS
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
2 LOS 5 LENGUAJES DEL AMOR EDICION REVISADA
GARY CHAPMAN
3 LA DOSIS DIARIA
WILLIAM ARANA
4 UNA VIDA CON PROPOSITO
RICK WARREN
5 GUIA ESENCIAL DE LA BIBLIA
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
6 UNA MUJER SABIA
WENDY BELLO
7 EL PODER DE LA MUJER QUE ORA
STORMIE OMARTIAN
8 PADRES QUE ORAN
DONALD FRANZ
9 365 DIAS DE ORACION PARA HOMBRES
BROADSTREET PUBLISHING GROUP LLC
10 100 DEVOCIONALES PARA MUJERES
ORIGEN
View All
1 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
2 RVR1960 BIBLIA LETRA GRANDE TAMANO MANUAL EDICION TIERRA SANTA
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
3 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, Rosa
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
4 RVR1960 BIBLIA LETRA GRANDE TAMANO MANUAL, Tapa dura
REINA VALERA REVISADA 1960
5 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
6 RVR 1960 BIBLIA DEL PESCADOR LETRA GRANDE
DIAZ-PABON, LUIS ANGEL
7 RVR1960 BIBLIA LETRA GRANDE TAMANO MANUAL, Piel rosada
REINA VALERA REVISADA 1960
8 RV1960 SANTA BIBLIA
AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY
9 RVR1960 BIBLIA DE ESTUDIO ARCO IRIS
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
10 RV1960 BIBLIA LETRA GRANDE, Piel fucsia
REINA VALERA REVISADA 1960
View All
1 LA GRAN HISTORIA DEL EVANGELIO
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
2 365 HISTORIAS BIBLICAS PARA LA HORA DE DORMIR
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
3 PREOCUPATE MENOS Y ORA MAS
DONNA K. MALTESE
4 UN HOMBRE CONFORME AL CORAZON DE DIOS
JIM GEORGE
5 DEVOCIONALES DE 3 MINUTOS PARA HOMBRES
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
6 EL SECRETO DE LA PAZ PERSONAL
BILLY GRAHAM
7 TRATADO DE EVANGELISMO
BILL BRIGHT
8 DEMASIADO BENDECIDA PARA ESTAR ESTRESADA
DEBORA M. COTY
9 JESUS SALVA AL MUNDO
VIDA
10 180 VERSICULOS DE LA BIBLIA PARA VENCER LA ANSIEDAD
CAREY SCOTT
View All

Upcoming Events

Brazil Christian Rights & Export Fair
August 3-4, 2026 | Sâo Paulo, Brazil
ECPA webinar: Navigating Anxiety in People and Systems During Times of Change
August 7 | 10 am central
ECPA C-Suite Symposium 2026
September 13-15, 2026 | Asheville, NC
ECPA PubU 2026
November 4-5, 2026 | Nashville, TN
The Christy Award® Gala & Art of Writing Conference
November 6, 2026 | Nashville, TN

Career Center

President/Publisher of InterVarsity Press
InterVarsity Press, Lisle, Illinois
Customer Service and Operations Representative
Crossway, Wheaton, Illinois
President of ECPA
Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, Remote
ECPA LOGO
submit icon

Submit a News Item

Submit industry related news releases to rushtopress @ecpa .org for consideration. Rush to Press is sent every Monday and eligible releases must be received by end of day Friday prior to the Monday’s publication.

announce icon

Career Posts

To announce a job opening in Rush to Press, post it first at the ECPA Career Center and your announcement will appear in the next issue.

subscribe icon

Subscribe

To receive Rush to Press, along with other industry updates from ECPA, please follow the instructions here to create or modify your ECPA community profile. To subscribe to Rush to Press without using a profile, subscribe here.

unsubscribe icon

Unsubscribe

If you would like to be removed from the Rush to Press distribution list, please edit your ECPA profile preferences or email info @ecpa .org.

advertise icon

Advertise

If you would like to reach over 3,300 industry subscribers and media contacts each week, consider advertising in Rush to Press. Contact sponsorship @ecpa .org for more information.

More news at RushtoPress.org. #RushtoPress @ECPA
This is a publication of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. For more information about ECPA, contact info@ecpa.org or visit ECPA.org.
Copyright © 2026 · ECPA