For Immediate Release — May 14, 2026

Top Shelf Book Cover Award program unveils new logo, opens 2026 submissions, and announces judges

Chandler, AZ — May 14, 2026 — The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) today announced a new visual identity for its prestigious Top Shelf Book Cover Award program, alongside the opening of submissions for the 2026 awards cycle and the selection of this year’s panel of expert judges.

Now in its 14th year, the Top Shelf Book Cover Award program recognizes excellence in book and Bible cover design across the Christian publishing industry. To date, nearly 330 designs have been honored for their creativity and impact. More information and past winners can be found at TopShelfAward.com.

The program emphasizes the importance of advancing design standards across the industry. ECPA president Jeff Crosby states:

“The Top Shelf Book Cover Award plays a vital role in elevating design excellence within Christian publishing. By recognizing outstanding creativity and craftsmanship, this program not only honors designers but also inspires publishers to invest in compelling visual storytelling that engages readers and reflects the quality of the message within.”

New logo reflects publishing vision and book design

The program’s refreshed logo, designed by Faceout Studio, brings a renewed focus to the art and craft of publishing design. Senior Art Director of Faceout Spencer Fuller explained:

“This update to the Top Shelf branding is meant to create a more focused and obvious connection to publishing and book design, referencing a colophon as well as a ribbon bookmark. The new logo respects the history of cover design while retaining a confident and timeless look.”

Submission period opens May 15 with winners announced at ECPA PubU program

Submissions for the 2026 Top Shelf Awards will be accepted May 15 through August 15, inviting publishers and designers to enter their best work across multiple categories. The winners will be announced on November 4 during ECPA PubU, held November 4-5 in Nashville.

The Top Shelf program continues to connect with the broader design community through ECPA’s PubU training program, which will feature a Design & Innovation track curated by Faceout Studio owner Torrey Sharp, bringing together leading professionals in publishing design. Sign up for program updates at ECPAPubU.org.

Judges announced for 2026 program

ECPA has assembled a distinguished panel of judges representing a breadth of experience in book and Bible design. Torrey Sharp, principal of Faceout Studio, explains the process:

“Every year we attempt to secure judges that not only have meaningful design expertise, but have also worked in the industry for many years, adding a valuable perspective and appreciation for what it takes to create compelling book cover art. This panel will do a great job sorting through what will undoubtedly be another year of exceptional entries.”

The 2026 judges are:

BIBLES category

Samuel Han — Head of Brand and Creative Director at Alabaster Co., Los Angeles. A Parsons School of Design graduate with an MA in Biblical Studies from Wheaton College, Han brings a unique blend of theological insight and visual storytelling to his work.

CHILDREN’S category

Amanda Rowe — Senior Designer at Sourcebooks, specializing in children’s publishing. With over 15 years of experience, her award-winning work includes titles recognized by Good Housekeeping and Guinness World Records.

FICTION / NONFICTION categories

Elizabeth Yaffe — Associate Art Director at Viking/Penguin Books (Penguin Random House), known for designing covers for bestselling and award-winning titles including G-Man and Pineapple Street.
Zoe Norvell — Independent designer and founder of INeedABookCover.com, with experience spanning major publishers, independent presses, and self-publishing authors.
Amy King — Art Director at Disney Publishing Worldwide, with an extensive portfolio that includes work for major authors such as Margaret Atwood, John Grisham, and Anthony Bourdain.

For submission guidelines, entry forms, and more information, visit TopShelfAward.com.

The Top Shelf Book Cover Award program is managed by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) in order to recognize design excellence in the Christian publishing industry. TopShelfAward.com

ECPA (Evangelical Christian Publishers Association) is an international non-profit trade organization comprised of member companies that are involved in the publishing and distribution of Christian content worldwide. Since 1974, ECPA has strengthened Christian publishing by building networking, information, and advocacy opportunities within the industry and throughout multiple channels so that our members can more effectively produce and deliver transformational Christian content. ECPA.org

Media contacts:
Jeff Crosby, ECPA President, ECPA, 630-989-0222, jcrosby@ecpa.org
Cindy Carter, ECPA Recognition Manager, 480-966-3998 ext. 806, ccarter@ecpa.org

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