January 2025 | LISLE, IL—InterVarsity Press (IVP) is thrilled to announce that four IVP Kids titles have received 2025 Independent Press Awards. The honored titles are Zion Learns to See by Terence and Zion Lester, Not Finished Yet by Sharon Garlough Brown, Penny Preaches by Amy and Rob Dixon, and Birth of the Chosen One by Terry M. Wildman.
The Independent Press Award recognizes outstanding books by independent authors and publishers. The competition is judged by experts from different aspects within the book industry, and selected IPA Winners and Distinguished Favorites are based on overall excellence.
IVP Kids books received awards in the following categories:
Picture Books: Ages 4-8
Zion Learns to See: Opening Our Eyes to Homelessness
Written by father-daughter duo Terence and Zion Lester, and illustrated by Subi Bosa, this story is inspired by real-life events. Zion joins her dad at the community center one day and learns about people experiencing homelessness. She is moved to respond as she recognizes that all people matter to God.
Childrens: Religion Fiction
Not Finished Yet: Trusting God with All My Feelings
This gentle story by bestselling Christian novelist Sharon Garlough Brown, with illustrations by Jessica Linn Evans, shares the story of young Wren and Gran in their favorite place, Gran’s art studio. Not only is it where Wren and Gran paint, but it’s also where they talk about all the good and hard stuff of life—to each other, and to God.
Childrens: Christian Fiction
Penny Preaches: God Gives Good Gifts to Everyone!
Written by Amy Dixon and Rob Dixon, and featuring illustrations from Jennifer Davison, Penny’s story reminds us that God gives good gifts to everyone! Penny loves the sermon on Sunday because she loves to think about big things. But when preaching from the front porch to her friends doesn’t turn out quite as she expected, Penny wonders if she was wrong to want to teach others about God.
Distinguished Favorite, Childrens: Holiday
Birth of the Chosen One: A First Nations Retelling of the Christmas Story
This unique retelling by Terry M. Wildman is an Indigenous translation that recounts the Creator’s Story following the tradition of Native storytellers’ oral cultures. With text from the bestselling First Nations Version and stunning Native American art by Hannah and Holly Buchanan, Birth of the Chosen One is a powerful picture book that illuminates the Christmas story in a fresh and new way.
In keeping with IVP’s historic mission, IVP Kids offers resources that reflect and celebrate diverse voices, equipping and encouraging children to follow Jesus in every area of their lives. “Books from IVP Kids aim to engage and encourage children with meaningful content,” says IVP Kids editor Elissa Schauer. “But the real challenge is to package that content in books that kids enjoy and want to read over and over and over again! This recognition from the Independent Press Award affirms the excellent work that these authors and illustrators have done. We extend our congratulations and sincere gratitude to all of them!”
For a complete list of IVP Kids award winners visit ivpress.com/award-winners
Contact: Anna Tjernstrom | atjernstrom@ivpress.com
NASHVILLE, TENN. (JANUARY 23, 2025) Pastor, author and podcaster Adam Griffin is set to release a whimsical children’s book, What Will You Teach Me? (B&H Publishing), on February 4th. The book can be pre-ordered now
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Lifeway’s B&H Publishing Group and Holman Bibles have released the “
Like the “CSB Grace Bible for Kids,” the adult edition of the Grace Bible integrates academically tested typeface and design principles developed by
NASHVILLE, TENN. (JANUARY 21, 2025) Award-winning author and songwriter Ellie Holcomb is set to release her fourth children’s book, Spring Sings (B&H Publishing), on February 11th. Holcomb uses her beloved lyrical writing style to encourage young readers to watch as the world slowly wakes from winter – to know that the new life of spring also retells the story of God’s Son.
Holcomb has also released three children’s books – each with a companion EP of original music written specifically for kids. Her debut book, Who Sang The First Song? (B&H Publishers, 2018), has achieved the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) Bronze Award for selling more than 100,000 copies. The book hit the ECPA juvenile bestseller list and was a finalist for the 2019 Christian Book Award in the children’s category. She has also authored two additional children’s books, Don’t Forget To Remember, and most recently her Christmas book, Sounding Joy, which landed at No. 4 on ECPA’s Christian Juvenile Bestsellers, Christmas 2022 list. She won the GMA Dove Award for “Children’s Album of the Year” in 2020 for her Sing: Remembering Songs album, in 2022 for “Recorded Music Packaging” for her album Canyon as well as in 2023 for “Children’s Recorded Song of the Year” for her Christmas song “Sounding Joy.” Her first adult book and devotional, Fighting Words: 100 Days of Speaking Truth into the Darkness (2021), has spent many months on the ECPA Bestseller list.
PLANO, Texas (January 20, 2025) – Mike Elms, a former CEO of two major UK ad agencies, and Ivan Filby, President and CEO of Seedbed, a subsidiary of Asbury Theological Seminary, team up to present the timeless truth of Jesus’ parables in a reimagined format.
Colorado Springs, CO (January 20, 2025) – Focus on the Family is proud to announce the release of the 1,000th episode of the beloved audio drama
CHICAGO – Independent Publishers Group (IPG), is pleased to announce a new program for Christian publishers, as well as the addition of four publishers to its sales and distribution programs.
Ada, Mich. (January 13, 2025)—Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen joined author Tosca Lee and representatives from the One Book One Nebraska program and the Nebraska Library Commission at the state capitol on January 7 to formally proclaim
The Long March Home continues the tradition of the One Book One Nebraska reading program, now in its twenty-first year, which promotes books with Nebraska connections throughout the state. Libraries and cultural organizations across Nebraska will host book discussions, activities, and special events throughout 2025 to engage readers with this compelling work. Readers can follow One Book One Nebraska activities and updates on Facebook at
Ada, Mich. (Jan. 10, 2025)— With great sadness, Baker Publishing Group announces the loss of a beloved author, Quin Sherrer, who was a pioneering voice in Christian literature and spiritual warfare.
Lexham Press is delighted to introduce an expanded edition of the bestselling title The Unseen Realm by the late Michael S. Heiser, releasing on October 1, 2025 in celebration of the book’s tenth anniversary. This new edition includes additional content from Heiser and features an exceptionally beautiful and unique hardcover that will enhance any bookshelf.
First published in 2015, the bestselling The Unseen Realm has sold nearly 500,000 across all formats and interest has not waned in the decade since. In the book, Heiser recovers the ancient supernatural worldview of the Bible. Rather than avoiding the strange things in the Bible, Heiser hones in on them and shows how they matter to the work of Jesus. Regarding the book, John Goldingay, senior professor of Old Testament at Fuller Theological Seminary said, “How was it possible that I had never seen that before? Heiser’s survey of the complex reality of the supernatural world as the Scriptures portray it covers a subject that is strangely sidestepped.” Heiser’s writings and teachings continue to surprise and delight his growing fanbase.




