For Immediate Release – November 10, 2023

ECPA presents 41 Top Shelf Book Cover Awards for design excellence

The largest winning class in program history was announced at ECPA PubU Online

TEMPE, ARIZ., November 10, 2023 – Today ECPA announced 41 winners of the 2023 Top Shelf Book Cover Award during ECPA PubU Online, the industry’s publishing training program gathering over 300 publishing professionals this year.

The virtual presentation, held at the close of the PubU Design track, included video briefs from key industry professionals who reflected on various themes on book design excellence, a theme that dominated the design track sessions led by designers Dean Renninger and Lindsey Bergsma (Tyndale), Jade Novak (B&H), Micah Lanier (Crossway), and Stephen Crotts.

ECPA president Jeff Crosby announced the winners in four categories: Bibles, Children, Fiction, and NonFiction. This year’s judges reviewed nearly 250 entries and chose a record number of 41 winning designs from 16 publishers, with the design teams at Crossway, InterVarsity Press, and Moody Publishers earning half of the wins.

In the Bibles category, three Bibles from Crossway and Zondervan were honored. Seven books from seven publishers won in the Children’s category and six covers won in the Fiction category. In the largest category of NonFiction, 25 covers were named, including eight wins for Crossway and six for InterVarsity Press.

“Design is an incredibly vital part of the entire publishing package today,” Crosby said. “We are delighted to recognize the design excellence of these 41 award winners and congratulate the art directors, designers and publishers who worked on each of these resources.”

The 41 winners of the 2023 Top Shelf Book Cover Award are:

BIBLES CATEGORY

ESV Church History Study Bible
Designer: Jordan Singer
Publisher: Crossway

The Jesus Bible Artist Edition, NIV
Designer: Joshua Noom
Art Directors: Rob Jelsema and Passion Publishing
Publisher: Zondervan

ESV Single Column Journaling Bible, Artist Series
Designer: Matt Stevens
Publisher: Crossway

CHILDREN’S CATEGORY

BrindleFox
Designer: Melissa Regan
Illustrator: John Sandford
Publisher: WorthyKids, a division of Hachette Nashville

Broken Crayons Still Color
Illustrator: Natalie Vasilica
Art Director: Jen Showalter Greenwalt
Publisher: Tommy Nelson

Like Me
Designer: Chris Gilbert, Studio Gearbox
Illustrator: Skylar White
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers

Out of the Shadow World
Designer: Benjamin Schipper
Art Director: Erik M. Peterson
Publisher: Moody Publishers

The Biggest Story Curriculum: Box Set
Designer: Don Clark
Publisher: Crossway

There’s An Elephant on My Chest
Designer: Ana Sebastian
Publisher: End Game Press

Your Brave Song
Designer: Jacqueline L. Nuñez
Illustrator: Amy Grimes
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers

FICTION CATEGORY

An American Immigrant
Designer: Sarah Horgan
Publisher: WaterBrook, an imprint of Penguin Random House

Dear Henry, Love Edith
Designer: Libby Dykstra
Art Director: Dean H. Renninger
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers

Hero Debut
Designer: Elisha Zepeda
Publisher: Kregel Publications

I, Julian
Designer: Lydia Blagden
Publisher: Hodder Faith

Indigo Isle
Designer: Lindsey Bergsma
Art Director: Dean H. Renninger
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers

The Convict’s Canal
Designer: Dan Simpkins
Art direction: Mark Read
Publisher: (Lion Fiction) SPCK

NONFICTION CATEGORY

A Christian’s Guide to Mental Illness
Designer: Spencer Fuller
Publisher: Crossway

All Who Are Weary
Designer and Art Director: Erik M. Peterson
Publisher: Moody Publishers

All That Jesus Commanded
Designer: Jordan Singer
Publisher: Crossway

Bully Pulpit
Designer: Derek Thornton, Notch Design
Art Director: Tammy Johnson
VP of Marketing: Jesse Hillman
Publisher: Zondervan

Beauty Is Your Destiny
Designer: Tim Green
Publisher: Crossway

Coming to Faith Through Dawkins
Designer: Jeff Miller
Publisher: Kregel Publications

Creating the Canon
Designer: David Fassett
Publisher: InterVarsity Press

Fostered
Designer: Bárbara Tamilin
Art Director: Susan Browne
Publisher: B&H Publishing Group

Friendship with God
Designer: Spencer Fuller
Publisher: Crossway

God Speaks Science
Designer: Amanda Hudson
Art Director: Erik M. Peterson
Publisher: Moody Publishers

Heirs of Eden
Designer: Diana McKnight
Publisher: Invite Press

Holy Hygge
Designer: Kaylee Dunn
Art Director: Erik M. Peterson
Publisher: Moody Publishers

Learning Humility
Designer: David Fassett
Publisher: InterVarsity Press

Impossible Christianity
Designer: Jordan Singer
Publisher: Crossway

More Than Things
Designer: David Fassett
Publisher: InterVarsity Press

Political Gospel
Designer: Spencer Fuller
Art Director: Susan Browne
Publisher: B&H Publishing Group

Remaking the World
Designer: Jordan Eskovitz
Publisher: Crossway

The Resilience Factor
Designer: David Fassett
Publisher: InterVarsity Press

Short of Glory
Designer: Tim Green
Publisher: Crossway

Take Heart
Designer: Tim Green
Art direction: Dan Stelzer
Publisher: New Growth Press

The Book of Common Courage
Designer: Conrad Garner
Art direction: Tiffany Forrester
Publisher: Zondervan

The Offensive Church
Designer: David Fassett
Publisher: InterVarsity Press

The Upside Down Kingdom
Designer: Jordan Singer
Publisher: Crossway

The Wolf in their Pockets
Designer: Amanda Hudson
Art Director: Erik M. Peterson
Publisher: Moody Publishers

Wandering Toward God
Designer: David Fassett
Publisher: InterVarsity Press

Each winner is featured at TopShelfAward.org/winners.html. In the program’s 11-year history nearly 250 book and Bible designs have received this prestigious award, honoring design excellence in Christian publishing. Past winners and program information can be found at TopShelfAward.com. The submission period for the 2024 Top Shelf Design Awards will open in April.

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The Top Shelf Book Cover Award program is managed by ECPA in order to recognize design excellence in the Christian publishing industry. TopShelfAward.org

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 and CEO, ECPA, 480-966-3998, jcrosby@ecpa.org
Cindy Carter, ECPA Recognition Manager, 480-966-3998, ccarter@ecpa.org

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