For Immediate Release — November 13, 2024

ECPA presents a record number of 43 Top Shelf Book Cover Awards for design excellence in 2024

NOVEMBER 13, 2024 – DOWNERS GROVE, ILLINOIS – Today ECPA announced a record number of 43 book designs as winners of the 2024 Top Shelf Book Cover Award during the opening ceremony of ECPA PubU, the industry’s publishing training program gathering over 200 publishing professionals this year, including a Design track for designers.

ECPA president Jeff Crosby was joined on stage by Sarah Gordon and Sparkle Boea, designers at Christianity Today, to present the winners in four categories: Bibles, Children, Fiction, and Non-Fiction.

This year’s judges reviewed over 260 entries and chose the highest number so far — 43 winning designs — from 17 publishers. Four Bibles, seven children’s books, seven novels, and 25 non-fiction titles were deemed the best designs of the year in Christian publishing. Publishers Crossway and InterVarsity Press earned the most wins, with B&H Publishing, Kregel, and Moody Publishers coming next, earning three each.

“On behalf of the ECPA staff and the distinguished panel of judges, I extend my congratulations to each of the designers, art directors, and publishers who were recognized with a Top Shelf Book Cover Award,” Crosby said. “Effective execution of design has never been more important than it is today to the overall packaging of a book and to the potential for success in the marketplace.”

Presenting the winners of the 2024 Top Shelf Book Cover Award:

BIBLES CATEGORY

ESV Systematic Theology Study Bible
Designer: Jordan Singer
Publisher: Crossway

KJV Explorer Bible for Kids
Designer: Jeff Godby, Art Director
Other credits: Nate Farro; Stephanie Salvatore, feature interior design
Publisher: B&H Publishing Group

NLT Courage For Life Study Bible for Women – SET
(Hardcover, LeatherLike Fierce Pink, LeatherLike Brushed Aqua Blue)
Designer and Art Director: Jennifer Ghionzoli
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers

RVR 1960 Personal Size Note Taking Bible | RVR 1960 Biblia de apuntes tamaño personal
Designer: Karin Albrecht
Publisher: B&H Publishing Group

CHILDREN’S CATEGORY

Ben Washington Is the Newbie on the Block
Designer: Kevin Howdeshell | The Brave Union
Art Director: Tim Green
Publisher: Moody Publishers

The Biggest Story Bible Storybook
Designer: Jordan Singer
Illustrator: Don Clark
Publisher: Crossway

C is for Christian
Designer: Emma Skerratt
Publisher: The Good Book Company

For the Bible Tells Me So Series: God Cares for Me; God Hears Me; God Speaks to Me; God Came Near to Me; God Rescues Me
Designer: Grace Habib
Publisher: Crossway

Jesus and the Gift of Friendship
Illustrators: Kristen Howdeshell and Kevin Howdeshell
Publisher: Crossway

My First ABC Book Bible Verses
Designer: Alecia Sharp
Illustrator: Mike Mullan
Publisher: New Growth Press

P is for Pilgrim
Designer: Natalie Chen
Illustrator: Jack Seymour
Publisher: Hodder Faith

FICTION CATEGORY

The All-American
Designer and Art Director: Laura Klynstra
Publisher: Revell/ Baker Publishing Group

The Bark of the Bog Owl Series
Designer: Stephen Crotts
Publisher: Rabbit Room Press

Darkness Calls the Tiger
Designer: Jeff Miller
Publisher: Kregel Publications

Last Girl Breathing
Designer: Amanda Hudson
Art Director: Halie Cotton
Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Love Overboard
Designer: Caroline Cahoon
Publisher: Kregel Publications

This Ain’t No Promised Land
Designer: Elisha Zepeda
Publisher: Kregel Publications

The Year of Goodbyes and Hellos
Designer: Grace Cavalier
Art Director: Halie Cotton
Publisher: Thomas Nelson

NONFICTION CATEGORY

A Quiet Mind to Suffer With
Designer: Joshua Hunt
Publisher: Lexham Press

Biblical Typology
Designer: Jeff Miller
Publisher: Crossway

Cloud of Witnesses
Designer: Jordan Singer
Publisher: Crossway

Creator
Designer: David Fassett
Publisher: InterVarsity Press

Despertar com Deus (Upon Waking)
Designer: Jonatas Belan
Illustration: Svetlana Zenkova
Publisher: Editora Mundo Cristao (Associacao Religiosa)

Dream to Destiny
Designer: Joshua Noom
Art Director: Peyton Sepeda
Publisher: Gateway Publishing

Editing Jesus
Designer: Amanda Hudson
Publisher: Moody Publishers

Envy
Designer: Erik M. Peterson
Publisher: Moody Publishers

Expository Reflections on the Gospels
Designer: Jordan Singer
Publisher: Crossway

Five Lies of Our Anti-Christian Age
Designer: Jordan Singer
Publisher: Crossway

Fruitful
Designer: Crystal Courtney
Publisher: Crossway

Hear Ye the Word of the Lord
Designer: David Fassett
Publisher: InterVarsity Press

Heavenward
Designer: Jordan Singer
Publisher: Crossway

Hopeful Lament
Designer: David Fassett
Publisher: InterVarsity Press

Jesus, o livro (Jesus, The Book)
Designer: Jonatas Belan
Illustration: Danilo Zamboni
Publisher: Editora Mundo Cristao (Associacao Religiosa)

Lay Me in God’s Good Earth
Designer: David Fassett
Publisher: InterVarsity Press

Looking Up
Designer: David Fassett
Publisher: InterVarsity Press

Make the Most of Your Productivity
Designer: Molly von Borstel
Publisher: Crossway

Ownership
Designer: David Fassett
Publisher: InterVarsity Press

Peace Over Perfection
Designer: Drew McCall
Publisher: The Good Book Company

The Riches of Your Grace
Designer: David Fassett
Publisher: InterVarsity Press

The Shape of My Eyes
Designer: Amanda Hudson
Art Director: Kristen Paige Andrews
Publisher: Worthy Books (Hachette Nashville)

Unwind
Designer and Art Director: Jessica Wei
Publisher: DaySpring

Wishful Thinking
Designer and Art Director: Whitney Hicks
Publisher: Worthy Books (Hachette Nashville)

Upon Waking
Designer: Susan Browne
Publisher: B&H Publishing Group

Each winner is featured at topshelfaward.org/winners.html. Comments by judge-designers are viewable by clicking on each cover.

In the program’s 12-year history nearly 300 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 2025 Top Shelf Design Awards will be from April to August.

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

The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) 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, 480-966-3998, jcrosby@ecpa.org
Cindy Carter, ECPA Recognition Manager, 480-966-3998, ccarter@ecpa.org

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