Nifty 50 Children CR 09

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Honoring the top movers and
shakers in the children’s market
The team at Christian
Retailing is honoring the movers
and shakers in the children’s
industry, just as we did with the
gift marketplace in our inaugural
“Nifty 50” list in the June
issue. The people, products,
companies and sometimes
stores noted in these lists are
those we deem as “making
it happen” in the Christian
children’s marketplace.
We polled our readers,
scanned the industry and came
up with our choices—and we are
not saying someone should be
ranked first and someone else
at No. 50. Everyone just “made
the list.”
While we know Nifty 50 is
not perfect, in our estimation,
everyone on the list is to be
commended. Surely we have left
some off the list who could’ve
been included, but we think
you’ll agree that most of these
are the ones who are leading
Barbour Publishing
Action Bible
Renowned DC Comics and
Marvel artist Sergio Cariello
started s
omething big when he
redesigned The Picture
Bible for David C Cook.
With original action heroes,
The Action Bible is filled
with 750 full-color pages
and now has spawned
a companion product, The Action Bible
Devotional.
Cactus Game Design
With board games in demand of late, Cactus
Game Design has been filling the need with
Bible editions of general-market games,
including Apples to Apples and Outburst.
David C Cook
Publishing children’s books like The Big Red Tractor
by Francis Chan, veteran publisher David C Cook
also seeks to empower the church with ministry
resources, including Noah’s Park Children’s Church
curriculum, to reach the younger set.
Dicksons
Having begun in the basement of a small Christian
bookstore, Seymour, Ind.-based distributor Dicksons
has Christian retailers at heart, fulfilling and shipping
a wide variety of
children’s products,
from novelties to
games.
Gigi, God’s
Little
Princess
Sheila Walsh’s Gigi,
God’s Little Princess
brand from Thomas
Nelson aims to show
girls their value in
God’s kingdom
with books, DVDs and toys catered to young
princesses.
Alphabet Alley
Offering “smart fun for little
souls,” Alphabet Alley features
award-winning products such as
Noah’s ABC Stacking Blocks and
Christmas Go Fish cards.
Providing value-priced books, Ohio-based Barbour
publishes kids’ books such as the “Double Trouble”
Amish series by Wanda
E. Brunstetter and
Jesus Wants All of Me
by Phil A. Smouse.
BJU Press
BJU Press votes for kids by supporting
homeschoolers with K-12 educational
materials and support services. Under
its JourneyForth imprint, BJU also
publishers read-aloud books, historical
fiction and more for kids.
Concordia
Publishing House
A nonprofit company
and the publisher of
The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod,
Concordia offers more
than 8,000 products,
including many children’s
titles such as the
best-selling The Story
Bible and the “Little Visits” series by
Mary Manz Simon.
Annette
Bourland,
Zonderkidz
DaySpring’s new U-Neeks card line
with plush characters was developed
in response to consumer requests for
cards to encourage children. Based
on Psalm 139:14,
“I am fearfully
and wonderfully
made,” the line
joins the products
in the company’s
Really Woolly
brand for kids.
Stephen Elkins,
author
From the Hide & Seek
Devotional to the LullaBible,
author and GRAMMYnominated record producer
Stephen Elkins helps children
learn about the Bible and a
relationship with Jesus with his
many best-selling books for kids.
Go Fish
Children’s entertainment group Go
Fish teach children key Bible concepts
through fun songs, with concerts that
cater to the family. In recent years, the
group has launched its own Scripturebased VBS curricula, including Kickin’ It
Old School and Praise.
Faith Baby
“Dressing little blessings,” Faith
Baby produces unique baby
clothing, including ballerina bow
leg warmers, crochet beanies and
ruffled baby bloomers.
Feel free to offer your
feedback on Nifty 50 by
sending a letter to the
editor to chris.johnson@
charismamedia.com.
Mike
Berenstain,
author
Berenstain Bears books go
back to 1962 when Mike
Berenstain’s parents, Stan
and Jan Berenstain, published
the first story. Now, having
sold more than 260 million
copies, products include picture books, beginning
readers and chapter books. Jan and Mike are writing
and illustrating new adventures now for Zonderkidz.
As senior vice president and
publisher of trade and Kidz at
Zondervan, Bourland leads the
overall vision and strategic plan
for trade, children’s and teen
program, managing publishing
and overseeing marketing.
Previously, she worked at Focus on the Family
overseeing children’s and parenting resources.
DaySpring
in this segment of the Christian
products industry. We are happy
to honor them in this way.
Christian Tools of
Affirmation
Empowering
Christians as
they minister to
others, Fenton,
Mo.-based
CTA conveys
messages of
faith through Scripture-bearing products,
including its Resurrection Gospel Easter
Eggs and Gospel Story by Colors
products.
Deep Blue Kids Bible,
CEV
Kids are encouraged
to explore the ocean
of God’s love with the
Deep Blue Kids Bible
(Common English
Bible). With callouts,
in-text notes and
colorful characters
to follow, the Bible in
the Common English
Version is designed for kids ages 7-12.
Greg Fritz, Big Idea
As senior vice president, sales and
marketing,
Fritz leads the
marketing team
at Big Idea,
helping build
Bob the Tomato
and Larry the
Cucumber into
recognizable
characters. He
also has written two VeggieTales
board books.
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Gospel Light
With the motto “Jesus for the Next Generation, Gospel
Light is committed to reaching children for Christ.
From Sunday school to VBS curricula, Gospel Light
also publishes family ministry resources so parents
can more easily pass along their faith to their children.
Good Books
Known widely for its “Fix-It and Forget-It” cookbooks,
Pennsylvania-based Good Books also publishes children’s
literature, including some Amish titles.
Group Publishers
Group Publishing engages churches
to help them equip
children of all ages to
grow in relationship
with Jesus. Along
with its Sunday school
and VBS programs,
Group hosts the
“unconventional”
KidMin Conference for
children’s ministry workers.
Groovy, Denver
and the Mile
High Orchestra
Winning the 2012 Dove
Award for Children’s Music
Album, Groovy from Denver
and the Mile High Orchestra
(Go Fish Kids Records) features high-energy, horn-driven
songs that teach biblical truth and life lessons.
His GEM
Harvest
House
Publishers
Alongside its trade
offerings, Harvest House also publishes books and
curricula for kids, including Kay Arthur and Janna
Arndt’s Cracking the Covenant Code for Kids
and Kelly Chapman’s Princess With a Purpose
Curriculum Kit.
Two sisters founded Missouri-based His GEM, a
name that celebrates God’s view of each person
as His treasure. Every His GEM product, whether
baby apparel or baby gifts, incorporates scripture.
Kingstone Media Group
Kerusso
Kerusso’s Kidz Light
House merchandiser
has moved a considerable
number of kids’ tees into shopper’s hands. Tees for kids from
the “T-shirt evangelism” company—celebrating 25 years in
2012—include the “Be Happy! Being Angry is for the Birds”
design and the new “Cherished Girl” line
Aiming to become the leading publisher of Christian
comics and graphic novels, Kingstone has expanded
its reach, being distributed by Anchor Distributors in
the Christian market and Diamond Comic Distributors
for the comic store market. Its digital comics are
available through Novo Ink.
Dan Lynch, B&H Kids
Formerly vice president and publisher for
Tommy Nelson, Lynch now heads the B&H
Kids team at B&H Publishing
Group. Experienced with top
brands such as Bibleman and
Max Lucado’s Hermie & Friends,
he is leading a new initiative with
authors including Angie Smith,
Amy Parker, Tom Blackaby and
Rick Osborne.
Cliff McDowell,
P23 Entertainment
iShine
Ministries
Tween ministry iShine is
engaged in “a truth war for
the hearts and minds of this
generation.” In 2012, iShine
artists are going on their fourth
national live tour, and iShine
products help to meet needs for
preteen music, books and more.
Kregel Publications
Along with publishing homeschool
resources, Kregel publishes its own
children’s books and distributes select
titles from Lion Hudson, including such best-sellers as the Candle Bible for
Toddlers and The Lion Illustrated Bible for Children.
Little Angels, Twentieth
Century Fox
Sally Lloyd-Jones,
author
Brought to life by Roma Downey of Touched by an Angel
fame and “Adventures in Odyssey” writer Phil Lollar,
“Little Angels” is an animated DVD series that teaches
preschoolers practical
learning skills and
biblical principles. The
line has expanded now
to include CDs, books
and apps.
Little Disciples
Founded by Vick Asmerian and now
operated by pastor Roberto and
Marcia Marques, Little Disciples
features designs—from bibs to
beanies—that incorporate scripture
“to convey God’s message of love
for all His children.”
Dandi Daley Mackall,
author
A British children’s book writer who was
raised in Africa and now lives in the
United States, Lloyd-Jones is a New
York Times best-selling author. She
wrote the Jesus Storybook Bible and
Song of the Stars (both Zonderkidz),
among many other titles.
Paul McCusker,
Focus on the Family
After having her own children, Mackall
expanded her writing to board books,
then picture books, early readers, chapter
books, middle-grade fiction and nonfiction,
and young adult novels. Along with her
books for adults, her works total more than
400 from publishers including Standard Publishing and Tyndale House
Publishers.
McDowell has produced two award-winning
animated series, “Paws & Tales” (Tyndale),
adapted from Chuck Swindolls’ works,
and “Adventures in Booga Booga Land”
(Thomas Nelson), recounting the parables
of Jesus for children.
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As a producer, writer and director for
“Adventures in Odyssey,” McCusker has
contributed significantly to the success of
the series. His work for
“Odyssey” includes 18
novels and two screenplays
for the animated videos. He
also adapted and directed
A Christmas Carol and
“The Chronicles of Narnia”
for Focus on the Family
Radio Theatre.
Dan Miley, Rainbow Publishers/
Legacy Press
As CEO and publisher, Miley leads the innovative Rainbow
Publishers and Legacy Press. Rainbow specializes in
reproducible teaching books and recently introduced nursery
Bible lessons, while Legacy publishes devotionals, guides for
growing up and fiction.
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Nifty
CHRISTIAN
RETAILING
continued from page 37
®
Laura Minchew, Thomas Nelson
Minchew, senior vice president
of specialty publishing at
Thomas Nelson, divides
her time between children’s
products, gift books and new
media. She has published
many best-selling authors and
brands, including No. 1 New
York Times best-seller Heaven
Is for Real for Kids and Max
Lucado’s Hermie & Friends
brand.
Mike Nawrocki,
Big Idea
Stephanie Perry Moore,
author
Published under Lift Every
Voice, an imprint of Moody
Publishers targeting
African-American readers,
Moore’s “Alec London
Series” is written for boys
8-12. Moore also is author
of Young Adult fiction,
including the “Payton
Skky” series, and is co-editor of REAL, a Biblezine
from Thomas Nelson.
New Leaf Publishing Group
With children’s Bibles from New Leaf Press and kids’
literature from Master Books, New Leaf Publishing Group
also supports homeschoolers and other educators with
evolution-free resources.
Talicor/Aristoplay
Along with being the voice
of Larry the Cucumber and
other characters, Nawrocki—
co-creator with Phil Vischer
of VeggieTales—is executive
vice president at Big Idea
Entertainment Studios. His
work also includes directing
The Pirates Who Don’t Do
Anything movie and developing
the 3-2-1 Penguins! series.
The Sparkle Box
Mary Manz Simon,
author
An oversized picture book from Ideals Children’s Books,
The Sparkle Box: A Gift With the Power to Change
Christmas aims to create a new family Christian
tradition. The book includes a “sparkle box” to be
used for children
preparing their
gifts for Jesus at
Christmas.
With her children’s books having
sold more than 3 million copies,
author, educator, radio personality
and children’s market expert is a
strong supporter of Christian retail
stores. She is also an advisor to
Mothers of Preschoolers and Christian Retailing.
Christine Harder Tangvald
Started with the
Ungame, which has
sold 5 million units,
Talicor/Aristoplay
is also one of the
longest licensees for
VeggieTales. With
85% of its products
published in the
U.S., the company
distributes only in the
specialty market, not
to big-box stores.
Tyndale Kids
Celebrating 50 years, Tyndale House Publishers
started with founder Ken Taylor wanting his children
to understand the Bible, so he created the Living
Bible. Since then, the company has produced
exceptional products that speak to children,
including books such
as I Couldn’t Love
You More and My
Beautiful Princess
Bible (both Tyndale
Kids).
Tangvald has been writing for children for more than 25
years, sometimes with her daughter, Rondi DeBoer. She
has nearly 100 titles
to her name and
almost 3.5 million
books in print. She is
also the founder of
Spokane Christian
Writers.
Michael Turner, New Day
Christian
Distributors
New Day’s Turner is
helping Christian retail
stores position and
market well-chosen toys
and games, offering lines
such as Melissa & Doug,
Playmobil and Hedstrom.
Phil Vischer,
Jellyfish Labs
Vischer gained fame as co-creator
of VeggieTales and the voice of
Bob the Tomato. Produced by
Jellyfish Labs and Tyndale Kids, his
“What’s in the Bible?” DVD series
explains the entire Bible—from
Genesis to Revelation—to kids
in a format that is humorous and
entertaining.
Bob Wallace, Standard
Publishing
A creative marketer
and product developer,
Wallace helps make kids’
products sellable, with the
underlying commitment
to teaching God’s Word.
He has helped establish
the company’s leadership
with the Children’s Pastors
Conference and launch
innovative partnerships in
VBS such as with Yancy and Back2Back Ministries. He
also has worked with best-selling authors including Mary
Manz Simon, Beth Guckenberger and Ryan Frank.
Warner Press Kids
From Egermeier’s Bible Story Book to the puritypromoting The Princess & the Kiss, Warner Press
Kids, a division of Warner Press, a Church of God
publisher, provides
creative products
in part to equip
the church and
give hope to future
generations.
Yancy
Unconventional singer-songwriter Yancy lends her voice
to the theme song for Standard’s 2012 VBS, Adventures
on Promise Island, and entertains kids with her new
album, Stars, Guitars and Megaphone Dreams (Syntax
Distribution).