Lucado, who has won 12 Christian Book Awards and been recognized as a finalist 32 times since 1978, is the first author to appear on the finalist list three times in the same year, ECPA said.
Out of 226 entries of books and Bibles published in the past year, five finalists in six categories were chosen to vie for the best Christian books and Bibles for 2011. The association’s Christian Book Awards will be presented in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 2, at the start of ECPA’s Executive Leadership Summit. One title will be chosen among all the finalists to be named the 2011 Christian Book of the Year.
Bibles: Apologetics Study Bible for Students and HCSB Study Bible (both B&H Publishing Group); ESV Seek and Find Bible (Crossway); The Case for Christ Study Bible, NIV (Zondervan); and The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible, NKJV (Thomas Nelson).
Bible Reference: A Visual Guide to Gospel Events by James C. Martin, John A. Beck and David G. Hansen (Baker Books/Baker Publishing Group); Crossway ESV Bible Atlas by John D. Currid and David P. Barrett (Crossway); The Story of the Bible by Larry Stone (Thomas Nelson); and Zondervan Atlas of the Bible by Carl G. Rasmussen and Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary Old Testament set by John H. Walton, general editor (both Zondervan).
Children: A Girl After God’s Own Heart by Elizabeth George (Harvest House Publishers); Asking for Trouble by Sandra Byrd (Tyndale House Publishers); Between God and Me by Vicki Courtney (B&H Books/B&H Publishing Group); The Action Bible illustrated by Sergio Cariello and edited by Doug Mauss (David C. Cook); and This Little Prayer of Mine by Anthony DeStefano and illustrated by Mark Elliott (The WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group).