“It is a simple and pure message from the experience of a four year old child: ‘Jesus really loves children. And He loves You!’ ” says Laura Minchew, Senior Vice President of Specialty Publishing at Thomas Nelson. “What a delight to see this message resonating with so many families.”

While the original trade book Heaven Is for Real was narrated by Colton’s father Todd, Heaven Is for Real for Kids (Tommy Nelson, ISBN 9781400318704, $14.99, November 2011) shows children what heaven is like through the eyes of young Colton Burpo. When he was nearly four years old, Colton experienced a burst appendix; it was during his emergency surgery that Colton visited heaven.  Aided by illustrator Wilson Ong, Colton vividly shows children what he saw in heaven and shares an important message: Jesus really, really loves children. The book features a letter to parents and a Q&A section that answers questions kids frequently have when they finish Colton’s story. In December 2011, the app Heaven Is for Real for Kids released on all Apple platforms.

The Burpo family is represented by Joel Kneedler of Alive Communications.

Heaven Is for Real for Kids is one of a trio of new products by the Burpo family released by Thomas Nelson. Heaven Is for Real deluxe edition is also available to provide a hardcover, gift-able version of the best-selling trade book. A Heaven is for Real DVD-based Conversation Kit features footage of the Burpo family talking about their experiences while offering discussion questions and suggestions for participants.

About the Authors:

Todd Burpo is pastor of Crossroads Wesleyan, a volunteer fireman, and works with a garage door company. His wife, Sonja, is a children’s minister, busy pastor’s wife, and mom. Colton, an active 12-year-old, has an older sister, Cassie, and a younger brother, Colby.

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Tommy Nelson, the children’s division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., publishes a wide variety of high quality, enjoyable products that are consistent with the teachings found in the Bible. Tommy Nelson products are designed to expand children’s imaginations and nurture their faith while pointing them to a personal relationship with God. For more information, visit www.tommynelson.com.

Contact: Amy Kerr

Publicist

615-902-1722

akerr@thomasnelson.com

(Nashville, Tenn.) – Four-year-old Colton Burpo’s trip to heaven and back has been read by more than six million people through the New York Times best-seller Heaven Is for Real. Now, his incredible journey is available in an entirely new format: an interactive children’s app. Available on Apple platforms, the $6.99 Heaven Is for Real for Kids app allows children to engage more deeply with Colton’s message: “heaven is for real, and you’re going to like it!”

Created by developer Author Mobile™, the Heaven Is for Real for Kids app is an interactive storybook experience that allows children ages four to eight to read, play and share the messages from Colton’s journey. The app features:

·       Colton Burpo narrating the story

·       Voice recording capability, where multiple voices can be saved reading the book

·       Beautiful artwork crafted by the book’s illustrator, Wilson Ong

·       Whimsical sound elements that bring story pages to life

·       An FAQ section for kids’ most common questions after finishing the book

·       An activity section, featuring coloring pages and jigsaw puzzles

·       Ability to gift the app to others

“This delightful app, with strong messages of faith, comfort and hope, makes a perfect gift for kids,” said Laura Minchew, Senior Vice President of Specialty Publishing at Thomas Nelson. “Parents and grandparents will enjoy the ability to record their own voice reading the story.  How cool it will be for kids to share postcards, coloring sheets and puzzles via email or Facebook.”

“We are honored to partner with Thomas Nelson to produce the Heaven is for Real for Kids application,” remarked Jake Press, founder of Author Mobile™.  “Along with other children’s books and devotional apps, fans will enjoy the collection of applications we have coming in the future.”

Heaven Is for Real for Kids is one of a trio of new products by the Burpo family released by Thomas Nelson. Heaven Is for Real deluxe edition is also available to provide a hardcover, gift-able version of the best-selling trade book. A Heaven is for Real DVD-based Conversation Kit features footage of the Burpo family talking about their experiences while offering discussion questions and suggestions for participants.

LAURA MINCHEW FOR THOMAS NELSON AND JAKE PRESS FOR AUTHOR MOBILE

ARE AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS.

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Author Mobile™, a brand that provides electronic mobile platforms for the world’s leading book publishers, develops for many categories of books including children’s books and devotional applications. The brand is owned and operated by Jake Press Agency, Inc.

Thomas Nelson, Inc., headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., is one of the leading trade publishers in the United States. The Company is the world’s leading provider of Bibles, inspirational books and digital content, with product distribution in over 100 countries. Live Event Management, Inc., a Thomas Nelson company, is a national leading producer of live events. For more information, please visit http://www.thomasnelson.com.

For more information, please contact:

Amy Kerr

Publicist, Thomas Nelson

615-902-1722

akerr@thomasnelson.com

Max Lucado’s Bestselling Brand to Have Fresh Design, Packaging and New DVD Pricing

(Nashville, Tenn.) – With more than 5.5 million units sold in the Max Lucado’s Hermie & Friends™ line, Max Lucado’s beloved book and DVD brand is planning to refresh and re-launch in the fall of 2011. The re-launch that includes board books, a hardcover level two reader, and DVD’s, will release on October 4th, 2011 with the new everyday value DVD pricing starting in September. A second new hardcover level two reader is set to release in spring of 2012.

The new Max Lucado’s Hermie & Friends™ will include a fresh design with bright, colorful new art, and will feature a mix of classic and new stories for kids of all ages. The hardcover Level Two Readers have been designed for kids starting to read on their own. They will feature basic vocabulary words and simple sentences. The Little Hermie board books will include sweet, soft art and simple rhyming text that explains basic Christian concepts for toddlers. New design, packaging, brand new books, and lower DVD pricing all help busy families bring faith into their daily lives affordably.

The beloved DVD line, produced by GlueWorks Animation, will have a new lower retail price and a larger emphasis on felt needs for children. The new DVD pricing for the Hermie brand will include $12.99 for a two-episode classic DVD pack and $9.99 for a classic single episode package, adding more value for the consumers than the previous $15 single episode packages. The two-episode DVD packs will include two classic Hermie episodes based on a Christian felt-need message.

“The Hermie brand is very special to me”, says author Max Lucado about Hermie & Friends™. “We’ve all come to love this little caterpillar and consider him our friend in helping us give parents tools for teaching the importance of prayer and for learning how to live as Jesus would. The relaunch is the beginning of a new era for Hermie—the illustrations are warmer, more inviting and childlike. I think Hermie lovers and new fans of Hermie will be as happy as I am with the latest design.”

The Max Lucado’s Hermie & Friends™ relaunch will include upcoming releases of DVD and book titles including:

DVDs
• I Won’t Be Afraid, God Is Always With Me (DVD)
• A Fruitcake Christmas (DVD)
• I am Special, God Loves Me (DVD)

BOOKS
• Thank You, God, For Loving Me (brand new board book introducing Little Hermie)
• Thank You, God, For Blessing Me (Little Hermie board book #2)
• Hermie, a Common Caterpillar (level 2 reader)

“Hermie has helped so many children come to know the love of God”, says Laura Minchew, Vice President & Publisher Children and Gift Books. “How exciting that Max can share these faith messages so that kids can read for themselves the Level 2 Reader and through the precious Little Hermie board books.”

About Max Lucado:
Max Lucado’s works have appeared on every major national bestseller list including Publishers Weekly, USA Today, The New York Times, Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, and Christian Booksellers Association. He has been featured in countless media outlets and national broadcasts. Max’s writings have been published in a wide array of formats including adult books, gift books, children’s titles, Bibles, commentaries, calendars and devotionals. Max Lucado is the Minister of Preaching at the Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, where he has served since 1988. He has been married to Denalyn Lucado since 1981, and they have three grown daughters—Jenna, Andrea and Sara—and one son-in-law, Brett. More on Max Lucado can be found at http://www.MaxLucado.com.

About GlueWorks Animation:
GlueWorks Animation has been a leader in all aspects of animation since 1999 including entertainment production, corporate branding, intellectual property development and feature film special effects. Its management team has worked with the leaders in the entertainment field including NBC, Twentieth Century Fox, universal and Disney as well as major Fortune 500 companies such as Bank of America, General Electric and Microsoft. GlueWorks Animation has Co-Executive Produced each Max Lucado’s Hermie & Friends™ DVD title to date. More on GlueWorks Animation can be found at http://www.glueworksanimation.com/.

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Tommy Nelson, the children’s division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., was created to place into the hands of children a wide variety of high quality, enjoyable products that are consistent with the teachings found in the Bible. For more information, visit our website www.tommynelson.com.

For more on Tommy Nelson – find us online at
Facebook.com/TommyNelsonKids
Twitter.com/TommyNelson

For More information please contact:

Julie Solomon Backman
Publicist, Thomas Nelson
615-902-1722
jbackman@thomasnelson.com

Rick Eldridge
GlueWorks Animation
704-375-4321
rick@reelworks.net

(Nashville, Tenn.) – Recent polls illustrate what Christian parents have feared: kids are dropping out of church early and for good. Age 16 is the average age at which teens are dropping out, says one poll, and 70% of Protestants ages 18 to 30 quit church by age 23, says another. Authors Josh McDowell and Bob Hostetler have written Don’t Check Your Brains at the Door (Thomas Nelson, August 2011, ISBN: 1400317202, $12.99) to stem a troubling tide among Christian youth.

Don’t Check Your Brains at the Door answers many of the faith-related questions Christian youth face. It challenges young readers to test gospel truths found in the Bible so they can learn to give an answer for their faith as they mature into thinking adults.

“We receive all kinds of messages, myths, and misconceptions in the course of our lives,” says co-author Bob Hostetler. “One of those messages is the idea that following Jesus requires us to check our brains at the door—that reason and faith are incompatible. And that mistaken idea leads to others. That’s why this book exists: to help a young man or woman weigh the evidence and lay a firm foundation for a strong faith in Christ.

Written as a definitive but humorous resource, Don’t Check Your Brains at the Door examines questions that today’s youth face and explains how to give reasoned answers in a Christlike manner. Readers will find answers to common cultural myths and misconceptions about—

…God:

God is a faceless, impersonal force.

God is a cosmic vending machine.

…Jesus:

Jesus was a just a man.

Jesus was just a good teacher.

…the Bible:

It’s just a great work of literature.

It’s full of factual holes.

…the Resurrection:

Jesus didn’t actually die.

Jesus’ body was stolen.

…and many more! Also in Don’t Check Your Brains at the Door, the authors have added a great reading comprehension section after every chapter called “Brain Food.” Readers, parents, and teachers alike will find this tool helpful in processing and retaining the facts presented in every chapter.

With these tools in hand, the readers will be equipped to have a positive influence on the world around them, rather than succumbing to its faithlessness. Every church and family library needs Don’t Check Your Brains at the Door.

About the authors:

Bob Hostetler is an award-winning and best-selling writer, editor, pastor, and speaker. His books include Don’t Check Your Brains at the Door and The Bone Box.

Josh McDowell wrote the international best-selling apologetics references Evidence That Demands a Verdict and over 120 other books. He travels and speaks with Campus Crusade for Christ.

To request a review copy of Don’t Check Your Brains at the Door, schedule an interview with the authors, or for more information, please contact Julie Solomon or Amy Lathrop (jsolomon@thomasnelson.com) (amy@litfusegroup.com).

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Tommy Nelson, the children’s division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., creates, markets and distributes books, Bibles, home video and audio products aimed at children ages 0-14. At Tommy Nelson, we understand the need to keep peace with our rapidly changing world, so our heart’s desire is to continue to look for fresh new ways to reach children with the message of Christ.

(Nashville, Tenn.)  Thomas Nelson Gift and Childrens Division announced today the hiring and promotion of four team members. The new hires will take on their roles in the editorial and marketing departments effective immediately.

Jennifer Barrow joins the team as Editor, Children and Gift Books. Barrow previously worked as a freelance editor under the business name Now Edit This. From 2000 to 2006, Barrow worked for Multnomah Publishers in Sisters, Oregon. A talented professional, Jennifer has worked with multiple bestselling authors including Francis Chan, John Piper and Bruce Wilkinson.

Micah Walker has been promoted from Administrative Assistant to Assistant Editor. Walker graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in English from Belmont University in Nashville, TN, where she served as poetry editor for the Belmont Literary Journal. As an Assistant Editor, Walker will be working on a variety of projects with a primary focus on middle-grade fiction.

Jessica Ward has been hired as Administrative Assistant. Ward graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.A. in English and a Business minor. She has previously worked at Thomas Nelson in the role of Corporate Communications Intern.

Kristen Baird will take on the role of Marketing Coordinator for the Specialty Division. Baird is a recent graduate of Belmont University with her Bachelors in Business Administration. Baird has been an intern at Thomas Nelson for 18 months, serving the Specialty marketing division.

“Jennifer, Micah, Jessica and Kristen are tremendous assets to an amazing team,” says Laura Minchew, Children and Gift Books Publisher. “Our Gift books and Children’s books are in great hands!”

For more information, contact Julie Solomon at jsolomon@thomasnelson.com.

“heaven is for real, and you are going to like it!”

Jennifer Deshler will be moving from her current role as Thomas Nelson’s Senior Director of Marketing of the Fiction group to serve as Vice President of Marketing and Publishing Process for the Children’s and Gift Product. In this new role, Deshler will be responsible for leading marketing efforts for Children’s and Gift products, streamlining processes from idea to market and making sure promotional efforts yield great results.

“I am thrilled to welcome Jennifer to our team,” said Laura Minchew, Vice President and Publisher of Children’s and Gift Products. “Authors and colleagues alike love working with Jennifer because she brings excellence in creativity, implementation, and analysis to every project.”

Molly Kempf will be joining the team as Editorial Director.  Kempf was Senior Editor at Scholastic, Inc. where she worked with licensed and original series, acquired and developed content for the Scholastic’s Little Shepherd line, and researched new licenses and trends.

“Molly’s experience working with top licenses, movie tie-ins, and children’s fiction will be a huge asset for our team,” said Minchew. “Her cutting edge ideas will lead our initiatives into digital and cross platform development of our video and book assets.”

Mackenzie Howard has been promoted from Children’s Editor to Acquisitions Editor for Children’s books and Gift books. In this new role, Howard will develop frontlist and backlist strategy for children’s books, lead Children’s book acquisition as well as assist with gift book acquisitions.

“Mackenzie is a shining star at Nelson,” continued Minchew. “She has a great eye for projects that will appeal to customers of all ages. I know she will excel in this new role. ”

“Under the leadership of Laura Minchew our Children’s and Gift business is poised for strong growth,” said Tod Shuttleworth, Senior Vice President and Publisher of Thomas Nelson’s Specialty Group. “I believe we have the right team in place to meet new market opportunities in Children’s and Gift digital publishing.”

(Nashville, Tenn.) Three Tommy Nelson children’s books were recently named recipients of the highly sought after 2010 Mom’s Choice Awards®, a premier award recognizing and honoring excellence in family-friendly products. An esteemed panel of judges including Dr. Twila C. Liggett (founder of Reading Rainbow), Julie Aigner-Clark (creator of Baby Einstein), parents, children, authors, and experts from many fields chose these three books as worthy of the coveted Mom’s Choice Awards® Gold Seal: Jungle Jack’s Wackiest, Wildest, and Weirdest Animals in the World by Jack Hanna, I Believe Bunny by Tish Rabe and A Night Night Prayer by Amy Parker.

Everyone’s favorite animal expert, Jungle Jack Hanna, is no stranger to the Mom’s Choice Awards®. Last year he took home gold for both Passport Into the Wild and Romp, Stomp, Waddle Home! in the Animal Kingdom category. This year Jack makes it three with his most recent book Jungle Jack’s Wackiest, Wildest, and Weirdest Animals in the World. A true adventurer at heart, Jungle Jack Hanna has been all over the world and has seen his share of unique animals. Have you ever seen a naked mole rat or a blue-footed booby? Do you know what a binturong is? With his new book, he invites kids to look through his eyes at the strange, unusual, and sometimes downright weird characters that make up the animal world through fascinating facts, stories and colorful photos. The book also includes a bonus DVD with hilarious bloopers from Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild and other shows from his career.

Speaking of animals, furry friends have always hopped through the pages of beloved children’s literature from Peter Cottontail to The Velveteen Rabbit and many more. These classic characters evoke nostalgic memories and continue to spark the imaginations of a young generation of readers today. But what if the bunnies in these classic children’s stories had a bigger message to share? What if a bunny could capture not only children’s hearts and imaginations but also inspire them to something greater? Award-winning educational author Tish Rabe answers that question with a new series of children’s books: The I Believe Bunny, a delightful collection that helps children learn about believing, sharing, and putting their faith into action.

Tish Rabe is now adding a gold Mom’s Choice Award® in the Values & Life Lessons category to the list for the first book in the series, I Believe Bunny. This precious book teaches the importance of calling on God for our every need and helps children remember to be thankful for God’s work in their lives.

For some parents, the precious moments as little ones snuggle into bed after a day of tiresome adventures may be the only considerable quality time they get with their children each day.  This lack of extra time has led many parents to cherish bedtime routines even more, as bedtime may be the perfect time to squeeze in a few more precious minutes together before tots head off to dreamland. A Night Night Prayer, the debut release from children’s author Amy Parker, captures the timelessness of traditional bedtime stories with the rhythmic repetition of a child bidding goodnight to all of God’s creation and has now been recognized as worthy of the Mom’s Choice Gold Medal for a Bedtime Story. The cozy setting of a sweet goodnight comes to life with beautiful illustrations that create the calming effect of this soon-to-be classic.  As they say goodnight to a sleepy world, children will be introduced to the idea of thankfulness for the creation around them and will begin to cherish prayer in their young lives.

All of these award-winning books contain innovative, entertaining, and educational messages that have struck a chord with children and parents everywhere.  Discerning parents will appreciate the family-friendly fun and encouraging truths of these standout products.  Great children’s books like these do more than simply entertain; they spark imaginations and encourage a love of reading and learning that will serve children for a lifetime.

The Mom’s Choice Awards® is known for establishing the benchmark of excellence in family friendly media, products and services. This annual competition recognizes authors, inventors, companies, parents and others for their efforts in creating quality family-friendly media products and services.

(Nashville, Tenn.) Thomas Nelson, Inc. was awarded six of Christian Retailing’s 2009 Retailer’s Choice Awards. The awards were announced on Monday, July 13th at the International Christian Retail Show in Denver, Colorado. Thomas Nelson received more any other publishing house and walked away with a fifth of the cumulative awards.

“There are two things about Retailer’s Choice Awards that make them among the highest honors in the industry,” said Michael S. Hyatt, CEO of Thomas Nelson. “First, the awards are selected by Christian retailers, who work on the front lines helping Christians strengthen their spiritual journey. Second, the awards are judged on a product’s ability to inspire, encourage, and affirm Godly living. I am so proud of our team.”

The Thomas Nelson winners are:

• The Word of Promise Next Generation: New Testament Audio Bible (Audio)
• Baby’s First Bible (Bibles: General)
• What in the World Is Going On? by David Jeremiah (Bibles – General)
• Fireproof by Eric Wilson (Fiction: General)
• Looking Up When Life Is Looking Down by Beth Moore (Gift Books)
• Chronological Study Bible Campaign (Marketing/Promotion Campaign)

Products nominated for the 2009 Retailer’s Choice Awards must include clear Christian content, message or worldview. Retailers judged the 250 nominations in 30 categories on the impact they have had on staff and customers, including their ability to speak to people’s hearts and evoke emotion, open people’s minds to new ways of thinking, and encourage and affirm Christ-like living. For more a complete listing of the 2009 Retailer’s Choice Awards, visit www.retailerschoiceawards.com.

Thomas Nelson is a leading provider of Bibles, products, and live events emphasizing Christian, inspirational and family value themes.  For more information, visit our website www.thomasnelson.com.

Contact:    Lindsey Nobles
Director of Corporate Communications   

tel:    (615) 902-1109    

fax:  (615) 902-1110
cell:  (615) 476-5984    

e-mail:  lnobles@thomasnelson.com

“The move to Thomas Nelson is a major strategic decision for MBI and one that we are confident will enable the next phase of exciting growth for the company,” said Mike Park, Commercial Director of MBI.  “We have already built up an excellent working relationship with Thomas Nelson which bodes fantastically well for a mutually successful future.  We are very excited and can feel that excitement reflected throughout Thomas Nelson.”

“We are thrilled to begin distributing MBI’s product domestically,” agreed Tod Shuttleworth, Senior Vice President of Specialty and Global Publishing at Thomas Nelson. “Their innovative products will be a wonderful compliment to our existing children’s line. I believe that together, we can grow MBI’s presence throughout the United States.”

About Thomas Nelson
Thomas Nelson is a leading provider of Bibles, products, and live events emphasizing Christian, inspirational and family value themes.  For more information, visit our website www.thomasnelson.com.

About Make Believe Ideas
Make Believe Ideas is a publisher of innovative books for children and babies. Beautifully designed and featuring a range of stimulating novelties, our books encourage creativity and promote learning. For more information, visit our website www.makebelieveideas.com.

Contact: Lindsey Nobles
Thomas Nelson
(615) 902-1109 o
(615) 476-5984 c
lnobles@thomasnelson.com