According to Gifts & Decorative Accessories magazine, the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association--a national trade organization which represents 250 companies in the United States, Canada and Mexico that manufacture, import and distribute prenatal to preschool products--sizes the market as a $6.02 billion industry.

The fairy-tale parody of Sleeping Beauty teaches a lesson about true beauty based on 1 Sam. 16:7: "For the Lord sees not as man sees. Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

Following The Generous Mr. Lovewell were: 2. Over and Underneath; 3. Until the While World Hears by Casting Crowns (Beach Street Records/Provident-Integrity); 4. Tonight by TobyMac (Forefront Records/EMI CMG Distribution); 5. The More I Seek You by Gateway Worship (Integrity Music/Provident-Integrity); 6. Speaking Louder Than Before by Jeremy Camp (BEC Recordings/EMI CMG); 7. Wow Worship (Purple) by various artists (Word Records/Word); 8. Something to Say by Matthew West (Sparrow Records/EMI CMG); 9. Wow Hits 2010 by various artists (Sparrow Records/EMI CMG); and 10. Relentless by Natalie Grant (Curb Records/Word Distribution).

Jesus Callingis followed by 2. Crazy Love by Francis Chan (David C. Cook and Oasis Audio); 3. Time With God for Mothers (Thomas Nelson); 4. So Long, Insecurity by Beth Moore (Tyndale House Publishers); 5. The Telling by Beverly Lewis (Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group and Oasis Audio); 6. Bringing Up Girls by James Dobson (Tyndale House Publishers); 7. Take Three by Karen Kingsbury (Zondervan); 8. Her Mother's Hope by Francine Rivers (Tyndale House Publishers); 9. Fearless by Max Lucado (Thomas Nelson); and 10. The Love Dare by Fireproof movie-making brothers Stephen and Alex Kendrick, CD (B&H Books/B&H Publishing Group and Brilliance Audio).

Despite a still-weak economy, two independent Christian retailers have opened second locations in order to fill a void and offer "a ministry" to their communities. CBA's new head has praised the store expansions as an example of how well-run small businesses can out-serve their larger competitors.

Fran Cantwell opened His Word Christian Bookstore in Newark, Ohio, in February. Cantwell--who also owns and operates a store with the same name located approximately 30 miles away in Johnstown, Ohio, where she lives--said she felt compelled to open the 900-square-foot store, sandwiched between a pizza shop and a women's workout facility in a small strip mall.

Desafío del amor, the Spanish translation of The Love Dare by Fireproof movie-making brothers Stephen and Alex Kendrick (published in English by B&H Books in 2008), won the Harold Kregel 2009 Book of the Year award for "most inspiring and impactful book."

A blow dryer used to be one of the tools of the trade for David Broussard, but the former Dallas hairstylist now uses a blow torch to produce unique crosses and gift items through a process he calls "flame-painting."

Sold by Christian and church retailers as well as general market stores, Jeweled Steel items--primarily crosses--are handmade and signed by Broussard, who does with steel what a jeweler does with stones. Using only the heat from the torch, he polishes and textures the steel, revealing various colors for a one-of-a-kind design.

Besides a line of more than 30 designs of gift crosses, jewelry and other products, Broussard works on commissioned wall hangings and free-standing sculptures. Available through his Web site, Broussard's products are also carried by approximately 35 Christian and church stores.

Broussard noted that more than 50 mainstream stores carry Jeweled Steel products. "Most of the crosses I sell are at secular stores, which are mainly gift shops," he said. "I am not surprised by the fact that secular stores outsell Christian stores when it comes to my crosses.

"The greatest challenge I have is competing with the stuff from China," Broussard added. "In China, slave labor is very cheap, and I'm competing with their goods."

Read more in the June issue of Inspirational Gift Trends, a supplement to Christian Retailing magazine.