Gabrielle Douglas’ Raising the Bar has been nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work in the Youth/Teen category. Published by Zondervan, the book by the two-time Olympic gold medalist released last May.

The NAACP Image Awards are presented each year with 54 categories in film, television, music and literature. The awards recognize the outstanding achievements and performances of African Americans and also honor groups who promote social justice.

Jonathan Cahn’s prophetic novel and the children’s version of Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling top CBA’s weekly best-seller lists for the week ending Jan. 18.

On the fiction list, these titles follow The Harbinger (FrontLine/Charisma House): 2. The Shack, William Paul Young (Windblown Media/Hachette Book Group); 3. Fifteen Minutes, Karen Kingsbury (Howard Books); 4. Unspoken, Dee Henderson (Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group); and 5. No One to Trust, Lynette Eason (Revell/Baker Publishing Group).

Buyers visiting P. Graham Dunn’s showroom at AmericasMart Atlanta for the January gift show were greeted with a wide variety of new products. The company has invested significantly in its design team, resulting in growth in its new gift offerings.

“Eighty to ninety percent of our showroom is reflecting new products,” said Joe Knutson, company president. “We’ve come out with the largest introduction in our 36-year history this January.

New Day Christian Distributions has teamed VeggieTales with Floppets, introducing the collectible character item to the Christian market.

Floppets can be attached to anything as each has a versatile connector and Velcro tether. They can be worn as a ring or used as a personal accessory attached to a shoe or backpack, for example. They also can be linked together by connecting their tethers, creating wrist bands, rings, anklets and necklaces.

African American Expressions launched its new “Sister Friends Collection” this month. The line includes all-occasion assortments ($14.99), blank note card assortments ($12), decorative magnets ($4.95), journals ($10.95) and magnetic notepads ($4.99).

Sales Manager Ron Gilmore called the collection “a new, fresh line” and noted it was well-received at this month’s Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market at AmericasMart.

CanZion Group and Provident Music Group announced a strategic agreement between the two companies Jan. 20. Through this alliance, CanZion has acquired the rights for the manufacturing and distribution of Provident films and music throughout the Spanish market in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Latin America and Spain.

Luis Quinelli, CEO of CanZion, said it was a joy to begin distributing Provident products in CanZion’s established markets. He emphasized the company’s belief that Provident’s products will be well-received in the Spanish market while also helping to fulfill CanZion’s purpose to honor God in all of its product offerings.

AbsolutelyGospel.com announced today the nominees for the 2014 Absolutely Gospel Music Awards. As in years past, the nominees were chosen by the staff of AbsolutelyGospel.com and select media representatives. Starting Feb. 1, fans will get a chance to vote for their favorites in certain categories. 

“Our awards program isn’t always about representing the most popular, but rather the songs, albums and artists that made a splash in an artistic way,” said Chris D. Unthank, editor-in-chief of AbsolutelyGospel.com. “We are proud of this year’s crop of nominees.”