Thomas Nelson heads the list of 2006 Retailers Choice Awards finalists, announced today, with 20 top-three products in the 30 prize categories.

Tied with Thomas Nelson as a top winner last year, Zondervan saw 14 products make it to the finals this year, with titles from such authors as Rob Bell, Lee Strobel and Karen Kingsbury.

Nearly 30 suppliers have products in the top three placings of the Retailers Choice Awards, whose winners will be announced at the International Christian Retail Show (ICRS) in Denver, July 10.

A record 314 products were nominated this year for the awards, sponsored by Christian Retailing, which give Christian retailers the opportunity to honor the new products they most appreciated being able to make available to consumers in the last year.

Thomas Nelson and Zondervan demonstrated their leadership in children's property with Tommy Nelson claiming all three top finalist positions in the Children's Fiction category and Zonderkidz sweeping Children's Nonfiction.

Nelson author Max Lucado earned the most individual nods this year, with five nominations spanning gift, video and book categories. Other top finalists included Kingsbury, Bell and Melody Carlson, who earned two each.

Christian music artists were widely recognized by retailers as top authors, with David Crowder, Rebecca St. James, Point of Grace and Newsboys each receiving a finalist nod.

Other top nominated companies included gift company DaySpring, with eight finalist products-sweeping the Paper/Stationery category. Strang Communications publishing divisions received six nominations, while NavPress received five.

Details of the top three finalists in each of the 30 Retailers Choice Awards categories are now available online at www.retailerschoiceawards.com, as voted on by Christian retailers and compiled by an independent CPA.

Overall winners will be announced in Denver at the International Christian Retail Show on Monday, July 10, at 11:30 a.m. in room 203 at the Colorado Convention Center. Media and publishers with nominated products are welcome to attend the press conference, with a full list of winners and finalists available after the announcement.

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