Karen Kingsbury's book reminds readers that true love is safe

Best-selling novelist Karen Kingsbury's newest children's book explores the themes of inner beauty and devotion. In The Princess and the Three Knights (978-0-310-71641-9, hardcover, $16.99)—to be published next month by Zonderkidz—Kingsbury looks at how beauty is only skin deep, but true love comes from the heart.

Illustrated by Canadian muralist Gabrielle Grimard, The Princess and the Three Knights tells the story of a young man who seeks to win the hand of a beautiful princess. The king is determined to find the one worthy of his daughter, so three knights must endure tests and challenges to show their courage and strength. But those qualities alone will not win the king's approval or the princess's heart. The right knight must prove his kindness and character as well as display true love for the king's daughter.

"Little girls need to know that some friends will keep them safe and some will not," said Kingsbury, whose other children's books include Let Me Hold You Longer (Tyndale House Publishers) as well as Let's Go on a Mommy Date and We Believe in Christmas (both Zonderkidz). "The Princess and the Three Knights is a story intended to show them that friends who truly care about them will give them the best happily ever after."

Kingsbury added that she read the book—written for children ages 4-7—to her teenage daughter's Bible study group. "It brought the room full of girls to tears," she recalled. "Together they agreed, 'This is a message every little girl needs to hear.' "

In addition to a national publicity campaign, the book will be marketed by Zonderkidz in partnerships with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International and Generations of Virtue as well as promotions through the Public Library Association.

To order The Princess and the Three Knights, call Zondervan at 800-226-1122, or go to www.zondervan.com.

Lindsey Rodarmer is associate director of PR at Zonderkidz.

Having sold millions of its popular "Bible Promise" books in the last 20 years, Barbour Publishing is targeting a new demographic with a new collection of "365 Bible Promises" to introduce 3- to 5-year-olds to the many assurances of Scripture.

To release next month, My Everyday Promise Bible (978-1-602-60475-9, $14.97) is written and illustrated by Phil A. Smouse, whose Jesus Wants All of Me was the official children's version of Oswald Chambers' My Utmost for His Highest (Barbour Publishing).

"The 'promise' idea makes this Bible absolutely unique," said Smouse, who also illustrated Wanda E. Brunstetter's children’s book The Wisdom of Solomon (Lapp) (Barbour Publishing). "I'm sure it will even appeal to folks who've already purchased a typical children's story Bible or two."

Since the full-text Bible could overwhelm children under 5, Smouse selected a single scriptural promise for each day of the year for the project. Besides a paraphrased scripture, each page of the 384-page My Everyday Promise Bible features a brief devotional and colorful illustrations.

An example of the Bible's concise passages include Proverbs 22:9, which says, "A man who loves to give good things to others will be showered with blessings from the Lord."

For bedtime reading, morning devotions or for youngsters to carry to church, My Everyday Promise Bible comes in a 5-by-7-inch format, which looks and feels like a Bible.

For more information on My Everyday Promise Bible, visit www.barbourbooks.com. To order, contact Barbour Publishing at 800-852-8010.

Angie Brillhart is publicist for Barbour Publishing.

Capitalizing on the growing popularity of the God's Word Translation, Baker Publishing Group will release next month the God's Word Children's Bible (978-0-801-01339-3, hardcover, $22.99).

The full-text Bible is intended for children who have outgrown Bible storybooks, but who would struggle to read the small type of most Bibles. The 12.5-point type and single-column format makes it easy for children with little reading experience to see the words clearly. To make this Bible even more practical for children ages 6-12, it includes a presentation page as well as Teachings of Jesus and Application indexes.

Another feature of the God's Word Children's Bible is the full-color illustrations of biblical scenes by award-winning illustrator Craig Phillips. Done in the graphic linear style popular among children, the artist's work draws on a broad range of influences—from Japanese wood—block prints to classic book illustrations and contemporary comic book art.

To support the Bible's release, Baker is planning a significant national advertising campaign—targeting evangelical households—that launches next month and runs through Christmas.

Promoted as "Today's Most Readable Bible," the God's Word Translation has received endorsements from Billy Graham, the late D. James Kennedy and many other Christian leaders. The translation combines scholarly fidelity to the original languages with clear, natural English presented on a fourth-grade reading level. Some of the translation’s popular titles include God's Word for Girls, God's Word for Boys and God's Word for Students.

God's Word Translation was first published in 1995 and then re-introduced to the Christian book market in 2003, when it was acquired by Green Key Books. Baker acquired the publishing rights in March 2008.

This fall represents the first season Baker will publish new editions using God's Word Translation. Besides the God's Word Children's Bible, Baker will release four other titles: God's Word Personal Size Giant Print Edition, The Apocrypha, Promises From God's Word and God's Word Outreach Bible.

To order the God’s Word Children's Bible, call Noble Marketing at 800-877-2665, or in Canada, contact David C. Cook Distribution Canada at 800-263-2664.

Brian Vos is director of Bibles and e-commerce for Baker Publishing Group.

Award-winning author 'traps' human element in re-telling of Jesus' birth

Award-winning British author Geraldine McCaughrean has produced a classic new keepsake Christmas book. The Nativity Story (978-0-825-47878-9, hardcover, $14.95), published by Lion Books, and available in North America this month through Kregel Publications.

The author of the highly acclaimed Peter Pan in Scarlet, sequel to J.M. Barrie’s beloved Peter Pan, McCaughrean has been writing children’s books for more than 25 years, and has teamed with acclaimed illustrator Sophy Williams for the new release.

The familiar nativity story is retold for 5- to 7-year-olds with stylish illustrations, and incorporates the stories of biblical figures, including Zechariah, Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, John, the angels and the wise men.

“The words of The Nativity Story were first written as part of The Jesse Tree, a much bigger book for older readers,” McCaughrean explained.

“In order to create a picture book text and give Sophy Williams full scope for her delectable paintings, I melded the episodes together into a single flow,” she said. “I wanted to trap … the domestic feel of a little family struggling through difficult circumstances, and the immense upsurge of cosmic happiness that must have happened … that night.”

McCaughrean’s writing seeks to blend the human with the divine, staying true to the biblical story while interjecting aspects of the humanity behind the real experiences surrounding Jesus’ birth.

In the story of Mary, McCaughrean writes: “Elizabeth had a cousin. Her cousin Mary. Mary was a good girl. Everyone in Nazareth said so when they talked about her—although people probably never talked about her at all. Gossips are only interested in people’s faults and mistakes, and Mary did nothing wrong.”

“I would like parents and children to share this book,” McCaughrean said. “Ideally, I would like them both to be left turning handsprings of happiness across the Christmas carpet like the constellations above Bethlehem on Christmas.”

Illustrator Williams has twice been highly commended in the Reader’s DigestYoung Illustrators Awards.

To order The Nativity Story, call Kregel Publications at 800-733-2607, or go to www.kregelpublications.com.

Leslie Paladino is publicity and media manager for Kregel Publications.

A fairytale-like story of selfish royalty aims to teach children about generosity in The Princess and the Kiss: The Three Gifts of Christmas (978-1-593-17378-4, $15.99, Warner Press), releasing Aug. 3.

Based on Acts 20:35, the new hardcover storybook by Jennie Bishop—author of the best-selling The Princess and the Kiss: A Story of God’s Gift of Purity and The Squire and the Scroll: A Tale of the Rewards of a Pure Heart (both Warner Press)—illustrates the importance of giving.

A retired teacher and homeschooling mother, Donita K. Paul returns to familiar ground on her mission to provide family-friendly fiction to young readers.

The Vanishing Sculptor (978-1-400-07339-9, $13.99) takes place in the same world as Paul’s popular “DragonKeeper Chronicles” series, but the main characters live on a different continent.

The “DragonKeeper Chronicles” series (WaterBrook Press) has sold more than a quarter-million copies since the first of its five installments was released in 2004.