With the arrival of spring comes the release of many religion and spirituality books that ask readers to contemplate long-standing practices and consider new ways forward. Whether they’re reclaiming the cultural heritage and interpretive power of the Bible or demystifing the Kama Sutra, Gospel rap, and agnosticism, these spring books call for a season of change.
Religion & Spirituality Top 10
Agnostic: A Spirited Manifesto
Lesley Hazleton. Riverhead, Apr.
Hazleton brings rigor to spiritual ambivalence. For her, to be agnostic is not to sidestep the question of belief but to have enough backbone to stand firm in the face of uncertainty.
Apostle: Travels Among the Tombs of the Twelve
Tom Bissell. Pantheon, Mar.
Bissell makes full use of his keen eye, deep scholarship, and sharp sense of humor in this meandering journey to the resting places of the 12 apostles.
Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living
Krista Tippett. Penguin Press, Apr.
With renowned truth seekers knocking on her door to reveal their secrets, Tippett, host of the radio show and podcast On Being, has compiled an impressive catalogue of their wisest practices.
Biblical Literalism: A Gentile Heresy
John Shelby Spong. HarperOne, Feb.
Spong makes a persuasive case for reclaiming the Judaic cultural heritage of the Bible.
The Book of the People: How to Read the Bible
A.N. Wilson. Harper, June
Wilson brings a human touch to his argument for the spiritual, philosophical, and artistic importance of the Bible—to secular readers and readers of faith alike—by making Biblical conversations with a late friend the spine of his book.
Like Never Before
Melissa Tagg. Bethany, Apr.
Tagg, a popular blogger and former reporter, writes charmingly on what she knows in this inspirational novel about a small-town newspaper in Maple Valley, Iowa. Amelia Bentley, a pithy editor, thinks she’s found a haven from her troubles until former editor Logan Walker returns.
Redeeming the Kamasutra
Wendy Doniger. Oxford, Mar.
In this much-needed history of the classic Indian text, Doniger unpacks years of misleading scholarship to uncover the Kama Sutra as far more than a sex manual, calling it instead a handbook for sensuous living.
The Ringmaster’s Wife
Kristy Cambron. Thomas Nelson, June
In her third novel, Cambron brings post-WWI America to life. Rosamund Easling, the daughter of an British earl, follows her beloved horse across the Atlantic to join the circus and meets the ailing, inspiring Mable Ringling, based on the real-life art collector.
Unashamed
LeCrae. B&H, May
LeCrae, a two-time Grammy Award–winning rapper, talks about his resilient faith, his place in the music industry, and overcoming preconceived notions of Christian art.
Why Be Jewish? A Testament
Edgar Bronfman. Hachette/Twelve, Mar.
Bronfman, the late businessman, philanthropist, and president of the World Jewish Congress, creates an accessible introduction for secular Jews seeking ways of finding meaning in their heritage without having to believe in God.
Religion Listings: Fiction
Abingdon
Medical Judgment by Richard L. Mabry (May, paper, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-630881-20-7). Someone is after Dr. Sarah Gordon. Her late husband’s best friend and a recovering alcoholic detective are both trying to solve the mystery before it’s too late. But with her only help being unreliable suitors in competition with each other, whom can she really trust?
Barbour
Heart’s Heritage by Ramona K. Cecil and Lisa Karon Richardson (May, paper, $9.99, ISBN 978-1-634097-12-3). Brave the dangers of the frontier alongside Annie Martin in Cecil’s rough and tumble romance. After the death of her husband and father, Annie must take care of the homestead when a stranger trying to clear his name of murder charges claims half ownership.
Barbour/Shiloh Run
Sarah’s Surrender by Vickie McDonough (July, paper, $14.99,
ISBN 978-1-628369-53-3). When Sarah Worley rejects Luke McNeil’s proposal to pursue property in the 1901 Oklahoma Territory land lottery, the ranch hand pulls up stakes and goes to get her. How can he prove his love and show the stubborn woman that he’s the right man for her?
Bethany House
Like Never Before by Melissa Tagg (Apr., paper, $14.99, ISBN 978-0-764214-37-0). Maple Valley became Amelia Bentley’s haven after her heart and her dreams of a family were shattered, but her new life as a newspaper editor is shaken up when the paper is bought out by a larger company and Logan Walker, an accomplished former editor, comes back to the small-town newspaper.
The Reluctant Duchess by Roseanna M. White (Mar., paper, $14.99, ISBN 978-0-764213-51-9). After a shocking attack, Lady Rowena Kinnaird, heiress to a Highland earldom, is willing to be an outcast forever if it means escaping Loch Morar. But when Rowena’s father tries to marry her to a notorious flirt, she fears she’s about to end up in the path of everything she was trying to avoid.
Broadstreet
Cain by Brennan McPherson (May, paper, $15.99, ISBN 978-1-4245-5232-0). The story of the world’s first murder and the birth of an unstoppable evil asks if the monster inside Cain is the gateway to godhood or the end of mankind.
Faithwords
Messenger by Moonlight by Stephanie Grace Whitson (May, paper, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-4555-2908-7). Whitson’s latest historical novel features an adventurous young heroine who joins the Pony Express. 20,000-copy announced first printing.
The Second Half by Lauraine Snelling (July, paper, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-4555-8617-2). Snelling shares a heartfelt story of a couple who put their plans for a peaceful retirement on hold to assume guardianship of their young grandchildren. 50,000-copy announced first printing.
Franciscan
The Fragment by Davis Bunn (Feb., paper, $19.99, ISBN 978-1-63253-084-4). It’s 1923, and a resilient Paris is starting to recover from the ravages of World War I and the 1918 flu pandemic. In this high-stakes historical thriller, skepticism vies with faith amid the grit and grandeur of post–World War I Europe.
Good Books
Which Way Home? (Hester’s Hunt for Home #2) by Linda Byler (Apr., paper, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-680991-24-6). Born a Native American but brought up Amish, Hester Zug flees her home. Belonging in part to two worlds, but subtly rejected by both, Hester’s heart is torn. And can she ever be happily married? 50,000-copy announced first printing.
Harvest House
The Bachelor Girl’s Guide to Murder by Rachel McMillan (Apr., paper, $9.99, ISBN 978-0-7369-6640-5). In 1910 Toronto, while other bachelor girls perfect their domestic skills and find husbands, two friends practice sleuthing and find a murderer. Inspired by their fascination with all things Sherlock Holmes, best friends and flatmates Merinda and Jem launch a consulting detective business.
What Happened on Beale Street by Mary Ellis (Apr., paper, $14.99, ISBN 978-0-7369-6171-4). A cryptic plea for help from a childhood friend sends cousins and private investigators Nate and Nicki Price to Memphis. When they arrive at Danny Andre’s last known address, they discover signs of a struggle and a lifestyle not in keeping with the former choirboy they fondly remember.
Howard
Brush of Wings by Karen Kingsbury (Mar., hardcover, $22.99, ISBN 978-1-4516-8753-8). From bestselling author Kingsbury comes the third novel in an unforgettable series about divine intervention and the trials and triumphs of life for a group of friends. The team of angels walking is busier than ever in this epic battle between life and death.
The Progeny by Tosca Lee (May, hardcover, $19.99, ISBN 978-1-4767-9869-1). Bestselling author Tosca Lee brings a modern twist to an ancient mystery surrounding the most prolific female serial killer of all time, Elizabeth Bathory.
Kensington/Zebra
A Simple Vow by Charlotte Hubbard (May, mass market, $7.99, ISBN 978-1-420138-69-6). For Edith, unable to conceive, the baby twins Asa asks her to take care of are heaven-sent. To clear his name of kidnaping or abandoning the kids, and explain that the children aren’t his, Asa leaves the Amish community of Willow Ridgefind in search of their real father.
Revell
The Quieting by Suzanne Woods Fisher (May, paper, $14.99, ISBN 978-0-8007-2321-7). With the Amish church of Stoney Ridge facing a crisis, minister David Stoltzfus must decide if a Quieting—the demotion of a prominent bishop—will solve the problem... or make it worse.
River North
The Centurion by Ken Gire (Feb., paper, $15.99, ISBN 978-0-802408-94-5). Curious about the so-called King of the Jews, Lucius, an ambitious Roman soldier, seeks out the man’s followers and falls for one Mary Magdalene. A chance encounter then tests his allegiances, and he must decide who he is, what is real, and what is worth dying for.
Thomas Nelson
The Ringmaster’s Wife by Kristy Cambron (June, paper, $15.99, ISBN 978-0-7180-4154-0). This is the first in a series of novels about performing arts in the early 20th century. When her beloved horse is sold, Rosamund Easling abandons her future as a noblewoman and finds herself a part of the greatest show on Earth.
There Will Be Stars by Billy Coffey (May, paper, $15.99, ISBN 978-0-7180-2682-0). When a fatal car accident takes Bobby Barnes’s life, he discovers a strange new world, and within it the true nature of love.
Tyndale
The Calling by Rachelle Dekker (Mar., hardcover, $22.99, ISBN 978-1-4964-0226-4). Remko Brandt and his team face growing peril from a new enemy: recently appointed Authority President Damien Gold. With dissension in his own camp and the CityWatch soldiers closing in, Remko feels control slipping through his fingers; to protect those he loves, he must conquer his fears and defeat Gold before it becomes his own undoing.
Waterbrook
Miriam (A Treasures of the Nile Novel) by Mesu Andrews (Mar., paper, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-601426-01-7). Miriam has found contentment in her relationship with El Shaddai, but when her brother Moses returns from exile proclaiming God’s new name—Yahweh—she must submit to Moses and Aaron’s leadership without any hope or explanation of what is coming next.
Worthy
The Valley of Dry Bones by Jerry Jenkins (May, paper, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-61795-008-7). Jerry B. Jenkins overlays the ancient end-times prophecies of Ezekiel onto the landscape of modern California.
Zondervan
If I Run by Terri Blackstock (Feb., 15.99, ISBN 978-0-310-33243-5). After discovering her friend’s body, Casey Cox is labeled a killer and forced to live on the run until her innocence can be proven.
Nonfiction
Abingdon
Half Truths: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves and Other Things the Bible Doesn’t Say by Adam Hamilton (Apr., hardcover, $19.99, ISBN 978-1-501813-87-0). Join Hamilton, senior pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kans., in this five-week Bible study to search for the whole truth, by comparing common Christian clichés with the wisdom found in Scripture.
Andrews McMeel
Hello Sunshine: A Little Book of Happy by Freya Ete (Mar., hardcover, $9.99, ISBN 978-1-449474-12-6). This book spreads happiness and joy through the gorgeous designs and evocative poetry of Ete. She shares her infectious, childlike wonder and joyous worldview in a way that can be dipped into again and again for inspiration when readers need it most.
B&H
Cherish by Vicki Courtney (Feb., hardcover, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-4336-8784-6). Courtney, founder of Virtuous Reality Ministries, offers faith-driven advice for women on how to navigate, cultivate, and deepen relationships with those they cherish.
Unashamed by Lecrae (May, hardcover, 24.99, ISBN 978-1-4336-8912-3). Lecrae, two-time Grammy–winning rap artist, learned to be unashamed of his values, after more than his share of adversity—childhood abuse, drugs and alcoholism, a stint in rehab, an abortion, and an unsuccessful suicide attempt. LeCrae is an inspirational, hugely popular spokesman for faith-based values.
Baker
You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit by James K.A. Smith (Apr., hardcover, 19.99, ISBN 978-1-58743-380-1). Smith, philosophy
professor and Byker Chair in Applied Reformed Theology and Worldview at Calvin College, helps readers recognize the formative power of culture and the transformative possibilities of Christian practices by showing that who and what we worship fundamentally shape our hearts.
Baker Academic
The Fourfold Gospel by Francis Watson (May, hardcover, 24.99, ISBN 978-0-8010-9545-0). Watson, philosophy and theology professor at Durham University in the U.K., offers a challenging alternative to prevailing assumptions about the creation of the Gospels and their portraits of Jesus.
Barbour/Shiloh Run
In His Place: A Modern-Day Challenge for Readers of ‘In His Steps’ by Harry C. Griffith (May, paper, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-634097-66-6). Pastor Long reimagines Charles Sheldon’s WWJD? message for a current audience. Responding to Christ’s command “As the Father has sent me, so I send you,” he challenges his congregation to learn what it really means to walk in Jesus’s steps.
Baylor Univ.
Echoes of Scripture in the Gospels by Richard B. Hays (June, hardcover, $49.95, ISBN 978-1-4813-0491-7). In this sequel to Echoes of Scripture in the Letters of Paul, Hays highlights the hermeneutical consequences of the Gospel writers’ distinctive theological approaches and asks what it might mean for present-day readers to attempt to read Scripture through the eyes of the early Evangelists.
Beacon
Putting God Second: How to Save Religion from Itself by Donniel Hartman (Feb., hardcover, $24.95, ISBN 978-080-70-53928). Why have the monotheistic religions failed to produce societies that live up to their ethical ideals? Rabbi Hartman argues that monotheism’s record of ethical failure isn’t the result of religion’s evil or of pure human weakness; instead, it’s a tension internal to religious faith.
Bethany House
Angels by Jack Graham (June, hardcover, $19.99, ISBN 978-0-7642-1330-4). Pastor and bestselling author Graham describes angels, revealing their roles, what they do, and why it matters. 20,000-copy announced first printing.
Come With Me by Susie Eller (May, paper, $14.99, ISBN 978-0-7642-1812-5). Bestselling author and Proverbs 31 speaker Suzanne Eller invites readers to discover the beauty of following wherever Jesus leads. 30,000-copy announced first printing.
Bloomsbury
Passwords to Paradise by Nicholas Ostler (Feb., hardcover, $30, ISBN 978-1-62040-515-4). Language historian and linguist Ostler explores the effects that differences in language have wrought on the world’s great faiths over two thousand years. The book will appeal to both secular readers and those of faith, providing new insight into how languages and religions have evolved over millennia.
Brazos
Public Faith in Action by Miroslav Volf and Ryan McAnnally-Linz (July, hardcover, $21.99, ISBN 978-1-58743-384-9). This handbook from renowned theologian Volf and McAnnally-Linz explains that Christians need to develop habits of wise reflection if they are to engage faithfully with their political communities.
Chalice
Preaching Politics: Proclaiming Jesus in an Age of Money, Power, and Partisanship by Clay Stauffer (Mar., paper, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-8272-3134-4). This debut by up-and-coming pastor Stauffer addresses the challenges preachers face when serving a politically diverse congregation.
Columbia Global Reports
Holy Lands: Reviving Pluralism in the Middle East by Nicolas Pelham (Apr., paper, $13.99, ISBN 978-0-990976-34-9). Economist correspondent Pelham looks at how and why the world’s most tolerant region degenerated into its least tolerant. In his search for hope in the region, he reports from cities throughout Kurdistan and elsewhere in Israel, Iraq, and Syria on how various factions treat their ethnic and sectarian minorities.
Columbia Univ.
A None’s Story: Searching for Meaning Inside Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, and Islam by Corinna Nicolaou (Apr., hardcover, $35, ISBN 978-0-231173-94-0). In this layered narrative, Nicolaou describes what it is like for her and thousands of others to live without religion, and to be spiritual without committing to a specific faith. Nicolaou tours America’s major traditional religions to see what, if anything, one might lack without God.
Convergent
Night Driving: A Story of Faith in the Dark by Addie Zierman (Mar., paper, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-601425-47-8). Set against the backdrop of a family road trip from Minnesota to Florida Zierman’s memoir explores her personal search for peace after leaving the faith of her childhood, including the friends, the strangers, and the questions that haunted her.
David C. Cook
I Am N: Inspiring Stories of Christians Facing Islamic Extremists by the Voice of the Martyrs (Mar., paper, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-4347-0987-5). This book shares 50 true stories of Christians facing Islamic extremism.
Walking to Jerusalem: Discovering Your Divine Life Purpose by Chris Hill (June, hardcover, $21.99, ISBN 978-1-4347-1014-7). Drawing on his own remarkable life story and the biblical journeys of David, Hill, senior pastor of the Potter’s House of Denver, Colo., offers a new perspective on how God’s purpose unfolds.
Counterpoint
Reports from the Zen Wars: The Impossible Rigor of a Questioning Life by Steve Antinoff (June, paper, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-61902-731-2). Four decades ago Antinoff experienced what he calls a “negative satori,” a fundamental and irrefutable realization of himself as a predicament only enlightenment could resolve. Here Antinoff bears witness to what has been, for him, “The Greatest Show on Earth.” Price of admission: one lotus position.
Crossway
None like Him: 10 Ways God Is Different from Us (and Why That’s a Good Thing) by Jen Wilkin (Apr., paper, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-4335-4983-0). This exploration of 10 ways God is different from us aims to remind readers why human limitations are a good thing in light of God’s limitlessness—helping us experience the freedom that comes from letting God be God.
Deseret/Ensign Peak
The Christ-Centered Home: Inviting Jesus In by Emily Belle Freeman (Mar., paper, $11.99, ISBN 978-1-629721-55-2). Freeman encourages families to experience a Christ-centered conversation. “Maybe you could set aside one night every month for your family to discuss an attribute of Jesus Christ and a lesson He taught within someone’s home.” Freeman implores readers to invite Christ into their home to make it a place of refuge, grace, and joy.
Eerdmans
How to Survive the Apocalypse: Zombies, Cylons, Faith, and Politics at the End of the World by Robert Joustra and Alissa Wilkinson (May, paper, $16, ISBN 978-0-8028-7271-5). Joustra and Wilkinson examine a number of popular stories—including Battlestar Galactica and The Walking Dead—and address the decidedly dystopian and apocalyptic shift popular culture has made.
Wholeheartedness: Busyness, Exhaustion, and Healing the Divided Self by Chuck DeGroat (Mar., paper, $15, ISBN 978-0-8028-7270-8). This book invites readers to examine the exhaustion and fragmentation they experience on a daily basis and instead embrace wholeheartedness—the sense of peace and flourishing that our hearts so deeply long for.
Experiment
In Search of Buddha’s Daughters: A Modern Journey Down Ancient Roads by Christine Toomey (Mar., hardcover, 24.95, ISBN 978-1-61519-326-4). Toomey, two-time winner of the Amnesty International Magazine Story of the Year Award, sets off on a 60,000-mile journey, from India to Europe to America, to meet, learn from, and practice with the world’s most remarkable ordained Buddhist women.
Faithwords
If My Heart Could Talk by Dodie Osteen (Apr., hardcover, $25, ISBN 978-1-4555-4974-0). Osteen, mother of Joel Osteen, gives readers a personal account of her life and shares what she has learned about love, faith, and family. 70,000-copy announced first printing.
Overload by Joyce Meyer (Mar., hardcover, $22, ISBN 978-1-4555-5983-1). Bestselling author Meyer shows readers how to become free from the burden of stress and achieve God’s best for their lives. 160,000-copy announced first printing.
For Beginners
Mormonism for Beginners by Stephen Carter, illus. by Jett Atwood (July, paper, $15.95, ISBN 978-1-939994-52-3). This book is a balanced introduction to the history, tenets, practices, traditions, debates, and controversies of a uniquely American Protestant movement, shedding a clear light on an often misunderstood belief system and way of life.
Fortress
Comparing Judaism and Christianity by E.P. Sanders (Mar., paper, $39, ISBN 978-1-506406-07-7). Sanders, New Testament scholar and former professor of religion at Duke University, presents formative essays that show the structure of his “New Perspective on Paul” approach, providing insight into Paul’s relationship to Judaism and Jewish law.
Franciscan
The Way of Silence by David Steindl-Rast (June, paper, $19.99, ISBN 978-1-63253-016-5). This book draws heavily on Buddhist teachings to cultivate the practice of “deep” listening: turning away from noise and distraction, paying attention, and embracing quiet.
Georgetown Univ.
A Culture of Engagement: Law, Religion, and Morality by Cathleen Kaveny (Apr., paper, $32.95, ISBN 978-1-626163-02-7). This collection of essays on the intersection of the religious and secular spheres of life from legal theorist and Catholic theologian Kaveny provides astonishing insight into a range of hot-button issues such as abortion, assisted suicide, government-sponsored torture, contraception, capital punishment, and the role of religious faith in a pluralistic society.
Hachette/Twelve
Why Be Jewish? A Testament by Edgar Bronfman (Mar., hardcover, $26, ISBN 978-1-455562-89-3). The late Bronfman, former president of the World Jewish Congress, makes a compelling case for the meaning and transcendence of a secular Judaism that is still steeped in deep moral values, authentic Jewish texts, and a focus on deed over creed and dogma. 30,000-copy announced first printing.
Hampton Roads
The Gifts of Near-Death Experiences: You Don’t Have to Die to Experience Your True Home by Sheila Fabricant Linn, Dennis Linn, and Matthew Linn (May, paper, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-571747-43-3). This book encourages the reader to create a spiritual and psychological healing practice based on NDEs. Formed after years of workshops by the authors, the book immerses readers in accounts of NDEs that can help to bring love, hope, healing, and a sense of purpose.
Harper
The Book of the People: How to Read the Bible by A.N. Wilson (June, hardcover, $26.99, ISBN 978-0-062433-46-6). This book explores how thinkers have approached the Bible, and how it might be read today. Wilson, columnist for the Daily Mail, argues that it remains relevant, even in a largely secular society, as a philosophical work, a work of literature, and a cultural touchstone that the western world has answered to for nearly two thousand years.
HarperElixir
The Happy Medium by Kim Russo (May, hardcover, $24.99, ISBN 978-0-062456-07-6). This book interweaves experiences from Russo’s life with astounding behind-the-scenes stories
of her celebrity readings from episodes of her Lifetime show, The Haunting Of..., Russo, who claims to channel the dead, gives readers the tools to access the energy that is all around us. 30,000-copy announced first printing.
HarperOne
Biblical Literalism: A Gentile Heresy; A Journey into a New Christianity Through the Doorway of Matthew’s Gospel by John Shelby Spong (Feb., hardcover, $26.99, ISBN 978-0-062362-30-8). Spong, retired American bishop of the Episcopal Church, offers a radical new way to look at the gospels. He explores the Bible’s literary and liturgical roots, primarily focusing on its grounding in Jewish culture, symbols, icons, and storytelling tradition.
How to Be Here: A Guide to Creating a Life Worth Living by Rob Bell (Mar., hardcover, $25.99, ISBN 978-0-062356-29-1). This book lays out concrete steps we can use to define and follow our dreams. Bell, bestselling author and founder of Mars Hill Bible Church located in Grandville, Mich., interweaves engaging stories, lessons from biblical figures, insights gleaned from his personal experience, and practical advice.
Harvard/Belknap
History and Presence by Robert A. Orsi (Mar., hardcover, $29.95, ISBN 978-0-674047-89-1). This book radically confronts the question of “real presence”—the Catholic doctrine of the literal, physical, embodied presence of Christ in the host—proposing instead a model for the study of religion that begins with humans and gods present to one another in the circumstances of everyday life.
Harvest House
ISIS, Iran, Israel by Mark Hitchcock (May, hardcover, $15.99, ISBN 978-0-7369-6871-3). Hitchcock, former lawyer and senior pastor of Faith Bible Church in Edmond, Okla., updates Iran and Israel with all-new information on ISIS, Russian involvement in Syria and Iran, and the state of relations between Israel and Iran, bringing a strong biblical perspective to the latest in Middle Eastern conflicts.
Hay House
The Truth of Spirits: A Medium’s Journey from Panic to Peace by Carmel Baird and Tiffany Grabski (Mar., hardcover, $24.99, ISBN 978-1-401947-62-0). Medium Baird shares the powerful story of how she overcame extreme panic and anxiety to break a cycle of abuse and find a life of freedom, forgiveness, and love.
Hendrickson
Catching Ricebirds by Marcus Doe (May, paper, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-61970-825-9). This is the true story of a Liberian refugee who lost his family, fled his country, and ultimately learned to forgive and find peace again.
Herald/MennoMedia
Simple Pleasures: Stories from My Life as an Amish Mother by Marianne Jantzi (Mar., paper, $13, ISBN 978-1-5138-0027-1). With her wit and warmth, Amish homemaker Jantzi would no doubt be a popular mommy-blogger if she used the Internet. In her first book, Jantzi welcomes readers to the Milverton Amish settlement of Ontario as she raises four young children while tending to the family’s shoe store.
Image
Believers, Thinkers, and Founders: How We Came to Be One Nation Under God by Kevin Seamus Hasson (Apr., hardcover, $18, ISBN 978-0-307718-18-1). Is there any basis for God in the official life of the United States? Hasson, a religious-freedoms attorney, offers an answer by explaining his concept of “the Philosopher’s God,” showing how citizens can move past the religion/antireligion culture war.
Indiana Univ.
Emptiness and Omnipresence: An Essential Introduction to Tiantai Buddhism by Brook A. Ziporyn (June, paper, $35, ISBN 978-0-253021-12-0). Ziporyn, professor of Chinese religion, philosophy, and comparative thought at the University of Chicago, puts Tiantai Buddhism into dialogue with modern philosophical concerns to draw out its implications for ethics, epistemology, and metaphysics.
Inner Traditions/Bear & Company
Sacred Trickery and the Way of Kindness: The Radical Wisdom of Jodo by Alejandro Jodorowsky (Feb., paper, $18.95, ISBN 978-1-620554-59-3). Enter the mind of Jodo and follow his saga from Zen disciple to revolutionary filmmaker to spiritual teacher. From sacred trickery to the path of kindness, Jodorowsky’s radical wisdom discerns the timeless within the immediate and gauges the everyday by the measure of eternity.
Intervarsity
Silence and Beauty: Hidden Faith Born of Suffering by Makoto Fujimura (May, hardcover, $26, ISBN 978-0-8308-4459-3). Internationally renowned artist Fujimura reflects on Shusaku Endo’s novel Silence (the subject of an upcoming film by Martin Scorsese) and grapples with the nature of art, pain, and culture.
Strong and Weak: Embracing a Life of Love, Risk and True Flourishing by Andy Crouch (Mar., hardcover, $20, ISBN 978-0-8308-4443-2). Crouch, executive editor of Christianity Today, writes that true flourishing means traveling down an unexpected path—being both strong and weak.
Jewish Lights
When a Lie Is Not a Sin by Dennis S. Ross (May, paper, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-58023-858-8). This provocative look at ethical decision making draws on the Hebrew Bible and shows people of all faiths how a smaller lie can sometimes serve a higher moral purpose.
The Wisdom of Solomon and Us by Mark D. Angel (June, paper, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-58023-855-7). A profound exploration of the evolution of King Solomon’s wisdom—from philosophical to moralistic to spiritual—and its meaning for today’s spiritual seekers.
Jewish Publication Society
A Kabbalah and Jewish Mysticism Reader by Daniel M. Horwitz (Apr., paper, $45, ISBN 978-0-8276-1256-3). Horwitz brings clarity to Jewish mysticism with selections from the tradition’s core texts, made accessible by introductions and commentary.
Koren/Toby
From the Wilderness and Lebanon: An Israeli Soldier’s Story of War and Recovery by Asael Lubotzky (Mar., hardcover, $14.95, ISBN 978-1-59264-417-9). Lubotzsky recounts leading troops into combat through Southern Lebanon and the moment he was hit by a missile, permanently damaging both of his legs. This harrowing memoir details two great struggles: one against Hamas and Hezbollah, the other against the prospect of never walking again.
Little, Brown
Revelation: A Search for Faith in a Violent Religious World by Dennis Covington (Feb., hardcover, $28, ISBN 978-0-316-36861-2). In war zones witnessing widespread conflict, what makes life worth living? When chaos becomes a way of life in places where religion and violence intersect, what do people hold on to? Covingtion, a National Book Award finalist, offers an intensely personal journey to the edges of a world filled with violence and religious strife.
Llewellyn
Taking Sacred Back: The Complete Guide to Designing and Sharing Group Ritual by Nels Linde and Judith E. Olson-Linde (May, paper, $22.99, ISBN 978-0-738748-91-7). Whether you’re designing a group ritual for 50 people or 500, Linde and Olson-Linde will help you define your intent, create an outline, and bring your ritual to life. Complete with examples of rituals the authors have conducted as well as problem-solving advice.
Mandala
The Journey Within: Exploring the Path of Bhakti by Radhanath Swami (May, hardcover, $24.99, ISBN 978-1-608871-57-5). This book guides readers through the main tenets of Bhakti Yoga and Hinduism. Swami demystifies the ancient devotional path of Bhakti Yoga, capturing its essence and its simple principles for balancing our lives.
Moody
Scatter: Go Therefore and Take Your Job with You by Andrew Scott (May, paper, $14.99, ISBN 978-0-802412-90-4). Missions innovator Scott sounds a call for a new era of missions, one that uses the global marketplace for spreading the Gospel and sees every Christian as God’s global image bearer. Helping us see the grand narrative of Scripture and how each of us fits within it, Scott issues a compelling call: scatter.
Morrow
Siddhartha’s Brain: The Science of Enlightenment by James Kingsland (Apr., hardcover, $27.99, ISBN 978-0-062403-85-8). Moving from the evolutionary history of the brain to the disorders and neuroses associated with our technology-driven world, Kingsland explains why the ancient practice of mindfulness has been so beneficial and so important for human beings across time. 75,000-copy announced first printing.
Multnomah
Renovate: Changing Who You Are by Loving Where You Are by Leonce B. Crump Jr. (Feb., paper, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-601425-54-6). Crump, Atlanta pastor and emerging spokesman for the urban renewal movement, aspires to spearhead a growing movement of younger evangelicals. Not simply a profile of his transcultural church, the book lays out his vision for holistic renewal in cities, explaining how Christ followers are called to make it happen.
NavPress
Bound to Be Free: Escaping Performance to Be Captured by Grace by D.A. Horton (Mar., paper, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-631464-67-6). There are four walls in the trap of performance, Horton argues: our trajectory, our relationships, our affirmation, and our peers. In this faith-affirming book, Horton asks readers to open their hearts to Christ, escape the trap, and succumb to grace.
New Leaf/Master Books
World Religions and Cults: Moralistic, Mythical and Mysticism Religions, Vol. 2 by Bodie Hodge and Roger Patterson (May, paper, 15.99, ISBN 978-0-89051-922-6). In this second volume, Hodge and Patterson reveal the origins and basic tenets of many Eastern religions—Hinduism, Taoism, Sikhism, Confucianism, Shinto, and Buddhism, as well as other pagan-based systems such as witchcraft, voodoo, and Greek mythology.
New World Library
Don’t Be a Jerk: And Other Practical Advice from Dogen, Japan’s Greatest Zen Master by Brad Warner (Mar., paper, $15.95, ISBN 978-1-608683-88-8). The Shobogenzo is a revered but seldom-read 800-year-old Zen Buddhism classic. Warner, a Zen priest and punk bassist, shows Dogen offering a “Middle Way” in the raging debate between science and religion.
OneWorld
Walking with Plato by Gary Hayden (July, paper, $19.99, ISBN 978-1-780746-56-2). In this humorous tale, Hayden finds that solitude and weary limbs bring him closer to the wisdom of the world’s greatest thinkers. Recalling Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s reverie, Bertrand Russell’s misery, Epicurus’s joy in simplicity, and Henry David Thoreau’s love of the wilderness, Hayden offers a breath of fresh, country air for anyone craving an escape from the humdrum of everyday life.
Orbis
The Berrigan Letters: Personal Correspondence between Daniel and Philip Berrigan edited by Daniel Cosacchi and Eric Martin (May, hardcover, $30, ISBN 978-1-62698-164-5). These excerpts of letters between brothers famed for their social activism, civil disobedience, peacemaking efforts, and sharp critiques of American foreign policy offer insights into their activities and moving glimpses of their intense devotion to each other and their unbending faith.
Oxford Univ.
Big Dreams by Kelly Bulkeley (Apr., hardcover, $29.95, ISBN 978-0-19-935153-4). Provides the first full-scale cognitive scientific analysis of highly memorable dreams and explores the connection between big dreams and religious experience.
Redeeming the Kamasutra by Wendy Doniger (Mar., hardcover, $24.95, ISBN 978-0-19-049928-0). This book offers a fresh reading of one of the most well-known ancient Indian texts and argues for the restoration of the Kama Sutra to its proper place in the Sanskrit canon.
Pantheon
Apostle by Tom Bissell (Mar., hardcover, $28.95, ISBN 978-0-375-42466-3). This book is a profound and moving journey into the heart of Christianity that explores the mysterious and often paradoxical lives and legacies of the 12 Apostles—a book for those of the faith and for others who seek to understand Christianity from the outside in.
Paulist
Why Faith? A Journey of Discovery by Matt Emerson (Apr., paper, $17.95, ISBN 978-0-8091-4941-4). A resource for the modern pilgrim, particularly young adults, seeking clarity on big questions of the Catholic faith, such as “What is the basis for entrusting ourselves to something we cannot verify with certainty?”
Penguin Press
Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living by Krista Tippett (Apr., hardcover, $28, ISBN 978-1-594206-80-1). Tippett, author and host of the radio show On Being, offers a master class in living drawn from the inspiring stories of individuals who possess what she calls “spiritual genius.”
Penguin/Tarcher Perigee
The Miracle Power of Your Mind by Joseph Murphy (Mar., paper, $25, ISBN 978-1-101983-25-6). This is an unprecedented collection of rare and life-changing classics from the pioneering author of The Power of Your Subconscious Mind. These works are drawn from the most prolific and potent period in Murphy’s career, in the years just before he shook the world with his self-development landmark.
Plough
The God Who Heals: Words of Hope for a Time of Sickness by Johann Christoph Blumhardt and Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt (Apr., hardcover, $18, ISBN 978-0-874867-47-3). These sixty short daily reflections, each based on a verse from the Bible, guide believers facing serious sickness to a rock-solid faith and trust in the will of God.
Princeton Univ.
The Hebrew Bible: A Critical Companion, edited by John Barton (July, hardcover, $45, ISBN 978-0-691-15471-8). With contributions from experts with backgrounds in the Jewish and Christian faith traditions as well as secular scholars in the humanities and social sciences, Barton provides the perfect starting place for anyone seeking a user-friendly introduction to the Old Testament, and an invaluable reference for students and teachers.
Prometheus Books
The God Problem: How a Godless Cosmos Creates by Howard Bloom (Feb., paper, $21, ISBN 978-1-633881-42-6). Bloom takes readers on a scientific expedition into the secret heart of the cosmos, laying out his toroidal model, which explains two of the biggest mysteries in physics: dark energy and why, if antimatter and matter are created in equal amounts, there is so little antimatter in the universe.
Regnery
The Death of Humanity: And the Case for Life by Richard Weikart (Apr., hardcover, $27.99, ISBN 978-1-621574-89-7). Weikart’s book explores our culture’s declining respect for the sanctity of human life, drawing on philosophy and history to reveal the dark road ahead for society if we lose our faith in human life. 20,000-copy announced first printing.
Revell
More Than Rivals by Ken Abraham (June, paper, $15.99, ISBN 978-0-8007-2722-2). This is an inspiring true story of two boys of different races in the segregated South overcoming all odds to discover authentic friendship and transform their town forever.
Riverhead
Agnostic: A Spirited Manifesto by Lesley Hazleton (Apr., hardcover, $26, ISBN 978-1-594634-13-0). This book is a celebration of agnosticism as the most vibrant, engaging, and honest stance toward the mysteries of existence. Hazleton breaks agnosticism free of its stereotypes as watered-down atheism and amorphous “seeking” and recasts the question of belief not as a problem to be solved but as an invitation to an ongoing, open-ended adventure of the mind.
Rowman & Littlefield
The Founders and the Bible by Carl J. Richard (Apr., hardcover, $42, ISBN 978-1-4422-5464-0). Historian Richard carefully examines the framers’ relationship with the Bible, to assess the conflicting claims of those who argue that they were Christians founding a Christian nation against those who see them as deists or modern secularists.
The Genocide Question by Israel W. Charny (July, hardcover, $40, ISBN 978-1-4422-5436-7). Esteemed scholar of genocide Charny asks uncomfortable questions about what allows people to participate in genocide—either directly or indirectly.
Schocken
Choosing a Jewish Life: A Handbook for People Converting to Judaism and for Their Family and Friends by Anita Diamant (Feb., paper, $16.95, ISBN 978-0-805210-95-8). Married to a convert herself, Diamant provides advice and information that can transform the act of conversion into an extraordinary journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth.
Shambhala
The Intelligent Heart: A Guide to the Compassionate Life by Dzigar Kongtrul and Joseph Waxmen (May, paper, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-611801-78-1). In this lively and accessible presentation of a Tibetan Buddhist method for developing radical compassion known as lojong (mind training), Kongtrül offers a new translation of The Great Path of Awakening as well as commentary on the definitive lojong book.
What Is Zen? Plain Talk for a Beginner’s Mind by Norman Fischer and Susan Moon (Feb., paper, $15.95, ISBN 978-1-61180-243-6). Fischer and Moon, Zen teachers in the San Francisco area, have created a playful, enjoyable introduction to Zen Buddhism in a straightforward question-and-answer format.
Simon & Schuster
The Path: What Chinese Philosophers Can Teach Us About the Good Life by Michael Puett and Christine Gross-Loh (Apr., hardcover, $24.99, ISBN 978-1-476777-83-2). Puett and Gross-Loh offer a radical interpretation of a philosophy that emerged two thousand years ago through the work of a succession of Chinese scholars: there is no path to follow, just a journey we create anew at every moment by seeing and doing things differently.
S&S/Howard
Proof of Angels: The Definitive Book on the Reality of Angels and the Surprising Role They Play in Each of Our Lives by Ptolemy Tompkins and Tyler Beddoes (Feb., hardcover, $24.99, ISBN 978-1-501129-18-6). From a collaborator on the bestselling Proof of Heaven comes a book presenting evidence that angels are real and interact in our lives every day. Tompkins and Beddoes weave real-life stories into a rich narrative, exploring the history, nature, and significance of angels.
Skyhorse
A Shift in Time: How Historical Documents Reveal the Surprising Truth About Jesus by Lena Einhorn (Mar., hardcover, $19.99, ISBN 978-1-63158-099-4). This book explores the possibility that there may have been a conscious effort by those writing and compiling the New Testament to place Jesus’s ministry in an earlier, less-violent time period than when it actually happened.
Skylight Paths
Camino Divina: Walking the Divine Way by Gina Marie Mammano (May, paper, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-59473-616-2). This book draws on the practices of lectio divina and walking meditation to encourage opportunities for mindful movement.
Soft Skull
You Are Not Your Fault and Other Revelations: The Collected Wit and Wisdom of Wes “Scoop” Nisker by Wes “Scoop” Nisker (Mar., paper, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-593766-39-9). Nisker, a broadcast journalist and commentator and a renowned Buddhist meditation teacher, takes readers on both a cultural journey—through the radical 1960s, the modern environmental movement, the surge of Buddhism in the West—and a more personal one, exploring the motivation behind humanity’s search for spiritual enlightenment.
Sounds True
Practicing the Tao Te Ching by Solala Towler (May, paper, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-62203-603-5). Towler, former president of the National Qigong Association and Taoist meditation instructor, uncovers a wealth of spiritual practices within Taoism’s essential text.
The Evolutionary Path by Thomas Hübl (July, paper, $22.95, ISBN 978-1-622035-33-5). Blending engaging philosophical writing with practical tools, spiritual teacher Hübl offers a blueprint for awakening as the driving force in our lives—not by retreating into our practice, but by inviting each aspect of our daily existence to enliven us and inspire our growth. “The more of us that participate in the spiritual journey,” according to Hübl, “the more accessible awakening becomes to us all.”
St. Martin’s
Islamic Exceptionalism: How the Struggle over Islam Is Reshaping the Middle East by Shadi Hamid (May, hardcover, $25.99, ISBN 978-1-250-06101-0). This book is a dramatic inside account of the Arab Spring and its violent aftermath, based on years of research, travel, and firsthand access to participants in several nations.
St. Martin’s/Dunne
The Bible Doesn’t Say That: 40 Biblical Mistranslations, Misconceptions, and Other Misunderstandings by Joel M. Hoffman (Feb., hardcover, 25.99, ISBN 978-1-250-05948-2). A biblical scholar shows how many of the lessons and stories that people think are in the Bible really aren’t, and why.
Thomas Nelson
Moving Mountains: Praying with Passion, Confidence, and Authority by John Eldredge (Feb., hardcover, $24.99, ISBN 978-0-718037-51-2). Eldredge, president of Ransomed Heart Ministries, gives a master class in effective prayer and shows readers how a life with God is a partnership in a shared mission. For anyone who has ever wondered why their prayers don’t seem to be working, this book strives to answer those questions.
Outlaw Christian: Finding Authentic Faith by Breaking the ‘Rules’ by Jacqueline A. Bussie (Apr., paper, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-718076-64-1). Bussie, associate professor of religion at Concordia College, is tired of cocky clichés and snappy answers that explain away evil and suffering with a theological sleight of hand. In this call to arms, she urges a new generation of intellectually curious, socially aware believers, to pursue an honest faith and tenacious hope.
Transaction
The Internationalization of ISIS by Raphael Israeli (Apr., hardcover, $69.95, ISBN 978-1-4128-6273-8). Israeli, Professor Emeritus of Middle Eastern, Islamic and Chinese history at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, argues that ISIS could be contending for power in the Middle East for many years to come, while threatening to become a center of terrorist activity against the West.
Tyndale
Love Kindness: Discover the Power of a Forgotten Christian Virtue by Barry H. Corey (Mar., hardcover, $22.99, ISBN 978-1-496411-57-0). Corey, president of Biola University, believes we tend to devalue the importance of kindness, opting instead for caustic expressions of certainty that push people away. In this book, filled with stories from his travels around the globe, he presents readers with a path back to the forgotten way of kindness.
Colors of Goodbye by September Vaudrey (Apr., paper, $15.99, ISBN 978-1-4964-0817-4). Combining literary narrative and raw reflection, Vaudrey walks through one of life’s worst losses—the death of a child—and slowly becomes open to watching for the unexpected ways God carries her through hardship.
Univ. of North Carolina
Religion, Art, and Money: Episcopalians and American Culture from the Civil War to the Great Depression by Peter W. Williams (May, hardcover, $39.95, ISBN 978-1-4696-2697-0). Williams’s cultural history of mainline Protestant and American cities focuses on wealthy, urban Episcopalians—many of them the country’s most successful industrialists and financiers—and the influential ways they used their money to leave a deep, lasting mark on American urban culture.
Univ. of Notre Dame
Transcendent Love: Dostoevsky and the Search for a Global Ethic by Leonard G. Friesen (May, hardcover, $50, ISBN 978-0-268028-97-8). Friesen ranges widely across Dostoevsky’s stories, novels, journalism, notebooks, and correspondence to demonstrate how he engaged with ethical issues of his time and how those same issues continue to be relevant to today’s ethical debates.
Viva
Earth Blessings: Prayers, Poems and Meditations edited by June Cotner (Mar., paper, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-632280-23-7). In this book of poems and prayers for the planet, ranging from ancient to modern, Cotner strives to inspire individuals to view the Earth as sacred and to create an ecological celebration of inspiring poems, interfaith prayers, and spiritual prose.
W Publishing
Man, Myth, Messiah by Rice Broocks (Mar., paper, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-8499-4856-5). This follow-up to Broock’s bestseller God’s Not Dead looks at actual evidence for the historical Jesus and exposes the notions of skeptics.
Waterbrook
The Spirit Contemporary Life: Unleashing the Miraculous in Your Everyday World by Leon Fontaine (June, hardcover, $19.99, ISBN 978-1-601428-69-1). Fontaine, pastor and former first-responder EMT, offers spiritual care and healing through the “Spirit contemporary” way of living, which promotes a supernatural connection with God. Drawing on Scripture and personal experiences, he reveals to readers how a dynamic faith is possible for anyone in any setting.
Westminster John Knox
It’s Complicated: A Guide to Faithful Decision Making by Jack Haberer (Apr., paper, $15, ISBN 978-0-664-26124-5). This book helps serious Christians figure out what to do when life gets complicated and the distinctions between good and bad are not so clear.
Wisdom
Chan Heart, Chan Mind by Master Guojun (Mar., paper, $14.95, ISBN 978-1-61429-262-3). Guojun explores tenents of a little-known, fast-growing Zen sect. Those familiar with Zen, newcomers curious about Chinese Zen (Chan), and anyone who appreciates beauty in everyday life will find pearls of wisdom here.
The Story of Mu by James Cordova (Apr., paper, $19.95, ISBN 978-1-61429-220-3). This lush, beautifully illustrated narrative breathes humanity and warmth into one of the most famous and enigmatic koans of the Zen tradition.
Worthy
Reaching Your Prodigal by Phil Waldrep (Feb., paper, $15.99, ISBN 978-1-617956-75-1). This book presents strategies for when someone you care about makes poor choices in their life, relationships, and moral decision making. There is a way to love them back to the wholesome life that will bless them beyond imagination.
Worthy Inspired
Hunting Hope: Dig Through the Darkness to Find the Light by Nika Maples (Apr., hardcover, $15.99, ISBN 978-1-617956-65-2). At 20 years old, Maples suffered a devastating stroke that sent her into years of recovery. Through real life examples and biblical insight, she illustrates how, in Christ, there is always hope and that signs of spring can be found in every dark winter in our lives.
Yale Univ.
Mary in Early Christian Faith and Devotion by Stephen J. Shoemaker (July, hardcover, $38, ISBN 978-0-300217-21-6). Through extensive research, Shoemaker provides a fascinating background to the hitherto inexplicable explosion of Marian devotion that historians and theologians have pondered for decades, offering a wide-ranging study that challenges many conventional beliefs surrounding the subject of Mary, mother of God.
Zondervan
Feisty & Feminine by Penny Young Nance (Apr., hardcover, $24.99, ISBN 978-0-310-34513-8). In her debut, CEO and president of Concerned Women for America Nance takes an honest look at what it means to be a thoughtful conservative woman in today’s world.
Unstuffed by Ruth Soukup (Apr., paper, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-310-33769-0). Through personal stories and easy-to-apply practical takeaways, Soukup, founder of Living Well Spending Less, will inspire and empower women to finally declutter not just their homes, but their minds and souls as well.
Children’s
Barbour
The Bible Promise Book: Devotional and Bible Memory Plan for Kids by Jean Fischer (May, paper, $7.99, ISBN 978-1-63058-873-1). This book aims to provide young minds with God’s word. Each of the 52 Bible promise topics features a brief devotional reading—with an emphasis on practical application—followed by related Bible promises and an easy-to-follow plan for Scripture memorization. Ages 8–12.
It All Matters to Jesus Devotional for Boys: Bullies, Bikes, and Baseball... He Cares about It All! by Glenn Hascall (Mar., paper, $5.99, ISBN 978-1-63058-921-9). This book asks children, do you ever wonder if Jesus really cares about your new bike, your favorite app, or how you treat your little sister? In each of the 40 brief devotional chapters, Hascall brings the heavenly father into life’s daily details. Ages 8–12.
Barbour/GoTandem
If I Could Ask God Just One Question: 80 Answers to Teens’ Most-Asked Questions by Greg Johnson (Apr., paper, $7.99, ISBN 978-1-63058-351-4). Using an easy-to-follow q&a format, Johnson offers biblical answers to common questions about life, God, the Bible, and faith. Readers will come to realize that God isn’t afraid of the hard questions. Ages 13–18.
B&H
The Prince Warriors by Priscilla Shirer (Apr., hardcover, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-4336-9019-8). After travelling to the mysterious land Ahoratos, brothers Xavier and Evan, who are used to battling each other, discover a much bigger battle going on all around them. Based on Ephesians 6:10–18, Shirer’s book is perfect for middle-grade readers. Also includes the 365 Prince Warriors Devotional and app.
Concordia House
The Messengers: Discovered by Lisa M. Clark (May, paper, $12.99, ISBN 978-0-7586-5456-4). In this futuristic teen novel, 15-year-old Simon joins an underground church movement to restore Christianity and the Bible to the world. The government will stop at nothing to stop this movement. Join Simon and the other Messengers as they risk their lives to protect the Gospel. Ages 12–up.
Eerdmans
Our Father by Rainer Oberthür, illus. by Barbara Nascimbeni (Apr., hardcover, $16, ISBN 978-0-8028-5468-1). This book addresses children’s questions in a way that is both clear and poetic; Oberthür beautifully explains the meaning behind each line of the Lord’s Prayer, making it more accessible for young readers. Ages 4–8.
Kar-Ben
Passover Is Coming! by Tracy Newman, illus. by Viviana Garofoli (Feb., Board Book, $5.99, ISBN 978-1-4677-5242-8). Readers join a cute family and their dog as they prepare for and celebrate the spring holiday of Passover, cleaning the house, making matzo ball soup, assembling the seder plate, saying the Four Questions, and looking for the afikomen at the end of the seder. Ages up to 4.
Not for All the Hamantaschen in Town by Laura Milhander, illus. by Inna Chernyak (Feb., hardcover, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-4677-5928-1). The three little pigs, Rishon, Sheni, and Shlishi, are getting ready for the Purim carnival. They can’t wait to play games, eat hamantaschen, and march in the Purim parade. But will their fun at the carnival be spoiled by the big bad wolf? After all, wolves love hamantaschen too! Ages 3–8.
Sterling
Jonah and the Big Fish by Susan Collins Thoms, Naoko Stoop (Illustrated by) (Mar., Board Book, $6.95, ISBN 978-1-4549-1493-8). Thoms and Stoop collaborate for this child-friendly retelling of the story Jonah and the big fish. This lush edition of the classic Biblical story captures the tale’s watery world in jewel-toned illustrations. Ages up to 3.
Tiger Tales
Bedtime Blessing by Becky Davies, illus. by Tina Macnaughton (Mar., Board Book, $8.99, ISBN 978-1-58925-205-9). Join the animals around the world as they snuggle up to sleep—each one loved, cherished, and protected. With stunning illustrations, this inspirational bedtime prayer is perfect for sharing with little ones. Ages 2–5.
Tyndale
The Play-Along Bible: Imagining God’s Story Through Motion and Play by Bob Hartman, illus. by Susie Poole (Mar., hardcover, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-4964-0864-8). Through simple hand motions, facial expressions, verbal exclamations, and funny noises, kids can participate in God’s amazing story. This fresh, easy, multisensory approach helps children recall and absorb the Scriptures. Ages 3–6.
Be Still by Kathryn O’Brien, illus. by Gillian Flint (Mar., hardcover, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-4964-1116-7). This repetitive, rhythmic introduction to Psalm 46:10 turns Bible memorization from a duty to a delight for children, using O’Brien’s unique teaching strategy. Parents and children will enjoy interacting together over the passage. Ages 3–6.
WorthyKids/Ideals
All Things Bright and Beautiful by Cecil Frances Alexander, illus. by Katy Hudson (Feb., hardcover, $15.99, ISBN 978-0-8249-5676-9). Hudson brings new joy to this mainstay of churches and Sunday school classes with her fresh and engaging watercolors. Readers will be swept along as they follow three young children who delight in a day filled with the discovery of “all things bright and beautiful.” Ages 4–7.
Would a Worm Go on a Walk by Hannah C. Hall, illus. by Bill Bolton (Apr., hardcover, $15.99, ISBN 978-0-8249-5677-6). This is s comical picture book about the unique qualities of various creatures and how they were planned to be just that way by a loving, wise creator. This is a fresh, fun way to teach young children that God gave all the animals, and each of us, wonderful qualities and unique strengths. Ages 4–7.
Zondervan/Zonderkidz
Baby Wren and the Great Gift by Sally Lloyd-Jones, illus. by Jen Corace (Apr., hardcover, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-310-73389-8). This book prompts children to recognize the wonder of creation and all the amazing gifts he has given us. Ages 4–8.
Little One, God Loves You by Amy Warren Hilliker, illus. by Polona Lovsin (Feb., Board Book, $6.99, ISBN 978-0-310-75307-0). Hilliker, daughter of Rick Warren, offers a cute and cuddly board book that expresses the five purposes of the bestselling The Purpose-Driven Life for little ones. It includes a note to parents from Rick Warren. Ages 4–8.
7 Days of Awesome: A Creation Tale by Shawn Byous, illus. by Colin Jack (Feb., hardcover, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-310-74349-1). Full of delightful rhymes and charming illustrations, this book portrays the seven days of creation with a fun, humorous style children will love. Ages 4–8.
