Christian Retailing

‘Jesus Calling,’ ‘Love Languages’ titles reach sales milestones Print Email
Written by Christine D. Johnson   
Tuesday, 10 January 2012 10:09 AM America/New_York

Missionary Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling devotional (Thomas Nelson) has now sold more than 2.5 million units worldwide, and Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell’s The 5 Love Languages of Children (Northfield Publishing/Moody Publishers) has exceeded 1 million copies sold.

In addition, the Jesus Calling brand of titles, including Jesus Calling for Kids and the Jesus Calling Devotional Bible, has sold more than 3.5 million units, reported Thomas Nelson.

“What an honor it is to watch God at work, drawing people closer to Him through the pages of this book,” said Laura Minchew, senior vice president of specialty publishing at Thomas Nelson. “I heard a recent story of a woman so touched by Jesus Calling that she purchased 23 copies to give to every member in her family.”

Jesus Calling is also now available in a large deluxe edition that features large, black print and the scriptures written out after each devotional entry. The book was also released as an app in 2011, giving readers access to the full-text book with the ability to share quotations or gift the app to friends.

Young’s next devotional, Jesus Today: Experience Hope Through His Presence, is scheduled to release in the fall.

Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell’s The 5 Love Languages of Children—re-released for February by Northfield Publishing/Moody Publishers—has sold more than 1 million copies since its 1997 publication, reported Janis Backing, the company’s publicity manager. The new release has been updated with the Love Languages Mystery Game and an epilogue for parents of teenagers and/or adult children.

Chapman and Rick Osborne have teamed up to write A Perfect Pet for Peyton, launching the “5 Love Languages Discovery Book” series for children 4-8 years old. The fully illustrated oversize hardcover features four-color illustrations with hidden details by Wilson Williams Jr. A social media campaign will build on the 5 Love Languages base, aiming to drive parents to a contest page and unlock exclusive content from each book.

Elsewhere in the children’s market, David C Cook plans to release a softcover edition of The Action Bible New Testament in April. More than 200,000 units of The Action Bible have been sold since September 2010.

A Christian Book Award winner, the full-color, comic-style Bible illustrated by DC Comics artist Sergio Cariello now has its own app, audio edition and The Action Bible Christmas Story.

Tyndale House Publishers is revamping two of the most popular titles in its best-selling “Little Blessings” series. With enhanced art, Why Is There a Cross? and Who Is Jesus? will be released in March, retailing for $3.99 each.

Written by Kathleen Bostrom and illustrated by Care Bears artist Elena Kucharik, these “questions books” for kids ages 3-8 have sold more than 80,000 copies combined in the hardcover format.