by Mark D. Weinstein, Executive Director of Public Relations
The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association has named Alyson Punzi the 2026 Christian Book Award winner in the New Author category for her debut title, “He Always Hears: A Story of Loss and the Hope of Things Made New” by Crossway.
Christian Book Award Recognizes Emerging Voice in Christian Publishing
The honor was announced Tuesday, April 28, during the ECPA Awards Celebration at the Chicago Marriott Schaumburg, held in conjunction with the ECPA Leadership Summit. The annual event recognizes excellence in Christian publishing and highlights emerging voices shaping the future of the industry.
Punzi’s award-winning book, illustrated by Tyler Charlton, offers a message of hope and restoration through the lens of personal loss, pointing readers to the faithfulness of God in seasons of grief. As a first-time author, her recognition places her among the most promising new voices in Christian publishing.
Personal Loss Inspired Children’s Book on Grief and Hope
After the sudden and devastating loss of her husband, Frank, in 2022, Punzi, executive assistant to the vice president for advancement at Cedarville University, found herself navigating grief while also seeking a way to help her young daughter understand it. Frank’s death, caused by a rare and aggressive leukemia following a series of strokes, left Punzi grappling not only with her own sorrow but also with how to explain loss to a 2-year-old.
Drawing from her personal experience and the biblical concept of lament — a way of bringing pain honestly before God while holding on to hope — Punzi began searching for resources to guide her daughter. When she found none that addressed lament specifically for children, she felt compelled to create one herself.
“He Always Hears” Helps Families Talk About Loss
The result was her children’s book, “He Always Hears,” which uses a simple, relatable story about a young girl experiencing loss and introduces children to grief, hope and faith. Through the book, Punzi gives families a theological framework for understanding and expressing sorrow, teaching children that they can bring their hurt to God, who hears and cares for them. What began as a personal tool for her daughter quickly resonated with others, leading to support from friends, family and Crossway Publishing to bring the project to a wider audience.
Now, four years after her loss, Punzi views the book as both a resource for children and a guide for parents and caregivers walking alongside them through grief. She emphasizes that helping children process loss is not about having perfect answers but about consistently acknowledging pain while pointing them to hope in God’s promises. Through “He Always Hears,” Punzi hopes to open meaningful conversations about loss — both big and small — and remind families that they are not alone as they learn to navigate a broken world with faith and honesty.
Christian Book Award Honors Excellence in Religious Publishing
The Christian Book Award program is the oldest and one of the most prestigious recognitions in the religious publishing industry, honoring books that demonstrate excellence in content, creativity and ministry impact.
Cedarville Graduate Pursues Seminary Degree
Punzi earned a bachelor’s degree in history and biblical studies from Cedarville University and is pursuing a Master of Divinity through Cedarville Theological Seminary.
About Cedarville University
Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,265 students, it is among Ohio's largest private universities and is ranked among the nation’s top five evangelical universities in the Wall Street Journal’s 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.
