Zion Learns to See: Opening Our Eyes to Homelessness
About this ebook
2025 Independent Press Awards – Picture Books Ages 4-8
2024 Moonbeam Children's Book Award Winner
2024 Black Authors Matter Childrens Book Award Winner
Every person matters to God. And that means every person should matter to us.
Join Zion and her dad on a life-changing Saturday in Zion Learns to See, a heartwarming story by father-daughter duo Terence and Zion Lester. Based on a true story, this beautifully illustrated book teaches lessons of connection, compassion, and faith in action.
Follow young Zion as she accompanies her father to a local community center serving people experiencing homelessness. What begins as an ordinary day soon becomes a powerful lesson that changes Zion's perspective. As Zion learns about people experiencing homelessness, young readers will see how everyone matters to God and feel inspired to make a difference in their own communities.
With dynamic illustrations by Subi Bosa and an author’s note encouraging further conversation about the content, this book is perfect for families, churches, and classrooms that want to foster deeper conversation and discuss practical ways to extend God’s love to the marginalized.
Why You'll Love This Book:
- Teaches Important Values: Introduces themes of mercy, justice, and community in ways that are age-appropriate and accessible
- Builds Compassion: Encourages children to see and care for others the way God does
- Encourages Deeper Conversation: A note from the author facilitates meaningful conversations about homelessness and how faith moves us to action.
Discover what happens when children learn to see that every person matters to God. Add Zion Learns to See to your collection today and share with children the things that matter to God!
About the author
Zion Lester became interested in her dad's work on a Saturday morning when she was seven years old. Since then, she has grown to become a community leader, writer, and speaker. She has also continued to regularly serve with Love Beyond Walls and encourages others her age and younger to volunteer too.
Terence Lester (PhD, Union Institute and University) is a minister, speaker, community activist, author, and founder of Love Beyond Walls, a not-for-profit organization focused on poverty awareness and community mobilization.
Subi Bosa is an illustrator of picture books, comics, and graphic novels. Growing up in South Africa, Subi drew all the time and in every room of his house—sometimes even on the walls! Today, he lives in Cape Town, South Africa, where he produces a podcast for creatives and continues his passion for illustration.
