Zion joins her dad at his work on Saturday and she experiences a world she didn't know exist. She goes to the community center and helps her dad pass out food and items to homeless people. During this time, she learns that God loves everyone and everyone matter--even people who are dealing with circumstances out of their control. This was my first book that really showed the reality of homelessness and why it is so important to go out and help them as they are part of our community.

I loved everything about this story
From the story itself, the illustrations, and most of all the message. I'm all about service to people in need and this story placed a smile on my face. Everyone matters no matter the situation they are going through. I love how Zion was able to have this first hand experience, in which she was able to share it with others. Everyone should have this exact at least one or twice in their life, maybe it will result into more changes that are needed.

Zion followed her father go to work. She wondered what kinds of things her father could do to make people feel like they mattered. Before head to work place, her father stop by at the drive-thru to make an order of breakfast. Her father buy too manu breakfast for his friends. This make Zion curious; for what? The next stop was the community shelter. The placed that her father worked. Zion feels sad when her father told every person should matters to us. These people dont have home because they have their own reasons.

Should read this with your kids before going to bed. It is a heartwarming story to open our mind and heart to see the difficulties people around us.

Zion's father asks her to join him at his job one Saturday and she does, wondering just what her father does. After they stop and pick up Zion's favorite drive thru breakfast sandwich (and fifty more!) Zion's father takes her to the community center where he works with people and families experiencing homelessness. Zion is so moved that she wants to help as well. This is an excellent title for personal purchase.

"every person matters to God. And that means every person should matter to us.
When we begin to see people the way God sees them, we treat them differently."

This thoughtful, sweet, and important book reminds readers, young and small, that all people are valued and in the image of God. I loved the way Lester wrote to bring dignity to this topic and challenged my own thinking and how I want to equip my little ones as well. We should all "see" in this way.

I initially did not see that the book was tagged as Christian, so I did not anticipate the mention of God in emphasizing the importance of caring for others and serving. This book would be a strong addition to a well-rounded library collection, but I would not necessarily share it during a story hour or add it to a recommended books list. The message itself, and Zion's journey to learning about the world and people around her, is worthwhile and thought out.

Zion Learns To See by Terence Lester

This children's story features the sensitive subject of homelessness and encourages readers to think about these people and how we should treat them.
I felt it was a very nice and inspiring read and I think it's one many people will enjoy.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for my review copy.

Zion Learns to See is a beautiful book about a little girl who learns about the community outreach work her father does and how that inspires her to give back to the community. It's so important for children to be aware of the injustices in the world and how we can all help and this book is a wonderful took to share that message with children.

What a wonderful book to show how everyone truly matters and each person is important to God! As I often say of children's books, this book can teach and be enjoyed by all ages! I think we all need this simple reminder sometimes of just how far a little kindness and compassion can go and how we can help others. I loved this title and think its an excellent addition to any library! The illustrations and the writing was beautiful!

This book introduces Zion to her father's work at the community center specifically with the homeless population. Her father teaches her a religious lesson through this visit and inspires her to start a donation drive at school.

Zion is introduced to homelessness through her dad’s work at a community center. They share food, blankets, and the love of God with people of all ages. This is a great book to introduce children to homelessness and inspire them to think about volunteering or donating clothes and blankets. I also loved that the story was based on the real father and daughter who wrote the book.

Zion Learns to See: Opening Our Eyes to Homelessness
by Terence Lester
Take your daughter to work day book with a social change focus. The act of bring your daughter to work is not abnormal, and encouraged by many states, and companies. Zion's father works a community center. This changes the concept of this empowering and encouraging concept of women working and being connected to their family and community. The book shows that there are many stories in a community. That the broad acceptance of people as people, that they should all be respected and accepted is very positives. The fact the book also shows that children can be a force not only for social change, but active in positive ways goes along with movements currently in schools. As I saw this in practice in a number of my schools that competed with each other to give back to the community's in a similar way as Zion encouraged. This would be a great book for the teachers to share before implementing these social change programs.

This digital ARC was obtainable via NetGalley for an honest review!

"Zion Learns to See" is such a heartwarming and inspirational read. Firstly, representation matters! It's amazing to see that more children books are featuring characters who look like me. I am glad that children of my race can see themselves in literature. The message of this book is so important and moving. We need more books like this to help heal ourselves, others, and our world. This is definitely a book that I want to purchase and read to my own children. Very beautiful.

This is an amazing story about a child and their father who spend the day together serving their community by helping the homeless. Not only does the child learn the meaning and repercussions of homelessness but also learns valuable lessons in treating people with respect and kindness, helping others and how everybody deserves empathy and kindness

Wow! What an eye opening book for kids to have a vision for houselessness! I read it with my son and he immediately realized some of the people we see around the world were houseless and it gave him more compassion for them. We hope to go serve at a rescue mission at some point and will definitely refer back to the ideas from this book! Phenomenal!

Zion has a special day with her father. She is going to work with her father. He helps the homelessness in his community. What Zion sees and experiences open her eyes to her community and the humanity of others. This is a great resource to have conversations with your children on a growing problem in the United States. It gives hope and a purpose for all of us.

A special thank you to Intervarsity Press and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

This sweet book helps humanize the experience of homelessness for young children. This would be a fantastic book for parents to read with their children to help answer questions that might arise after seeing or hearing about someone who is unhoused.

This picture book explores the issue of homelessness through the eyes of a little girl who goes with her father to volunteer at a community center. Terence Lester partly based this on his family's experiences, since he is the founder of a justice work organization, and the book introduces the issue of homelessness to young readers without being too scary for them.

Lester approaches heavy issues in a gentle, compassionate way. The story shows how Zion comes to understand that anyone can become homeless, even children, and that it is important to honor everyone's dignity, helping people in a way that honors their individuality and creates a relationship with them.

The repeated theme of the book is that because God loves and cares about people, we should love and care for them, too. The story also ends on a hopeful note, as Zion starts collecting donations for the community center through her school. The book shows that even young people can make a difference, and there's a nice note from the author for parents at the end.

I would recommend this book to Christian families, churches, and Christian schools who want to explore the topics of poverty and homelessness in age-appropriate, compassionate ways. This can be a great jumping-off point for people to get involved in their communities, and this book can also appeal to people who don't share the author's Christian beliefs. Even though this book emphasizes God's love as a driving force in loving our neighbors, the story isn't overly preachy, and can appeal beyond a strictly faith-based audience.

had so much fun reading this book, the story is so adorable and the illustrations were so well done and charming, there’s so many little details in every page that I couldn’t stop but be mesmerized by it all. I will definitely be recommending it! Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this early copy

Thoughts:
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is a great book, it introduces a critical concept such as homelessness to children in an age appropriate way while still making sure they are aware that anyone can become homeless, even children as Zion notes, which can also be seen through the illustrations of the homeless people with a variety of races, genders, ages, ability/disabilities portrayed. I appreciated that while the writer had a religious message as well as the homeless cause they mentioned it in a way which got their message across without becoming too preachy since I generally believe children shouldn’t be overly forced until they are able to properly understand. I found the dedication heartwarming but the statistics in the note from the author important but heartbreaking that this is reality in this day and age.

Favourite Quote:
"But everyone matters - whether they have a home or not. And that’s why we’re here."