October 2024 | LISLE, IL—IVP Kids is pleased to announce that Zion Learns to See has received the 2024 Black Authors Matter Children’s Book Award in the religion and faith category. This annual award is sponsored by the National Black Book Festival and was established to honor excellence in African American literature.
Coauthored by father and daughter Terence and Zion Lester and illustrated by Subi Bosa, Zion Learns to See was also a finalist in the social justice category. Other honors include a 2024 Moonbeam Children’s Book Award and a 2024 American Fiction Awards finalist.
Zion Learns to See: Opening Our Eyes to Homelessness is inspired by real life events. Zion joins her dad at his work at the community center one day and learns about people experiencing homelessness. As she recognizes that all people matter to God, Zion is fueled into action and initiates a campaign with her classmates.
Zion Lester shared, “Our family’s constant involvement in serving the community helped me to see those faced with homelessness as community members. I learned to see everyone, regardless of whether they have an address, with dignity by being in the community.”
“Without instilling values such as love, compassion, justice, dignity, mercy, and grace” said Terence, “we risk raising a generation indifferent to the hardships of others.”
Terence Lester received his PhD from Union Institute and University. He 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. 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 regularly serves with Love Beyond Walls and encourages other youth to volunteer, too.
”Zion Learns to See is a delightful read and a necessary nudge,” said Dorena Williamson, bridge builder and author of The Celebration Place. “In the Gospels, Jesus was filled with compassion when he saw people who were marginalized by society and religion. This book gives us an opportunity to be like Jesus and motivates readers to join Zion in seeing and loving our neighbors as fellow image bearers.”
For a complete list of children’s titles from IVP, visit ivpkids.com.
Contact: Anna Tjernstrom, atjernstrom@ivpress.com
