‘Honored to Help’ features real photos and the relatable story of a child’s dad leaving for deployment. While her dad’s away, Zeyiah misses him a lot, but she learns that it feels good to step up and help her mom care for her little brother and do household chores.
Research shows that books with realistic images increase children’s understanding of context and their ability to connect to information. The Tricky Topic Books guide your family through common challenges, meeting your child at their level with the right vocabulary and number of words.
Key features
For 3+ years old
Features real photographs and an authentic story help your child relate to dealing with separation
Customer Reviews (4.8 / 5 · 18 reviews)
Kevin I.★★★★★
My 4-year-old sat completely still while we read about Zeyiah waiting for her dad—that never happens. The real-life photos made the deployment concept click for her in a way my explanations never could. She's already asked to read it again twice tonight.
Timothy I.★★★★★
My little one was starting to have trouble sleeping when my husband left for training, but the relatable story in this book gave her the words to talk about missing him. The real photos helped her connect with Zeyiah's experience in a way cartoons never could. It’s become our nightly comfort read.
Julian L.★★★★★
The real photos in this book made the story of deployment feel so much more real for my son. He asked me to read it three nights in a row, and it's helped him open up about missing his dad while he's away.
Natalie W.★★★★★
My daughter Zeyiah’s eyes lit up seeing a character who looks like her talking about missing her dad. The deployment story gave us a way to talk through her feelings during his time away.
Jason★★★★★
The real photos helped my son understand what military deployment means without me having to explain too much. He asks to read about Zeyiah every night now, and it’s opened up good conversations about missing people.
Hazel★★★★★
My 4-year-old really connected with Zeyiah's story—she kept asking to read it again, which is rare for her. The real photos helped her understand deployment better than any cartoon could.
Emma★★★★★
My daughter actually asked to read this three nights in a row—the deployment story really helps her understand why Daddy has to go away for a while. The real photos keep her engaged, and the simple language is perfect for her age.
Penelope Q.★★★★★
The real photos in this book made the concept of deployment much easier for my daughter to grasp. She connected with Zeyiah’s story right away, and we’ve read it every night since it arrived.
Isabella★★★★★
My son is only five, but the real photos in this book helped him understand why his uncle had to leave for a while. He asks to read about Zeyiah every night now. We read it together before bed and it sparked a good conversation about missing people. It’s helped him feel a bit more prepared for our own upcoming time apart.
Leo★★★★★
The story about Zeyiah dealing with deployment felt genuine, and my daughter kept asking to read it again at bedtime. It’s helped start conversations about when I travel for work, which I hadn’t expected.
