book cover

Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet

by Zanib Mian, illustrated by Nasaya Mafaridik

Interest age: 8 to 11
Reading age: 8+

Published by Hodder Children's Books, 2019

  • Funny

About this book

Omar has just moved into a new house with his family: sticky-fingered little brother Esa, snooty older sister Maryam and his scientist parents.

Going to a new school turns out to be okay, apart from the fact that class bully Daniel tells Omar that because he's a Muslim, he's going to be kicked out of the country and will have to go and live in Pakistan. Understandably worried, Omar asks his cousin if that's true, and both hope it isn't, because there's a distinct lack of good pizza there. Plus, there's mean Mrs Rogers next door who complains loudly about Omar's mum frying onions.

Yet when mean Mrs Rogers has an accident, Omar's family is there to help. And when Omar and bully Daniel get stranded on a school trip in London, Omar realises that Danny isn't so tough after all...

Previously published as The Muslims, which won the Little Rebels book prize in 2018, this newly illustrated and reworked version of Zanib Mian's hilarious, sweet story is an absolute delight.

Planet Omar has all of the everyday life family drama and silly humour of Tom Gates and Sam Wu, and it's wonderful to read a funny book for kids featuring a Muslim family.

About the author

Zanib Mian fell in love with writing at primary school. After studying molecular cell biology at University College London, she taught science in secondary school before deciding to move into children’s publishing. Zanib felt that characters from all minorities were missing from books for young children and launched Sweet Apple Publishers with a clear commitment to publishing inclusive books.

Her books include Oddsockosaurus and The Robot That Said Moo. They have featured on the BBC’s CBeebies Bedtime Stories show and in the Guardian for their contribution to diverse children’s literature. The Muslims won the 2018 Little Rebels Award and was longlisted for the 2018 UKLA Book Awards. She has also been nominated for the 2019 Carnegie Medal. Zanib lives in Wembley, London.

More books like this

Lists of recommended reads

Share this page Twitter Facebook LinkedIn