
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
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

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Meet the Maliks, Twin Detectives The Cookie Culprit
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Planet Omar: Incredible Rescue Mission
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Planet Omar: Unexpected Super Spy
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The Blockbusters!
by Frank Cottrell-Boyce, illustrated by Steven Lenton
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