I loved Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet for its loving #ownvoices immersion in a British Pakistani family adapting to life in a new town, new job, new school and new neighbourhood, some good, some mean but ultimately kindness, empathy and friendship prevail it was one of my favourite highly-illustrated books of the year, so when I found out that that Zanib Mian was bringing us more adventures on Planet Omar I was so excited.
I’m so pleased to say that Omar has returned better than ever and with wonderful illustrations returning from Nasaya Mafaridik.
Things have been great for Omar recently. School is great now he and Charlie are friends with Daniel and the whole family seems happier and particularly more settled since finding the right mosque, even their elderly neighbour Mrs Rogers cannot wait to come and celebrate Eid with them there.
BUT! The Mosque’s roof is collapsing and they need to urgently raise £30,000 to repair it or they will have to close. Omar tells Charlie and Daniel who resolve to help raise as much money as possible from selling cookies and crafts and even hosting a talent show.
But when the money goes missing, it takes letting go of judgements to discover the truth.
I adore Omar, he is quite frankly the sweetest young boy! Zanib Mian has captured beautifully the playful imagination and silliness of a young boy from imagining his dream house in Paradise for helping save the Mosque to the games in the playground with his friends. You can’t help but love Omar whether he is caught sneaking down to play X-Box after bedtime or giving his mum the most creative (though not necessarily enjoyable) full-sensory spa treatment ever.
I also love how his new friend Daniel’s revealed fragility extends into this book as he is transformed into a warm and playful boy yet still wobbly about whether he is liked, and yet Charlie and Omar are wonderfully supportive, open and encouraging to him. This kindness and empathy is beautiful to see in children’s books but particularly from young boys modelling a kind of masculinity that embraces emotions and kindness.
In the original Planet Omar, Zanib Mian embedded into the text details and explanations about British-Pakistani and British Muslim life within a frankly gorgeous and loving family. This book similarly explores concepts such as Halal in a natural yet informative way as even little brother Esa struggles with why he cannot have sausages or regular Haribo, explained and shown in a clear and positive way with no judgement.
This book is equally fabulous in that way to build empathy but also to celebrate diversity with young British Pakistani and Muslim children recognising themselves in Omar’s family and the way they have both British and Pakistani-Muslim elements from spaghetti bolognese and nerfguns to rising for morning prayers and the joy of biryani though are always rounded individuals never limited by these factors.
Planet Omar is a super-cute illustrated adventure through the life of Omar as he shines and struggles but always with kindness and good intentions in his heart. I thoroughly look forward to continuing Omar’s story in Book 3: The Incredible Rescue mission publishing in June.
Planet Omar 2: Unexpected Super Spy by Zanib Mian illustrated by Nasaya Mafiridik is published by Hodder.
Lily and the Fae 
Great review! I’ve never read any Planet Omar books but they do sound good, and I do like the illustrations 🙂
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They’re like a fun inclusive twist on the diary style format with doodles and whatnot! They are such cute books honestly great role models for any boys that you can be sensitive and strong too.
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I don’t think these are books for me, but I am glad they get your seal of approval as they’re ones I’d like to be able to recommend more confidently in work. Would you say of the Tom Gates/Wimpy Kid style in terms of who they’d be most popular with?
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Probably so, I know this age group is often unrateable for you and I understand the reasons. I read the first book as a proof without the illustrations so I got hooked into the story first, having bought a final copy & have this I feel that the illustrations are a nice & useful ornamentation but the stories still stand good.
They’re more like a hybrid between the diary doodle style & light early chapter – a slightly more graphic & embedded illustrative style but with an early chapter approach?
I’d say they are on the younger level too? More the 5-7 shelf than the 8-12 though there is room for crossover. I think he’s supposed to be year 5 but Omar feels younger- in a good way.
I
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Yeah, they’re classed as 8-12 in work but I agree they feel younger end of (although don’t get me started on which shelf books are on after twitter today 😬🤦♀️!!)
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Ha! Yeah I would put this with fans of (actually slightly easier than) Sam Wu? (It’s a BIG font, lots of spacing and illustrations on every page.)
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Oh and I have seen!!!!!! I feel for you. Those children are missing so much jumping to YA- I speak from bitter experience.
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I agree! I just feel a bit like people seem to be trying to tell me that/suggest I fix it…beginning to wish I’d not asked.
For the most part parents will, with a fair bit of convincing in a lot of cases, accept an MG. I just wanted ideas to offer those who flat out won’t, but feel like I’m now having it explained to me from all sides that MG would be best. Sigh.
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Totally get that, there are some people who see their child as ‘behind’ if they aren’t reading ‘proper’ books by secondary school and they will not be persuaded otherwise. Seriously trudging through a list of ‘grown up’ & ‘worthy’ books won’t necessarily get them into the university of their choice, but getting the vocabulary, expression and imagination from reading for genuine pleasure may do.
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Exactly. It is exactly this sort of parent we see A LOT because of our location, nearby schools etc! Sad, but true.
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