Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

A heroic voice in children’s books

A heroic voice in children’s books

AUTHOR ZANIB MIAN DISCUSSES HER LATEST WORK

MORE lead characters from diverse backgrounds are finally being featured in children’s books and that is largely thanks to talented authors such as Zanib Mian.


She has successfully written a whole host of books, including her popular Planet Omar series, which has a young Muslim protagonist. The latest in that series is the newly released Planet Omar Epic Hero Flop, which once again sees the title character get into more trouble after heroically taking the blame for something he didn’t do. This is another successful chapter in the story of a children’s author who has helped to bring diversity into books for the young.

Eastern Eye caught up with Zanib Mian to discuss her latest book, inspirations, and the secret to writing a great children’s book.

What first connected you to writing children’s books?

It was in 2007, with the realisation, when building my son’s library, that some two decades later, things hadn’t changed since I was a little girl. Minorities were still missing from fun stories. There were no Asian heroes in books.

What led towards the creation of Planet Omar?

I had only written picture books before the Planet Omar series, perhaps, as my boys, who fully inspire my stories, were a lot younger when I started writing. As they grew, my imagination was tickled by how much fun I could have narrating a story in the voice of a young cheeky Pakistani boy. But my real impetus was Trump’s presidency campaign, Brexit, and all the racism fuelled by these both. I knew that the world needed to meet a regular Muslim family next door.

What has the experience of writing the books been like? 

Just wonderful! It’s a dream to do what you love, day in and day out. Crafting each story has been an incredible experience – bringing interesting characters to life, with many layers of their personality; thinking up exciting plots with the unexpected; and of course, the real-life goofiness and comical moments – all of my mind’s choosing. It’s such fun.

Tell us about the latest book in the series?

The latest book is the fourth in the series, not including the stand-alone Planet Omar World Book Day 2021 that I had the absolute honour of writing. Epic Hero Flop features another of Omar’s edge-of-the-seat mishaps, when he gets blamed for something big at school, which he didn’t do. This book has some really important themes of mindfulness that Omar uses to get himself through this hard time. It’s something I wanted to include, because I feel adults and children alike need to nourish their mental and emotional health after the difficult times the pandemic has caused.

How does it compare to the other Planet Omar books?

Omar’s always facing some sort of lifechallenge, and he navigates his way through by using wit, integrity and unassuming charm. This one is no different, with life-challenge number four (five including the World Book Day book).

Does the success of the other books put pressure on you?

(Laughs) Thanks! A kind question. Yes and no.

Tell us about the fantastic illustrations in the book?

They are fantastic fun. Books one to three were illustrated by Nasaya Mafaridik, but for book four, there’s a new illustrator, Kyan Cheng. It’s fabulous to have the doodles aid the words on each and every page.

So, what is the secret of writing a good children’s book?

Lead inset Planet Omar by Zanib Mian 0983 1

 

Think like a child!

Have you learned anything new while writing these books?

You know something incredibly funny? I have learnt that I have been trying to empower children through these books. I’ve learnt to be comfortable in my own skin, and that being ‘different’ to everyone else around you is absolutely fine.

Is it a challenge to get kids connected to books in the technology era?

Not according to the many parents and teachers that send me messages to say how flabbergasted they are by kids not putting the books down. I feel so blessed to hear such things.

What can we expect next from you?

Oooh, I wish I could say! (Does fun evil laugh) Let’s just say I’m feeling villainous! I’m just starting to write Planet Omar book five, and hopefully, there will be a whole new book coming soon, too.

What inspires you as a writer?

Every day happenings and the people I meet or stare at like the nosey people lover that I am.

What do you enjoy reading and do you have a favourite book?

My favourite is Tolkien’s The Hobbit. I enjoy reading picture books (ahem, to kids).

Why do you love being a writer?

I love making a difference in a child’s life by empowering them with important life lessons and values, through an exciting and entertaining story that will make them giggle. That is a neat little gift to give a kid.

Zanib Mian, a World Book Day author this year, is the author of the Planet Omar series and her next book Planet Omar: Epic Hero Flop (Hodder Children’s Books) is out now.

More For You

Ping Pong restaurant chain shuts all UK branches

The chain had also gained a following for its themed brunches

iStock

Ping Pong restaurant chain shuts all UK branches after 20 years

Key points

  • Chinese dim sum restaurant Ping Pong has closed all its UK locations
  • The chain made the announcement via social media
  • Founded in 2005, the brand thanked customers and staff for their support
  • Loyal diners shared memories and disappointment in the comments

All branches are permanently closed

Chinese restaurant chain Ping Pong has permanently closed all its branches in the UK, the company confirmed in a social media announcement.

Founded in 2005 by restaurateur Kurt Zdesar, the dim sum chain had become popular for its stylish interiors, creative menus, and Asian-inspired cocktails. The company did not provide prior notice of the closure but said the decision marked the end of an “unforgettable” 20-year journey.

Keep ReadingShow less
New Covid strain

Experts have raised concerns about the immune-evasive nature of the Stratus strain

iStock

New Covid strain Stratus spreads in UK with unusual hoarse voice symptom

Key points

  • A new Covid strain known as Stratus is spreading across the UK
  • The variant is marked by a distinctive symptom: a hoarse or raspy voice
  • Sub-variants XFG and XFG.3 now account for 30% of cases in England
  • Experts say there is no evidence of more severe disease
  • Lower immunity levels may make more people vulnerable to infection

Covid variant Stratus on the rise in the UK

A new strain of Covid-19, known as Stratus, is spreading across the UK and drawing attention for its unusual symptom — a hoarse or raspy voice. According to data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Stratus and its two sub-variants, XFG and XFG.3, are responsible for around 30 per cent of Covid cases in England.

Of the two, XFG.3 is currently the more dominant. The UKHSA confirmed that monitoring of all circulating Covid-19 variants is ongoing as part of regular surveillance.

Keep ReadingShow less
Human brain continues forming neurons

Neurogenesis, the process by which new neurons form in the brain

iStock

Human brain continues forming neurons well into old age, study finds

Key points

  • New neurons continue forming in the brain’s hippocampus into old age
  • Study confirms presence of neural progenitor cells in adults
  • DNA carbon dating and single-nucleus RNA sequencing were used
  • Research shows variation in neuron production between individuals
  • Findings could aid treatments for neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders

Human brain shows ongoing neuron formation into older age

A new study has confirmed that the human brain continues to produce new nerve cells well into late adulthood, challenging previous assumptions about age-related decline in neurogenesis. The findings, published in the journal Science, provide fresh insight into how adaptable the brain remains over a lifetime.

Neurogenesis, the process by which new neurons form in the brain, is known to occur in the hippocampus — a region involved in memory. While previous research has suggested that this process continues throughout life, there has been limited concrete evidence of the presence of neural progenitor cells in the adult brain.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kent County Show 2025

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, who grew up in Brenchley

Getty Images

Kent County Show opens with royal visit from Duchess of Edinburgh

Key points:

  • Day one of the Kent County Show begins at Detling Showground near Maidstone
  • The Duchess of Edinburgh visits the event for the first time in 16 years
  • Organisers expect up to 70,000 visitors over the weekend
  • Farming and rural life are at the centre of the three-day programme
  • Highlights include live camel racing, equine sports, livestock displays and more

Kent County Show opens with royal visit

The Kent County Show returned to Detling near Maidstone on Friday, marking the start of a major three-day celebration of farming, food, and rural living. The event opened with a special visit from the Duchess of Edinburgh, who is attending for the first time in 16 years.

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, who grew up in Brenchley near Tunbridge Wells and serves as patron of the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations (ASAO), met with farmers, equine exhibitors, and local businesses on her tour of the showground.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sri Aurobindo

Heehs’s biography is grounded in extensive archival research across France, England, India and Israel

AMG

Sri Aurobindo and the rise of the Asian century

Dinesh Sharma

My friend and colleague, the American historian Peter Heehs, who has lived in Pondicherry, India, for decades, recently published a compelling new biography, The Mother: A Life of Sri Aurobindo’s Collaborator (2025). Heehs previously authored The Lives of Sri Aurobindo (2008), which remains one of the most balanced and scholarly accounts of Aurobindo’s life.

According to Heehs, most previous biographies of the Mother were written for devotees and relied on secondary sources, often presenting her as a divine incarnation without critical engagement. “Such biographies are fine for those who see the Mother as a divine being,” Heehs said, “but they can be off-putting for readers who simply want to understand her life – as an artist, writer, spiritual teacher, and founder of the Ashram and Auroville.”

Keep ReadingShow less