Zanib Mian: ‘I want to educate through non-preachy, real stories’
Writing from a British Muslim point of view was an opportunity to tackle misconceptions about the community, says the author of new children's book Meet the Maliks – Twin Detectives
By Sarwar AlamAug 16, 2023
AUTHOR Zanib Mian said she wanted to give readers “a window into the lives of everyday Muslims” with her new children’s book, Meet the Maliks – Twin Detectives.
Aimed at primary school children, the story revolves around twins Maysa and Musa Malik who set out to solve the mystery of who destroyed their treats at a cookie-making competition at a local mosque.
Writing from a British Muslim point of view was an opportunity to tackle misconceptions about the community, Mian said.
“I never start with a misrepresentation and then try to correct it. I write quite organically so people learn through the story,” she told Eastern Eye. “It’s not preachy at all, it just intertwines in the story. When you are writing about a Muslim family, things naturally come up – praying, wearing the hijab, fasting during Ramadan.”
She added: “We’ve come a long way, but I still feel Muslims can be misunderstood and misrepresented even today. This book is for people who don’t have Muslim friends or someone they’re close enough to that they can ask questions and learn from.
Her latest book
“It’s important to iron out misunderstandings and educate through these kinds of books, and for me to feature a Muslim family, a mosque, an imam.
“People who only know about Islam through the lens of right-wing newspapers, for example, will have a completely different image of what an imam is. I wanted everyone to meet the imamnext-door kind of thing.”
Mian’s books have featured on BBC’s Cbeebies Bedtime Stories and in the Guardian for their contribution to diversity in children’s literature.
Her Planet Omar series revolves around a young Muslim boy who, in his imagination, builds rockets, rescues his friends from ‘aliens’ and saves his local mosque from closing down, among other adventures.
The series also deals with issues such as bullying and prejudice in a sensitive way.
“I love when I get messages from teachers and parents saying the kids learned so much about Ramadan,” she recalled. “Parents have said to me, ‘we’re not even Muslim, but my kids go around saying Assalamu Alaikum to everyone’.
“It’s just equipping children with information so they can build a better picture in their minds instead of building like a Daily Mail picture when they grow up.”
Mian said she ensures her books have characters from different backgrounds so it appeals to all children. In Planet Omar, the lead character’s friends are Charlie and Daniel. And in Meet the Maliks, the twins go on their adventures with their neighbour and friend Norman.
“There’s a lot that appeals to non-Muslim readers as well, because they are just everyday kids and doing everyday stuff. Even though there are things about Islam and Muslims, it’s more than that,” she said.
“It was very intentional (to have nonMuslim characters). Norman asks questions which provides me the opportunity to educate the reader. There’s a funny scene where Norman’s doing his wudu (ablution before praying) for the first time and the kids teach him how to do it. He asks, ‘why are you waking up in the middle of the night to eat?’. And we find out because it’s Ramadan and the kids are having suhur (pre-fast meal).”
She added: “Kids are going to grow up having Muslim and non-Muslim friends. The story is just organic. It’s just being real.
“We have a responsibility because if we don’t do it, then someone else is going to do it the wrong way. As a Muslim author I see it as a responsibility and I love doing it.”
Mian didn’t see Muslim characters in books when she was a child and this continued when she had children herself – she said they couldn’t relate to characters in books they read. After studying molecular cell biology at UCL, she worked as a science teacher before switching careers to write children’s books.
“As a little girl, I wrote lots of poetry and stories. I have got notebooks filled with stories and poems which my mum kept for me. Then at high school I followed my love for science and completely lost that side of myself until I had my own kids,” she said.
“I told my children stories and realised there’s literally no ethnic minority characters in fun stories. You’ll find them in stories about Ramadan or Diwali, but there was nothing in mainstream, fun stories.
“I published my first book in 2009 while I was still teaching. That was when nobody was talking about the lack of diversity in books or on screen. But I was self-publishing books featuring families from minority backgrounds.
“In 2014, I realised if I wanted to really make a go of this and get the books on the shelves and do it properly, I was going to have to give up my teaching job and focus on it as a full-time thing.”
Planet Omar was originally called The Muslims. Main admitted it was a struggle to get publishers on board, so she published the book herself, although that meant struggling to get it in the mainstream.
“My vision was to open up my tiny little independent publishing house and publish books by other authors,” she said.
“In 2013, the hashtag We Need Diverse Books really took off and it became a conversation where publishers were addressing this issue. But it took a while. I was still publishing my own books. It was really hard to get them on the shelves because they weren’t being published by one of the big five publishers.
“Then in 2017, Planet Omar won the Little Rebels Children’s Book Award which got the attention of the publishers and they told me they were interested.
“It was a kind of a funny route into traditional publishing.”
Fragments of Belonging is Nitin Ganatra’s first solo exhibition
Opens Saturday, September 27, at London Art Exchange in Soho Square
Show explores themes of memory, displacement, identity, and reinvention
Runs from 3:30 PM to 9:00 PM, doors open at 3:15 PM
From screen to canvas
Actor Nitin Ganatra, known for his roles in EastEnders, Bride & Prejudice, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, is embarking on a new artistic chapter with his debut solo exhibition.
Titled Fragments of Belonging, the show marks his transition from performance to painting, presenting a deeply personal series of works at the London Art Exchange in Soho Square on September 27.
Exploring memory and identity
Through abstract forms, bold colour, and layered compositions, Ganatra’s paintings reflect themes of memory, displacement, and cultural inheritance. The exhibition has been described as a “visual diary,” with each piece representing fragments of lived experience shaped by migration and reinvention.
What visitors can expect
The exhibition will showcase original paintings alongside Ganatra’s personal reflections on identity and belonging. The London Art Exchange promises an intimate setting in the heart of Soho, where visitors can engage with the artist’s work and connect with fellow creatives, collectors, and fans.
The event runs from 3:30 PM to 9:00 PM on September 27, and is open to all ages.
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£1 tickets available for families receiving Universal Credit
The Peter Rabbit™ Adventure runs at Hampton Court Palace from 25 July to 7 September 2025
Trail includes interactive games, riddles and character encounters across the gardens
Children can meet a larger-than-life Peter Rabbit in the Kitchen Garden
Special themed menu items available at the Tiltyard Café
£1 tickets available for families receiving Universal Credit and other benefits
Peter Rabbit comes to life at Hampton Court
This summer, families visiting Hampton Court Palace can step into the world of Beatrix Potter as The Peter Rabbit™ Adventure takes over the palace gardens from 25 July to 7 September 2025.
Explore the Kitchen Garden, Tiltyard and WildernessHRP
The family trail, officially licensed by Penguin Ventures on behalf of Frederick Warne & Co., combines the palace’s historic gardens with the much-loved tales of Beatrix Potter. Visitors will encounter interactive activities, puzzles and games while exploring the Kitchen Garden, Tiltyard and Wilderness.
Interactive activities and wildlife learning
Along the trail, children can try Mrs Tiggy-winkle’s washing equipment to make music, search for Peter Rabbit under wheelbarrows, or test their hopping skills alongside Beatrix Potter’s characters.
The experience also highlights Potter’s role as a committed environmentalist. Young visitors are encouraged to look for real wildlife such as hedgehogs, squirrels and toads while learning about habitats and conservation in the palace grounds.
Children can meet a larger-than-life Peter Rabbit HRP
Meet Peter Rabbit and enjoy themed treats
Peter Rabbit himself will make appearances in the Kitchen Garden at set times each day, where families can take photos among the seasonal produce. Fresh fruit and vegetables grown in the gardens will feature in special Peter Rabbit™ menu items at the Tiltyard Café.
After completing the trail, children can also explore the Magic Garden playground or visit Henry VIII’s Kitchens inside the palace, where live cookery demonstrations take place each weekend.
Tickets and access
The Peter Rabbit™ Adventure is included in general admission:
Off-peak (weekdays and bank holidays): Adults £27.20, Children (5–15) £13.60, Concessions £21.80
Peak (weekends and events): Adults £30.00, Children £15.00, Concessions £24.00
HRP Members go free
Families in receipt of Universal Credit and other means-tested benefits can access £1 tickets throughout the summer (advance booking required).
Membership offers unlimited visits to Hampton Court Palace and other Historic Royal Palaces sites, including seasonal events such as the Hampton Court Palace Food Festival and Henry VIII’s Joust.
For more details and booking, visit
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Gavin & Stacey takes home the comedy award
I’m a Celebrity wins in the reality competition category
Lineker takes presenter prize after BBC departure
Gary Lineker has ended Ant and Dec’s record 23-year winning streak at the National Television Awards (NTAs). The former Match of the Day presenter was voted best TV presenter by viewers at the ceremony on Wednesday.
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The mural has been covered and is being guarded by security
A new mural by street artist Banksy has appeared on the Royal Courts of Justice building in central London.
The artwork depicts a judge hitting a protester, with blood splattering their placard.
It comes days after nearly 900 arrests at a London protest against the ban on Palestine Action.
The mural has been covered and is being guarded by security; Banksy confirmed authenticity via Instagram.
Banksy’s latest work at the Royal Courts of Justice
A new mural by the elusive Bristol-based street artist Banksy has appeared on the side of the Royal Courts of Justice building in central London.
The artwork shows a judge in traditional wig and black robe striking a protester lying on the ground, with blood depicted on the protester’s placard. While the mural does not explicitly reference a specific cause or incident, its appearance comes just two days after almost 900 people were arrested during a protest in London against the ban on Palestine Action.
Security and public access
Social media images show that the mural has already been covered with large plastic sheets and two metal barriers. Security officials are guarding the site, which sits beneath a CCTV camera.
Banksy shared a photo of the artwork on Instagram, captioning it: “Royal Courts Of Justice. London.” This is consistent with the artist’s usual method of confirming authenticity.
Location and context
The mural is located on an external wall of the Queen’s Building, part of the Royal Courts of Justice complex. Banksy’s stencilled graffiti often comments on government policy, war, and capitalism.
Previous works in London
Last summer, Banksy launched an animal-themed campaign in London featuring nine works. The series concluded with a gorilla appearing to lift a shutter at the London Zoo. Other notable pieces included piranhas on a police sentry box in the City of London and a howling wolf on a satellite dish in Peckham, which was removed less than an hour after unveiling.