Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet by Zanib Mian (review)

Omar’s nervous about going to a new school after his family moves, but despite some pressing concerns—Will he make new friends? What if his teacher is an alien?—he’s off to a great start. The only problem: he isn’t sure what to make of the class bully’s claim that Omar’s Muslim family will soon be kicked out of the country. In this slice-of-life British import, Omar recounts the daily struggles of his family of five, from waking up early for morning prayers and breakfast, to chaotic packing for car trips, to dealing the prejudiced neighbor next door. Mian integrates details about Islamic worship and Pakistani culture without becoming didactic, as Omar’s voice and understanding of the world are authentically young. Not to be shown up by his older sister, for example, he’s determined to fast during Ramadan, and he and his new friend Charlie excitedly speculate that Allah’s secret reward for fasting might be a Ferrari. Mafaridik’s cartoony artwork and illustrative lettering visualize Omar’s imagination, but they don’t quite match the writing’s charm or humor. The book also holds back at its conclusion, adding an implausibly neat wrapup that writes off the prejudice as a product of misinformation after both the neighbor and the bully receive help from Omar and his family. Still, elementary school readers will find both a funny, relatable new companion and a primer on Muslim family life with the start of this series.