Zanib Mian author page

Zanib Mian biography

Zanib Mian is a British children’s author and former science teacher, widely recognized for her contributions to inclusive literature. She studied Molecular Cell Biology at University College London and taught science in secondary schools before transitioning to publishing. Motivated by the lack of diverse representation in children’s books, Mian founded Sweet Apple Publishers and Muslim Children’s Books, aiming to create stories that reflect a broad spectrum of backgrounds and experiences.

Her breakout work, The Muslims, self-published in 2017, won the Little Rebels Award in 2018. The book was later acquired by Hachette Children’s Group and reissued as Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet in 2019, launching a successful middle-grade series. The Planet Omar books have been recognized for their humor and authentic portrayal of a British Muslim family, earning nominations for the CILIP Carnegie Medal and the UKLA Award. The series is published in North America by Penguin Random House and has been translated into multiple languages.

In addition to Planet Omar, Mian authored the Meet the Maliks: Twin Detectives series, with the first book, The Cookie Culprit, winning the Inclusive Books for Children Award for Best Children’s Fiction in 2024. Her works have been featured on BBC’s CBeebies Bedtime Stories and highlighted in The Guardian for their role in promoting diversity in children’s literature.

Mian is also involved in literary advocacy, serving as a judge for the Young Muslim Writers Awards.