Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet

Omar introduces himself and his family members on separate pages, each featuring an illustration and Omar’s comments. Omar has tousled dark hair and tells readers he has an active imagination. Omar’s brother, Esa, is three. Though he looks innocent, he cries loudly, always has food stuck in his hair, and gets Omar’s things sticky—but Omar loves him a lot. Maryam is Omar’s 13- going on 16-year-old sister. She likes peanut butter cups, enjoys teasing Omar, and has memorized 28 chapters of the Qur’an. Omar’s parents are both scientists. His mom loves coffee and wears a hijab outside the home. His dad has a beard and “poofy” hair and rides a motorcycle, which Omar’s grandmother thinks is too dangerous.

Omar has a nightmare of being chased by a monster-like teacher with fingernails made of slugs. Omar wakes, and following Mom’s advice, spits over his shoulder to banish Shaytan, the bringer of bad dreams. Omar’s spit wad lands on Esa, who starts crying loudly. Mom and Dad are frustrated at being woken again, and tired of Omar waking Esa with his “shenanigans.” Maryam is also grumpy at being woken up so early—but it is almost time for Fajr, the dawn prayer, anyway.