“I write so that children can feel represented in the world they live in, and so that readers can pick up a book that is a window into the lives of fellow humans from different cultures.”
Author of children’s literature
Zanib Mian in conversation with Roopa Farooki
Talking about her transformation from science teacher to publisher and author of children’s literature.
Biography
Zanib Mian fell in love with writing at primary school. After studying molecular cell biology at University College London, she taught science in secondary school before deciding to move into children’s publishing. Zanib felt that characters from all minorities were missing from books for young children and launched Sweet Apple Publishers with a clear commitment to publishing inclusive books.
Her books include Oddsockosaurus and The Robot That Said Moo. They have featured on the BBC’s CBeebies Bedtime Stories show and in the Guardian for their contribution to diverse children’s literature. The Muslims won the 2018 Little Rebels Award and was longlisted for the 2018 UKLA Book Awards. She has also been nominated for the 2019 Carnegie Medal. Zanib lives in Wembley, London.
