Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Planet Omar #3

Incredible Rescue Mission

Rate this book
Welcome back to Planet Omar! The third book in Zanib Mian's laugh-out-loud series, with amazing cartoon-style illustrations from Nasaya Mafaridik. Perfect for fans of Tom Gates and Wimpy Kid.

When Omar and his friends come back after the school holidays, their lovely teacher seems to have been replaced by somebody much more grumpy.

Overhearing other teachers talking about her, Omar decides something terrible has happened. Could she possibly have been abducted by ... aliens?!

Omar persuades his friends to mount a rescue mission but what they find is very surprising!

*Zanib Mian is a World Book Day author for 2021 with her Planet Omar title, Operation Kind .*

Have you read the first book in the series, Accidental Trouble Magnet ? Love Reading 4 Kids called it ' irresistible reading!'

258 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 23, 2020

Loading interface...
Loading interface...

About the author

Zanib Mian

60 books101 followers
Zanib grew up in London, UK. She began writing stories and poetry when she was just a little girl, and was well known by her teachers, friends, and family to rhyme about anything that meant something to her. If you’re lucky, she will allow you to see some of her writing, which she has kept safe for over twenty five years!But you might have to visit her in her little Hobbit house in the Shire to see it!

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
155 (62%)
4 stars
63 (25%)
3 stars
21 (8%)
2 stars
7 (2%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
Profile Image for Bookworm86 .
1,738 reviews135 followers
January 16, 2022
Absolutely fantastic book that is very well written and is hilarious as well as being a good informative way to teach children about other cultures. Myself and my 9 year old son really enjoyed reading it
Profile Image for Mathew.
1,556 reviews203 followers
December 22, 2020
The third in the ‘Planet Omar’ series finds Omar and his friends, Daniel and Charlie, in dire straits when their favourite teacher, Mrs. Hutchinson mysteriously abandons her job and is replaced by the rather dreadful Mrs. Crankshaw who quickly bans smiling from the classroom.

Since no adult will tell Omar where Mrs. Hutchinson is, the three boys take it upon themselves to find out; suddenly convinced that the only reasonable answer is that she has been abducted by aliens. So begins the quest for the missing teacher which sees us follow Omar back to his ancestral home of Pakistan and a surprise encounter.

Once again, Mian’s wholesome energy thrums off the page. The book is an easy yet enjoyable read with fizzing fonts and engaging illustrations by Mafaridik.*

*Special thanks again to Hannah
Profile Image for Lauren Drake.
252 reviews5 followers
October 29, 2020
Loved this 3rd installment of Zanib Mian's Planet Omar series. The use of humour was great and like the other Planet Omar books, i really liked the font used and they way in which the words were presented (they were fun and exciting).
My favourite section of this book was when they went to the Pakistani wedding and i found myself learning so much about it and the traditional things that happen at Pakistani weddings.
I look forward to reading more of Zanib Mian's work.
Highly recommend reading.
Profile Image for Hannah.
268 reviews
October 26, 2020
Another fantastic book in the Planet Omar series. I enjoyed book 3 so much because it encouraged me to reflect on so many of my life experiences. I thought back to what my teachers were like and wondered how you end up being a 'Mrs Crankshaw' and if my younger brother ever saw me as an evil moody teenager who had to catch me in the right moment (I'm yet to ask for confirmation). It made me realise how much I want to be the 'Mrs Hutchinson' of the book who makes her lessons inspiring and whose students will do anything to find her. It also reminded me how fortunate I am that I can visualise haggling at a colourful market stall, feel the discomfort of an 8-hour flight and understand the craziness of the roads in some Asian countries. These are experiences that many won't be able to relate to but this book will encourage children to see what else is out there. Together we could explore the differences (and similarities) between our cultures. I love this series because I always close a book and feel like I've learnt something and it makes me want to find out more. My favourite line: 'Do what's right, even if nobody is looking'. I would highly recommend.
Profile Image for Juwi.
464 reviews89 followers
October 22, 2020
3.5 stars ~cute and funny not as good as the first two tho 🤷🏽‍♀️ but still a great read 👍🏽

LMAO NOT OMAR THINKING HIS TEACHER GOT ABDUCTED BY ALIENS AND SWALLOWED AN ALIEN WHEN SHE WAS ACTUALLY PREGNANT 😹🤣
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2020
A fabulously funny, feel good story. The whole O.ar series should be in every classroom.
477 reviews16 followers
September 19, 2020
Omar and his over-active imagination are back for a third hilarious outing. This time he is chasing aliens, eating Mrs. Rogers’ tasty baked treats and is being whisked off to a wedding in Pakistan.

When Omar returns to school after the holidays he is devastated to find that his class teacher Mrs. Hutchinson has been replaced by Mrs. Crankshaw (a possible super-villain who has escaped from a high security jail and has disguised herself as a teacher). Mrs. Hutchinson loved the class and was the best teacher ever and there’s no way that she would just disappear and leave the children without telling them.

It isn’t long before Omar and his friends are piecing together the clues that can explain the whereabouts of their teacher. A lesson before the holidays on the universe and the possibility of aliens must have upset the extra-terrestrial beings and the aliens must have been listening and have now kidnapped the teacher. Has she really been abducted…

This is so much fun. Omar and his friends, Daniel and Charlie, embark on a frantic and hilarious rescue mission to save their teacher. Despite Daniel’s firm belief that aliens definitely do not exist he finds it impossible to convince Omar of a more likely explanation for the disappearance. Especially as the clues mount up and all the evidence points towards an alien abduction, or at least they do in Omar’s head. Whispers in the staffroom at school suggest the teachers know more than they are willing to tell the children, and at Mrs. Hutchinson’s house there is a very alien-like creature that looks like an inside-out cat, and weird circle shaped markings on the grass could be evidence of an alien spaceship landing. Under the ever watchful eyes of Allah, Omar is determined to rescue his teacher from the alien captors, but has his imagination really gone too far this time?

As with the first two books, there are lots of lovely references to Pakistani culture and what I love about this book is that we get to go to Pakistan with Omar and his family. Tied into this trip is the important message of heritage as Omar is reminded that whilst he was born in England he has Pakistani heritage. The visit to Pakistan is great and Zanib Mian brings the country alive with the busyness of the streets, the hustle and bustle of the markets and the sounds of the call to prayer. The description of the wedding with the traditional dress, the vivid colours, the incredible number of guests and the amount of food show what an important and big celebration a wedding is in Pakistan.

One of my favourite characters is the loveable Mrs. Rogers and she very much feels part of Omar’s extended family now. She gives advice to Omar, makes the best cupcakes and is partial to a biryani.

Black and white cartoon style illustrations, zany page layouts and the use of different fonts all add to the fun. I love how children and their imaginations can turn the most mundane of events into the outrageous and Omar and his friends are definitely turning ordinary days into the extraordinary!

The perfect read for children with big imaginations and who like getting up to all manner of mischief. As Omar’s dad says, “It’s hard to be good, especially when no-one is watching!”

Recommended for 7+
Profile Image for Insert Name Here.
347 reviews8 followers
September 9, 2020
Omar and his friends are back! This time around they're investigating why their lovely teacher, Mrs Hutchinson, has vanished into thin air and been replaced by a far more grumpy teacher. All the clues are pointing towards alien abduction. Are there really aliens? And what do they want with Mrs Hutchinson?

This series is great. Brilliant fun, really funny, and kids are learning something as well without realising it. In this book Omar and his family visit Pakistan for a family wedding, and readers get to follow along with the vivid descriptions. Omar is Muslim, but he's never singled out for it; an excellent way to show children that people of other faiths are just like us.

The illustrations really add to things. Every page has something, whether it's just a little doodle, a note written in handwriting, or a full page drawing. Kids will love picking out details in the illustrations to match what they're reading. My favourite is the drawing of Omar's cousins, Amber and Ambreen, although the alien in the toilet is a close runner up.

This series is perfect for a child who wants to try something a bit longer, but isn't quite ready for full novels yet. I hope it runs and runs. I'd love to see what other trouble Omar gets himself into.
Profile Image for Pam.
8,783 reviews43 followers
May 4, 2021
I received an electronic ARC from PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group through NetGalley.
Third book about Omar and his friends. For this adventure, the three of them attempt to find their missing teacher. Their theory is that she was abducted by aliens but the adults don't believe them. Readers become part of the adventure as they search for clues and do their research. Omar and his family head for Pakistan for some of the book as they are attending a family wedding. It is there that the mystery of Mrs. Hutchinson is solved - and, (spoiler ;) ) no, she wasn't abducted by aliens.
The illustrations bring the characters to life and help readers visualize the various settings. Middle grade readers will enjoy the humor and ridiculous theories they create. Some may figure out where Mrs. Hutchinson is early on but will still appreciate the wild theories and research proof.
Profile Image for Julie Overpeck.
117 reviews8 followers
May 12, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Omar lives in London, where he goes to school with his friends Charles and Daniel. One day they arrive to find that their favorite teacher Mrs. Hutchinson has been replaced by mean old Ms. Crankshaw, who is so grumpy she outlaws smiling. No one tells the class what happened to Mrs. H, so Omar and his friends set out to solve the mystery themselves. According to Omar, all clues lead to alien abduction.

Meanwhile, Omar and his family take a trip to Pakistan for a family wedding. While there, Omar learns a lot about his family's culture, and he gets some unexpected information about his teacher as well.

I like the story about a close family and students who like their teacher. Even at over 250 pages, the illustrated chapter book format makes it quick and easy to read. I think middle-grade readers who try this series will really enjoy it.
Profile Image for Mehsi.
13.9k reviews422 followers
July 20, 2021
Tja, ik heb niet genoten van dit boek, meerdere keren bedacht om gewoon op te houden. Het deed me teveel denken aan die idiote en absurde serie Baby Aliens. Echt die kinderen... zelfs later denkt ie nog dat het een alien is terwijl hij toch echt een broertje van 3 heeft en dus dondersgoed weet wat er is.
Wel wat leuke stukken maar al die domheid was gewoon niet mijn ding. Ik heb als kind ook wel eens gefantaseerd maar nooit ZO drastisch.
Profile Image for Mary T.
1,795 reviews14 followers
January 23, 2022
My 7yo son and I have enjoyed reading the first two Planet Omar books. As a Christian, I appreciate the opportunity to give my son a glimpse in the normal day-to-day life for a Muslim kid. This book took us longer to get through -- I didn't feel as invested. And the unrealistic spin at the end was a total turn-off for me. It just seemed way too far-fetched.
Profile Image for Karin.
1,951 reviews25 followers
November 26, 2021
Another super cute entry in the chapter book series about an irrepressible British Pakistani Muslim boy and his friends. This time they're worried about their "missing" teacher and convinced she's been abducted by aliens. 😂
Profile Image for Bookworm86 .
1,738 reviews135 followers
January 16, 2022
Absolutely fantastic book that is very well written and is hilarious as well as being a good informative way to teach children about other cultures. Myself and my 9 year old son really enjoyed reading it
Profile Image for Stephanie.
415 reviews
November 1, 2022
The third installment in the Planet Omar series, while predictable, was fun and well written. I liked how it continued to teach about culture and traditions in an entertaining way. Another quick read with wonderful illustrations to compliment the story.
3 reviews
August 31, 2021
Great book enjoyed as much as I enjoyed the other 2 books.
I really recommend the author and the books
Profile Image for Emily.
135 reviews4 followers
February 22, 2022
The chapter book form of “Mrs. Nelson is missing” with a cute twist. Could be a good book for students because of relatively little complex vocabulary, cute/relatable sibling and friend antics.
Profile Image for Will.
485 reviews1 follower
December 7, 2022
Jammer dat er zoveel fouten in het boek staan.
Profile Image for Robin.
4,102 reviews5 followers
May 31, 2023
Omar and his pals try to figure out what happened to their missing teacher.
Profile Image for Ali A..
381 reviews11 followers
October 1, 2023
قرأتُ الترجمةَ العربية الصادرة عن دار جامعة حمد بن خليفة، قطر
القصة مشوّقة وممتعة للأطفال واليافعين..
وتربوية بطريقة تعاطي والديّ عمره معه ومع أخته مريم وأخيهما عيسى...
17 reviews
December 31, 2024
I really liked it a lot I just didn't like how Omar and Charlie and Daniel thought that the cat like not a cat
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Shifa Safadi.
Author 7 books73 followers
December 12, 2021
One of my absolute Favorites⭐️⭐️Spoiler Alert!!⠀

Islamic notes: mentions of Allah, duaa, and general good morals.⠀

Omar is back!!! And with even more adventure and more fun!! I really don’t know how @zanibmian manages to do it each time, but her books are timeless, fun, educational, and interesting all in one!⠀

This third book in the series is about the mysterious circumstance of Omar’s teacher Mrs.Hutchinson’s disappearance. Omar (and his wild imagination) decides that she has been abducted by aliens. It doesn’t help that his new teacher “Mrs.Cranky” is determined to make class as miserable as possible.⠀

He, and his friends, set out all over town to find her but they can’t manage to figure out where she has gone.⠀

And none of the grownups will tell them anything. ⠀

In the meantime, Omar’s parents are planning on taking him to Pakistan. Omar travels there and observes Pakistan with his beautiful innocence and genuine goodness (he gives his shopping money to a beggar), and then he actually manages to spot his beloved teacher in the market!!⠀

His parents help him find her and it turns out she is pregnant (she has NOT swallowed an alien) and is resting with her Pakistani husband in Lahore.⠀

Omar is relieved to find his favorite teacher is not with aliens after all.⠀

Honestly, this book is so adorable and it made me laugh out loud numerous times. Omar’s relatable qualities, his good morals, his kindness, and his smart intuition into people around him makes viewing the world through his lens a delightful experience.⠀

And I love how he is unapologetically a British Muslim and proud of it!⠀

I would definitely recommend this book to middle-grade readers, as well as the first two in the series!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.