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Maysoon Zayid, the Girl Who Can Can
Part of Muslim Mavericks
By Seema Yasmin
Illustrated by Noha Habaieb
Table of Contents
About The Book
From the prolific Pulitzer Prize–nominated Muslim reporter Dr. Seema Yasmin comes an exciting nonfiction chapter book about one of America’s first female Muslim comedians—Maysoon Zayid—the first in the riveting and inspirational Muslim Mavericks.
This is the story of the girl who could!
Maysoon Zayid was just a girl from New Jersey. She might have sometimes felt like she was in the shadow of her three older sisters, but in her dreams, she was Mimi—an amazing actress, comedian, and dancer! The only problem? People kept telling Maysoon her dreams were impossible!
Achieving her goals certainly wasn’t easy; as a Palestinian Muslim girl born with cerebral palsy, Maysoon faced all sorts of challenges—both physical and societal. But Maysoon didn’t dare give up. Instead, she followed her heart all the way to the screen and stage to become one of America’s first ever women Muslim comedians and an actress on her favorite TV show.
This is the story of the girl who could!
Maysoon Zayid was just a girl from New Jersey. She might have sometimes felt like she was in the shadow of her three older sisters, but in her dreams, she was Mimi—an amazing actress, comedian, and dancer! The only problem? People kept telling Maysoon her dreams were impossible!
Achieving her goals certainly wasn’t easy; as a Palestinian Muslim girl born with cerebral palsy, Maysoon faced all sorts of challenges—both physical and societal. But Maysoon didn’t dare give up. Instead, she followed her heart all the way to the screen and stage to become one of America’s first ever women Muslim comedians and an actress on her favorite TV show.
Excerpt
1 A GIRL WITH BIG DREAMS
One sunny morning in September, Maysoon woke up on the couch that she called her bed, stretched her arms, and smiled. She felt tiny bubbles of excitement fizz up from her toes, through her belly, and all the way up to her head. Today was the day! Finally she was old enough to join her three big sisters at Public School Number Six in her hometown of Cliffside Park, New Jersey.
Lamiah, Feda, and Hanan loved school and the many friends they had made there. Every day they came home from school and told Maysoon stories of the games they had played (that was mostly Feda), the fun they had had (that was mostly Hanan), and the boys who they liked (that was mostly Lamiah).
Maysoon was excited to strut her stuff through the playground, wearing her favorite pink pants with the bells at the bottom. She was ready to wave to her sisters in the food hall and to make new friends and tell them about her love of soap operas and her dreams of becoming the best entertainer in the world. “And the Academy Award goes to… Maysoon ‘Mimi’ Zayid!” She needed to tell her new friends that one day they would hear these exact words. Maysoon would be one of the world’s best-loved entertainers.
Maysoon’s mom worked long hours in a hospital laboratory. It was her dad’s job to drive Maysoon to school to get enrolled. Maysoon smiled and bounced in her seat for the whole drive.
But when they arrived at the school, a teacher said four words that shattered Maysoon’s dream. “She can’t come here,” the teacher said. Maysoon’s dad was in the middle of writing Maysoon’s name on the list. He lifted his head and frowned.
Maysoon’s mouth opened wide. She gasped. What?! How can this teacher say I can’t come to this school? This teacher doesn’t even know me!
Before Maysoon could say a word, her father dropped his pen and spoke in a loud voice. “My daughter is brilliant! Let her in or I will sue!” he said, jabbing the air with his finger.
“Yeah! We’ll sue!” Maysoon said. “I’m good enough for this school! Why can’t I go with Lamiah, Feda, and Hanan? Why can’t I make friends with their friends? Why do I have to go to a different school?”
The teacher pushed his glasses up his nose and crossed his arms. He whispered to Maysoon’s dad as if Maysoon weren’t there. “This girl is different,” the teacher said. “You’ll have to speak to the superintendent about her.”
Maysoon’s dream began to melt. It became a puddle of stinky glop that turned into a nightmare. A nightmare in which Maysoon’s dream of becoming an entertainer would surely fail. How could she become the world’s best entertainer if she couldn’t even get into the school of her choosing?
One sunny morning in September, Maysoon woke up on the couch that she called her bed, stretched her arms, and smiled. She felt tiny bubbles of excitement fizz up from her toes, through her belly, and all the way up to her head. Today was the day! Finally she was old enough to join her three big sisters at Public School Number Six in her hometown of Cliffside Park, New Jersey.
Lamiah, Feda, and Hanan loved school and the many friends they had made there. Every day they came home from school and told Maysoon stories of the games they had played (that was mostly Feda), the fun they had had (that was mostly Hanan), and the boys who they liked (that was mostly Lamiah).
Maysoon was excited to strut her stuff through the playground, wearing her favorite pink pants with the bells at the bottom. She was ready to wave to her sisters in the food hall and to make new friends and tell them about her love of soap operas and her dreams of becoming the best entertainer in the world. “And the Academy Award goes to… Maysoon ‘Mimi’ Zayid!” She needed to tell her new friends that one day they would hear these exact words. Maysoon would be one of the world’s best-loved entertainers.
Maysoon’s mom worked long hours in a hospital laboratory. It was her dad’s job to drive Maysoon to school to get enrolled. Maysoon smiled and bounced in her seat for the whole drive.
But when they arrived at the school, a teacher said four words that shattered Maysoon’s dream. “She can’t come here,” the teacher said. Maysoon’s dad was in the middle of writing Maysoon’s name on the list. He lifted his head and frowned.
Maysoon’s mouth opened wide. She gasped. What?! How can this teacher say I can’t come to this school? This teacher doesn’t even know me!
Before Maysoon could say a word, her father dropped his pen and spoke in a loud voice. “My daughter is brilliant! Let her in or I will sue!” he said, jabbing the air with his finger.
“Yeah! We’ll sue!” Maysoon said. “I’m good enough for this school! Why can’t I go with Lamiah, Feda, and Hanan? Why can’t I make friends with their friends? Why do I have to go to a different school?”
The teacher pushed his glasses up his nose and crossed his arms. He whispered to Maysoon’s dad as if Maysoon weren’t there. “This girl is different,” the teacher said. “You’ll have to speak to the superintendent about her.”
Maysoon’s dream began to melt. It became a puddle of stinky glop that turned into a nightmare. A nightmare in which Maysoon’s dream of becoming an entertainer would surely fail. How could she become the world’s best entertainer if she couldn’t even get into the school of her choosing?
About The Author
Photograph by Lucas Passmore
Seema Yasmin is an Emmy Award–winning journalist who was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, medical doctor, professor, and poet. She attended medical school at Cambridge University and worked as a disease detective for the US federal government’s Epidemic Intelligence Service. She currently teaches storytelling at Stanford University School of Medicine, and is a regular contributor to CNN, Self, and Scientific American, among others.
About The Illustrator
n/a
Noha Habaieb is a Tunisian French visual storyteller, working between Doha and Tunis. After studying comics in Belgium, she returned to Tunisia where she cofounded the Lab619, an award-winning comics collective. Noha took part in the evolution of Lab619’s first comics magazine for adults by participating with her original comics and organizing artistic residencies themed around migration, identity, and borders. In 2017, she cofounded Koskh, an illustration studio based in Tunisia, which aims to promote Tunisian heritage through illustrations for children and adults. She’s the illustrator of the Muslim Mavericks chapter book series written by Pulitzer Prize–nominated Dr. Seema Yasmin.
Why We Love It
“Muslim Mavericks shines a spotlight on notable Muslims that is accessible for the young reader who dares to dream. Dr. Seema Yasmin brings their biographies to life with engaging writing and amazing attention to detail. This is one series you don’t want to miss!”
—Deeba Z., Senior Editor, on Maysoon Zayid, the Girl Who Can Can
Product Details
- Publisher: Salaam Reads/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (March 12, 2026)
- Length: 80 pages
- ISBN13: 9781665953412
- Ages: 6 - 10
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Raves and Reviews
"In this nonfiction chapter book, a series starter, [Seema] Yasmin (Unbecoming) follows a 'Palestinian, Muslim and disabled entertainer,' American actor and comedian Maysoon Zayid, as she confronts obstacles on her way to stardom...Effervescent prose presents Zayid as a lively girl with ambitious goals and talent to match while matter-of-factly portraying her day-to-day experience of living with CP. A buoyant prologue sets up the series as a vehicle through which to highlight prominent Muslim figures pursuing their ‘wildest dreams.’”
– Publishers Weekly
"This book launches the Muslim Mavericks biography series with an inspiring and empowering portrait of Maysoon “Mimi” Zayid, one of the first Muslim American woman comedians...Celebrating disability, culture, and determination, this biography is an excellent choice for early readers. It reminds children that their dreams matter—and that persistence can turn “impossible” into reality."
– Booklist
"In this nonfiction chapter book, a series starter, [Seema] Yasmin (Unbecoming) follows a 'Palestinian, Muslim and disabled entertainer,' American actor and comedian Maysoon Zayid, as she confronts obstacles on her way to stardom...Effervescent prose presents Zayid as a lively girl with ambitious goals and talent to match while matter-of-factly portraying her day-to-day experience of living with CP. A buoyant prologue sets up the series as a vehicle through which to highlight prominent Muslim figures pursuing their ‘wildest dreams.’”
– Publishers Weekly
"In this nonfiction chapter book, a series starter, [Seema] Yasmin (Unbecoming) follows a 'Palestinian, Muslim and disabled entertainer,' American actor and comedian Maysoon Zayid, as she confronts obstacles on her way to stardom...Effervescent prose presents Zayid as a lively girl with ambitious goals and talent to match while matter-of-factly portraying her day-to-day experience of living with CP. A buoyant prologue sets up the series as a vehicle through which to highlight prominent Muslim figures pursuing their ‘wildest dreams.’”
– Publishers Weekly
Resources and Downloads
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Book Cover Image (jpg): Maysoon Zayid, the Girl Who Can Can
Trade Paperback 9781665953412
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Author Photo (jpg): Seema Yasmin Photograph by Lucas Passmore(0.1 MB)
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