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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.
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 (February 10, 2026)
- Length: 80 pages
- ISBN13: 9781665953436
- 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
High Resolution Images
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Book Cover Image (jpg): Maysoon Zayid, the Girl Who Can Can
eBook 9781665953436
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Author Photo (jpg): Seema Yasmin Photograph by Lucas Passmore(0.1 MB)
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