Maysoon Zayid, the Girl Who Can Can

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.

About the author

Dr. Seema Yasmin

Product details

• Authors: Seema Yasmin
• Assisted by: Noha Habaieb (Illustration)
• Publisher: Harper Collins
• Languages: English
• Age Recommendation: ages 6 to 10
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Release: 12.03.2026
• EAN: 9781665953412
• ISBN: 978-1-6659-5341-2
• No. of pages: 80
• Dimensions: 130 mm x 194 mm x 4 mm
• Illustrations: f-c matte cvr; b-w interior illustrations (spfx: spot gloss, emboss, foil)
• Series: Muslim Mavericks
• Subjects: Children's and young people's books > Non-fiction books / Non-fiction picture books > Mankind; History & the past: general interest (Children's / Teenage), JUVENILE NONFICTION / Biography & Autobiography / Women, People & places (Children's / Teenage), Children’s / Teenage general interest: Girls and women, JUVENILE NONFICTION / Middle Eastern & Arab American