Trying hard and still getting it wrong
Mariyam Yousaf Sheikh
An inclusive education specialist using play-based approaches to write stories that build empathy for children facing challenges.
Trying Looks Like This
Mustafa tries very hard each day.
He tries to make friends, to help, and to listen to what everyone tells him.
But something always goes wrong.
He always has a reason for what he is doing… only, no one seems to see it.
Turn through the pages.
A few pages from the book, so you can see how it reads before you buy.



What this book is about .
What adults miss when they only see the behaviour
Being misunderstood while you are still small
Helping, and how it can go sideways
Patience, for the child and the grown-up reading along
About the Author
Mariyam Yousaf Sheikh is a special education interventionist and inclusive education specialist in Pakistan. She uses play-based, emotionally responsive approaches to support young children, families, and educators. Drawing from classroom experience, Mariyam writes stories that help children feel understood, especially those facing challenges, and promotes empathy and connection among all children.
Writers published in Pakistan with us.
Faizan Khalid
View authorMedical student exploring reality, imagination, and life’s small wonders. Author of 'The Rainmaker'.
Huma Syed
View authorPoet, writer, and actress, exploring human emotions. Author of 'The Naked Autumn' and 'That Ardent Longing'.
Kamran Ahmad
View authorClinical Psychologist and scholar with a Ph.D. in South Asian Spirituality. Author of Goddess of the Indus and other works on gender, psychology, and spirituality.
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