In August, on the Hindu holiday Rakhi that honors the bond between brothers and sisters, only child Arun wishes for a little sister. In October his wish comes true—almost. His parents announce they are going to adopt a little girl named Asha from India. But Arun is frustrated, and at times disheartened, by how long they have to wait until they can bring Asha home. “Adopting a baby can take a long time,” his parents explain, but that’s little comfort. Arun and his parents prepare Asha’s nursery the following June, and hold a birthday celebration for her in July, but still there is no Asha. Finally, almost a year after Arun first made his wish, permission comes and his father leaves for India. A few weeks later, Arun and his mother are at the airport, welcoming his new baby sister home. Uma Krishnaswami’s warm, realistic story looking at adoption from the point of view of a young child features a biracial family. Arun’s father is Indian; his mother is white. (Ages 4–7)

A biracial Asian Indian American boy finds his own special way to bond with his sister while the family awaits her adoption from India.

It's Rakhi, the Hindu holiday special to brothers and sisters, and Arun wishes he had a sister with whom to celebrate. Soon it looks as if his wish will come true. His parents are going to adopt a baby girl named Asha. She is coming all the way from India, where Arun's dad was born.

The family prepares for Asha's arrival, not knowing it will be almost a year until they receive governmental approval to bring Asha home. Arun is impatient and struggles to accept the long delay, but as time passes he finds his own special ways to build a bond with his sister, who is still halfway around the world.

With warmth and honesty, this tender story taps into the feelings of longing, love and joy that adoption brings to many families. Readers will find reassurance knowing there is more than one way to become part of a loving family.