Sona lives in India with her parents, Amma and Appa; her paternal grandparents, Paati and Thatha; and her “talking” stuffed elephant. Her maternal grandmother, whom everyone calls The President, lives nearby. Sona’s amma is expecting a baby, and the entire family is preparing for its arrival: dusting off an old crib, unpacking Sona’s old baby clothes, and, most importantly, compiling lists of potential boy and girl names. Sona is asked to help by thinking of a special girl name. In a Hindu ceremony 10 days after birth, the baby will be given three names. Despite her uncertainty about losing her only-child status, when the baby is born Sona immediately loves her. Now, new worries creep in. What if Sona can’t think of a name? What if she’s not a good big sister? With the support and love of her family, Sona is inspired to step up and embrace her new role in this early chapter book bursting with cultural detail, childlike emotion, and appealing characters. (Ages 6-9)

Can Sona be the best big sister ever when she’s not sure she even wants a baby sister or brother? Brimming with warmth and charm, this story set in India will resonate with new older siblings everywhere.

Sona Sharma's house is full of three generations of people who joke often and argue sometimes. Relatives come over unannounced, the phone rings frequently, and friends drop by all the time. Then one day Amma tells Sona that she is going to have a baby. Is that good? Sona isn’t so sure. She doesn’t want to share her room or her things with a new baby, not to mention the attention of Amma, Appa, Thatha, and Paatti. And despite Amma's assurance that the sky always has room for new stars, Sona doesn’t feel stretchy or bighearted like the sky. But when she learns there will be a baby-naming ceremony, she’s determined to find the best name for her new brother or sister—one as nice as her own, a Hindi word for “gold.” Perfectly pitched to young readers, this tale of warming up to change is followed by a glossary of words from India to explore in the story.