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)