Sona Sharma, Very Best Big Sister

Being a big sister to a new baby brings big responsibilities.
Sona Sharma's house is full of people who joke often and argue sometimes. Relatives come unannounced, the phone rings frequently and friends drop in all the time. Then one day Amma tells Sona she is going to have a baby. Is that good? Sona isn't sure – she has always enjoyed being an only child – and straight away she has a word with her best friend, Elephant. When Sona learns that there will be a baby naming ceremony, she is determined to find the perfect name for her new brother or sister. Because although she realizes that her life is about to change, and while she's having some difficulty in coming to terms with having to share everything with the new baby – including Amma and Appa, her grandparents and her home – Sona Sharma wants to be the very best big sister she can be.

Warmly loving and evocative, for about five and up, Chitra Soundar’s Sona Sharma, Very Best Big Sister is a tender series of stories about Sona, unsure about sharing her parents when her baby sibling is born, and her delightful extended family, brought to life by Jen Khatun’s gentle images. The Guardian
Featured in The Bookseller's September Previews. -- Fiona Noble The Bookseller
Featured alongside Chitra Soundar’s exclusive short story for The Moon. The Moon
This is a warm story that will enchant readers and help them to reflect on their own family traditions as well as thinking about the importance of names and identity. Strongly recommended. The Letterpress Project
I like Sona Sharma because she let the baby have the dress with the blue stars on it and the blue bits at the top. It was her favourite dress so it was kind of her to give this pretty and beautiful dress to her sister. I have a little brother called Clark, so I understand that it can sometimes be hard to be a big sister. -- Naomi (Age 6) Books Up North

Chitra Soundar grew up in Chennai, India, in a joint family that was filled with small fights, big laughter and lots of stories. An award-winning author of more than 40 books for children, she loves writing picture books, fiction, non-fiction and verse. Chitra travels the world visiting schools and appearing at festivals to bring Indian stories to children everywhere. Find out more at
Lucy Banaji works from her studio in Hackney, London, creating maps and illustrations. She combines traditional handcrafted technique with the digital process to produce beautifully vibrant artwork. Lucy is also a keen rock climber and spends most weekends in the great outdoors.

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