Tommy has an older brother named Buddy and lots and lots of cousins. So when his mother tells him that a new brother or sister is on the way, Tommy asks her for a baby sister with a red ribbon in her hair. But this is more than the story of Tommy and the family getting ready for the baby. At its heart is the relationship between Tommy and his Italian grandmother, Nana Fall- River, not quite understanding each other at a time when Tommy is excited about the baby yet missing his mother in the hospital. Nana is much stricter than his dear Aunt Nell, who was supposed to come and take care of the family.Through the joy of the new baby, Tommy and Nana start to appreciate each other, so that when Mom and his baby sister come home, the moment takes on special significance.Tomie dePaola has written many books for children, but among his most loved are those that center on experiences drawn from his childhood and the colorful extended family in which he grew up. Read Less