Every child holds on to a wish, and for Kiara Obhan that wish was a dog. At just eight years old, Kiara has turned it into her first published book, God’s Plan, now available from Astitva Prakashan. It is a gentle and emotionally honest picture book about waiting, about love, and about trusting that some things arrive exactly when they are meant to.
The story follows a cheerful, kind-hearted girl who loves dogs more than anything. She stops to say hello to every one she meets at the park, but whenever she asks for one of her own, her parents gently say no. Her father still carries the memory of Fluffy, the dog he loved for eighteen years, and how painful it was to say goodbye. Her mother reminds her that a dog is a big responsibility, especially for a family that travels often. Kiara understands, but her heart keeps wishing.
Everything changes one afternoon at her friend Jiya’s house, where the children play with Jiya’s dogs and Brian’s dog. Her friends mention a boy from the dog park who must give his dog up for adoption because his sister has a serious allergy. They both look at Kiara and say they thought of her. Knowing her parents are not ready, she offers a small, sensible compromise: the family could look after the dog for a few weeks, just until he finds a loving home. After a long pause, her parents agree.
The little dog, small, fluffy and full of energy, is named Kookie, “with a K, just like me.” What follows is the quiet heart of the book. Kookie follows Kiara everywhere, listens as she sings and plays her guitar each evening, and sleeps beside her every night. He walks with her father and waits by the kitchen while her mother cooks. Without anyone noticing, the family stops searching for another home, because Kookie has already found his. Then an ordinary day turns into a test of everything they have come to feel, and the family learns how much he means to them at the moment they fear they have lost him.
The book carries a message of faith and timing that is gentle rather than preachy. It suggests that patience is not the same as giving up, and that a temporary arrangement can become a lasting bond. It treats the parents’ hesitation with respect, showing children that an adult’s caution often comes from love and experience. It also handles loss and worry with care, giving young readers a safe way to feel sadness and then relief. Friends, neighbors and kind strangers help along the way, a reminder that love and good fortune often travel through the people around us.
What makes the book special is its sincerity. Kiara wrote it using the names of her real friends and moments from her own life, and she is still waiting for her own Kookie to arrive. That honesty gives the story a warmth that polished formulas rarely achieve. The language is simple and the rhythm easy, which suits read-aloud time. The moments of suspense, such as the lost dog and the ringing phone, are paced with care and always resolve with comfort. A short closing reflection gives parents and teachers an easy way into conversations about patience, gratitude and trust.
Kiara herself is eight years old and loves dogs, music and storytelling, and music appears in the story just as it does in her life. In her author’s note she says that when the time is right, everything falls into place. Her debut is a reminder that children are not only readers of stories but storytellers too, with a clarity and honesty that adults often admire.
God’s Plan is a small book with a large heart. It asks young readers to be patient, parents to listen, and all of us to remember that the best things often arrive when we have almost stopped waiting. It will suit young animal lovers, families thinking about a pet, and teachers or parents looking for a read-aloud about hope and trust. Published by Astitva Prakashan (ISBN 978-93-7686-460-7, Fiction/General, MRP ₹499.00), the book is available now in print and as an e-book at www.astitvaprakashan.com, www.amazon.in, www.flipkart.com