MAKE WAY FOR DYAMONDE DANIEL

Third-grader Dyamonde Daniel is spunky, super smart, and “skinny as half a toothpick.” Right away, it’s obvious that author and narrator Nikki Grimes has created a special character. Since moving into the neighborhood, Dyamonde has been trying to find her place in her new school. When a new kid named Free joins her classroom, Dyamonde wants to help him feel welcome but gets only rudeness in return. Changing the timbre of her voice to differentiate the two children, Grimes allows listeners to experience their engaging personalities. Grimes dramatizes Dyamonde’s perseverance and observant nature, making it fully believable when Free finally warms up to her. E.A.B. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2011]