Dyamonde Daniel

Dyamonde has just moved to a new school, and she's impatient for a best friend. Then Free shows up, and there's an even newer kid in class. Unfortunately, Free doesn't want to be friends. In fact, he's downright grouchy. Dyamonde is determined to find out what's bothering him. And when Dyamonde Daniel decides to do something, it usually gets done!

Dyamonde Daniel's best friend, Free, thinks he's poor. So when their teacher announces a big poetry contest, Free decides to enter – partly because he likes to rhyme, partly because he wants to be famous, but mostly because of the hundred dollar prize. Soon he's driving Dyamonde nuts with his crazy rhymes. Free is not the only kid in class who's planning to enter the contest. So is Damaris Dancer, a quiet girl who is also bit mysterious. Naturally, Dyamonde sets out to learn the girl's secret. The question is, once you know someone's secret, what do you do with it? How Dyamonde manages to weave a new friendship with an old one, and help both her friends find out important things about themselves, makes for another tremendously satisfying story about this city girl with a heart as big as all outdoors.Author Nikki Grimes returns with another deeply satisfying story for younger listeners. In this volume, this one featuring a poetry contest and a new classmate with a secret.

Dyamonde Daniel has her eye on a new pair of red high-top sneakers. Following some bad advice from a classmate, she thinks she has the right idea to go about getting them – by demanding her mother buy them! Unfortunately for Dyamonde, Mrs. Daniel doesn't appreciate being told what to do and decides to teach her daughter a lesson. Soon Dyamonde finds herself in a clothing crisis, with almost zero to wear! Dyamonde is furious. But she begins to realize that some people have troubles much greater than hers . . . including her friend, Isabel Martinez, whose family has suffered a real crisis. Deciding she must she must help the Martinez family, Dyamonde enlists the aid of everyone she knows to do so. Witty and endearing, this heart-warming tale – read by Nikki Grimes herself – beautifully displays the difference between "wanting" and "needing."

When Dyamonde Daniel's friend Damaris suddenly becomes a picky eater, it doesn't take Dyamonde long to figure out the problem: Damaris is secretly dieting because some mean girls teased her about her weight. Dyamonde can't let her friend go on this way. But how can she make Damaris see that she is perfect just the way she is? It turns out Damaris isn't the only one in their class facing this problem. A girl named Amberline is also being picked on the same way. Soon Dyamonde and Damaris discover that Amberline has a secret . . . a serious one. Once again award-winning author Nikki Grimes tackles an important topic. Narrating herself, Nikki's warm and friendly voice enriches this delightful addition to her Dyamonde Daniel series with a combination of heart and humor that will engage young listeners from the very first words.