The illustrations are cute, but at times the characters look like little old men and women with odd lines on their faces. I do love the cover art, though, which is bright and appealing. This is a good choice for readers who are transitioning from easy readers to chapter books (for more of these reviewed here, click on the "transitional books" tag). I like the fact that this book is about an African-American girl, but the focus isn't on race issues (not that those books aren't important, too) - it's on the everyday issues that all kids face. It's a book that brings readers of all backgrounds closer together because of how much they have in common, and it gives us a character to care about and cheer for. Dyamonde will appeal to readers who like Junie B., Clementine and Allie Finkle, and to those who enjoy school stories. This is the first book in a new series, and I am very much looking forward to Dyamonde's next appearance.