Dahlia( Series - Boston Globe-horn Book Honors (awards) )

When tomboy Charlotte gets a delicate doll named Dahlia from her aunt, she tells the doll that she and Bruno, her bear, like digging in dirt and climbing in trees. Much to their surprise, Dahlia seems to like getting dirty while making mud cakes and racing wagons. But when Charlotte's aunt arrives, Charlotte is in for another surprise. Full-color illustrations.

Looks can be deceiving
When Charlotte gets a delicate doll from her aunt Edme, she is not too happy. She tells the doll that she and Bruno, her bear, "like digging in dirt and climbing trees. No tea parties, no being pushed around in frilly prams. You'll just have to get used to the way we do things." Much to Charlotte and Bruno's surprise, Dahlia seems to like getting dirty while making mud cakes and racing wagons. But at the end of the day, Charlotte's aunt arrives for a visit and wants to see how Dahlia's doing . . . and Charlotte is in for another surprise.
Charming, detailed illustrations accompany this sweet story about making room for a new friend.