What happened to all of Miss Biscuit's luggage? And her bicycle? When the bicycle tire goes flat, Miss Biscuit crashes, and the wheel comes off, Miss Biscuit and Ivy leave the bicycle and continue on foot...but they also seem to leave behind Miss Biscuit's two suitcases and hat box. No mention is ever made again of the luggage, the damaged bike, or going back to get any of it. ( )

Retired nanny Miss Biscuit and sentient rag doll Violet Pickles move to the country in this first picture-book in author/illustrator E.J. Taylor's Biscuit, Buttons & Pickles series. Violet, who is very attached to her home in the city, is not best pleased by this move, and has to be continually encouraged by Miss Biscuit. The two experiences some difficulties finding Ivy Cottage, left to the former nanny by her uncle, but eventually they do arrive, and begin to settle in. Violet however, is still unhappy, and her boredom one rain day leads to the creation of another rag doll, by the name of Ruby Buttons...

I have long had Taylor's The Thorn Witch - another entry in the Biscuit, Buttons & Pickles series - on my to-read shelf, and recently obtained a copy through interlibrary loan. Looking into the matter more thoroughly, I realized that some of the other books about these characters were published first, and finding them on The Internet Archive, decided to read the earlier books before picking up The Thorn Witch. Ivy Cottage is the first title in the series, and was an appealing little book, with a sweet story about adjusting to a new home, and artwork that is full of old-fashioned charm. I particularly loved the first image of Ivy Cottage itself, which struck me as my dream house! This one is a little text-heavy compared to other, more recent picture-books - it was first published in 1984 - so I would recommend it to slightly older picture-book audiences (perhaps ages 5-7?) who enjoy stories about sentient dolls. ( )

Pickles needs a new friend, so Ruby buttons becomes part of her family, an ivy covered cottage a dark night and a surprise friend await in this classic tale. ( )