Retired nanny Miss Biscuit and her rag-doll companions, Violet Pickles and Ruby Buttons, return in this second installment of author/illustrator E.J. Taylor's five-volume Biscuit, Buttons & Pickles picture-book series. When Miss Biscuit declares her intention of purchasing a goat, Ruby, who loves animals and is always rescuing creatures in distress, is enthusiastic. Violet is less keen, especially when Hannah, the goose that comes along with Matilda the goat, requires special care. Fortunately, the somewhat fussy but essentially goodhearted doll has a change of heart, and all ends happily for the residents of Ivy Cottage...

Like Ivy Cottage, which introduced these characters for the first time, Goose Eggs pairs a sweet, heartwarming story with charming illustrations. The artwork has a certain folksy feeling to it that puts me in mind of illustrators such as Mary Engelbreit, although Taylor's use of color is far more restrained. My favorite scene, from an aesthetic perspective, was undoubtedly the one in which Ruby's treehouse animal hospital is depicted, with Ivy Cottage in the background. This mirrors my experience with the first book, in which my favorite painting was the one of Ivy Cottage itself. In thinking about why this might be, I'm reminded of the cozy little house in Gladys L. Adshead's What Miranda Knew, a much beloved picture-book from my early childhood. Perhaps Ivy Cottage appeals to me so strongly because it speaks to me of the little house in that book. However that may be, although I wouldn't describe this as destined to become a personal favorite, I did find it appealing, and look forward to reading the third story about these characters - The Thorn Witch - as part of my witchy picture-book project. Recommended to anyone who enjoyed Ivy Cottage, and to somewhat older picture-book audiences (perhaps ages 5-7?) who enjoy stories about sentient dolls. ( )

A cute book I enjoyed when I was a child. I like the interesting vocabulary that is used. "Cardigan" instead of "sweater," for example. So many children's books today are dumbed down and simplified. ( )

I found this for 25 cents at a yard sale some years ago and spent several days cleaning it carefully (it was rather tattered and dirty, but obviously well loved). This immediately became a dearly loved and much read favorite. I think I'll go read it again now... ( )