Old Black Witch, the cantankerous magical practitioner who lived in the attic above the Jug and Muffin Tea-room run by Nicky and his mother, emerges in time to learn of a cake-making contest in the nearby village of Oldwick in this second picture-book devoted to her adventures. Making her own special nut cake, Old Black Witch enters the contest, only to witness Mrs. Butterbean, wife of the village's most affluent citizen, cheating by entering a coconut cake created by a professional baker. Enraged that anyone (other than herself) would cheat, our witchy heroine absconds with her rival's cake, eventually winning a polka-dotted ribbon for her own creation, which is judged most original...

Published in 1970, Old Witch and the Polka-Dot Ribbon is the second of three books about this New England witch, following upon The Old Black Witch and preceding Old Witch Rescues Halloween. Despite that fact, it is the last of the three that I have read. Long out of print, and not in my library system, I had to track it down via inter-library loan. I'm glad that I did, as I found the story here amusing - I appreciate the fact that Old Black Witch is never domesticated, never made too sweet - and the artwork entertaining, in a vintage, cartoon-like style. There is a recipe for the Old Black Witch's magic nut cake on the back of the book, should young readers want to try their hand at making one of their own. Recommended to anyone who had read and enjoyed the other books about this character, or to any child who enjoys witchy tales in general. ( )