Vickianne Caswell has completed another two delightful children's picture books in the "Freckles the Bunny Series" and released them both just last month in time for the Christmas holiday season.
Book 3: Freckles Lends a Paw. 
Book 4: Freckles and The True Meaning of Christmas. 
The illustrations are beautifully created by Anastasia Drogaitseva and are in keeping with the original wonderful character designs from the first two books.
In Freckles Lends a Paw we meet both old and new characters who come together to help teach Freckles and children everywhere yet again another valuable lesson. This time we learn the value of friendship and trusting in oneself and others instead of allowing fear to rule our lives. Fear of the unkown, fear of rumours, and fear of bad behaviours, all are easily overcome when you work together.
We meet poor old grumpy Mr Loppity who is accussed of not liking children very much and of being a mean old wizard. The children pick on him and throw things at his house making him even grumpier (understandably). When Freckle's mum finds him injured and comes to his rescue the children quickly learn Mr Loppity is perhaps not so frightening after all. Fun antics in the house ensue as the friemds soon learn that to help others is far more rewarding than at first it may appear.
Freckles and The True Meaning of Christmas is a timely reminder that it is the giving not the receiving that is important before, on Christmas day and after. Without giving too much away, in this delightful Christmas tale we are invited to meet not just the brothers and sisters of Freckle's friends but their entire families as they extend love and Christmas cheer, spreading good and helping around their community. Each family member gets involved one way or another to find the true spirit of giving their time and effort to those more in need.
Vickianne has found a truley inspirational way to write a story to thank those amongst us in the community who volunteer their time as well as to subtly suggest to others the significance of giving and sharing such a valuable comodity as spending time helping others.
These two gorgeous books along with the origininal two, Book one: Freckles is Scared of School 
and Book Two: Freckles and The Less Fortunate
would be the beginning of a wonderful collection for young children of pre-school and early reading years. For a review on these two fabulous books please refer to my earlier review Hop on intoTwo Furry Cute Reads, posted June 11, 2013. They are all easily read aloud and would be enjoyed at bedtime or in the classroom. Each have great discussion topics for lessons in their own right, making lessons plans for teachers easy to develop.. Teachers and parents alike could not go wrong. I could not recommend these more.
I'd rate these books 5 out of 5 gold stars.. 
