The Velveteen Rabbit

By Margery Williams

Margery Williams’s magical nursery tale of a stuffed rabbit and his quest to become real

Christmas morning, the room filled with the hustle and bustle of preparation, a rabbit stitched of velveteen sits perched on top of the little boy’s stocking. Those first two hours are the best of the young rabbit’s life: filled with hugs and play. But like most children, the boy is fickle and easily distracted—after Christmas morning, the Velveteen Rabbit is forgotten.
 
Shy and intimidated by the new mechanical toys who sneer at him for being simple, the sawdust-filled rabbit sits quietly at the top of the toy closet, aching to be loved the way he was that wonderful Christmas morning. He’s soon taken in by the wise old Skin Horse, who sets him straight on the way to become real. It’s not about expensive mechanisms or shiny paint jobs. No, becoming real is all about the unadulterated love of a child.
 
The Velveteen Rabbit is a timeless story about the importance of love, honesty, and friendship.
 
This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Media
• Release date: Nov 25, 2014
• ISBN: 9781497691087

Margery Williams

Margery Williams (1881–1944) was an English American author of children’s books. Born in London, she moved to the United States with her family following the death of her father. Her most famous work remains the enduring classic The Velveteen Rabbit, which has been adapted numerous times for radio, stage, and screen. 

Book preview

HERE was once a velveteen rabbit, and in the beginning he was really splendid. He was fat and bunchy, as a rabbit should be; his coat was spotted brown and white, he had real thread whiskers, and his ears were lined with pink sateen. On Christmas morning, when he sat wedged in the top of the Boy’s stocking, with a sprig of holly between his paws, the effect was charming.

There were other things in the stocking, nuts and oranges and a toy engine, and chocolate almonds and a clockwork mouse, but the Rabbit was quite the best of all. For at least two hours the Boy loved him, and then Aunts and Uncles came to dinner, and there was a great rustling of tissue paper and unwrapping of parcels, and in the excitement of looking at all the new presents the Velveteen Rabbit was forgotten.

Christmas Morning

For a long time he lived in the toy cupboard or on the nursery floor, and no one thought very much about him. He was naturally shy, and being only made of velveteen, some of the more expensive toys

Reviews for The Velveteen Rabbit

[andreasj_53 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Avalos's thesis is in brief that Biblical studies has found that the Bible is culturally alien, historically unreliable, and ethically reprehensible; and that Biblical scholars systematically hide these findings from the public at large to secure their continued prestige and employment. Avalos also argues that the field is in decline and the only remaining service it can do to humanity is to hasten the erosion of Biblical influence in modern life.It's an interesting book - Avalos is an insider in the field he's condemning - but also a deeply annoying one. I agree with much of what Avalos has to say, but the way he has chosen to present his case is frequently exasperating. He makes provocative claims and clarifies them into something less radical. He makes lots of irrelvevant asides (frex, discussing textual criticism, he notes that the Leningrad Codex was written about 3000 years after the traditional dates of Abraham, which is true, but the topic supposedly under discussion wasn't whether the Codex can tell us anything worthwhile about Abraham, but whether it can inform us of the original form of the texts, which is vastly younger). He repeatedly fails to say just how far he'd go (frex, several of his arguments against Biblical archaeology would seem to apply to other subdisciplines too, but he doesn't tell us if he thinks that, say, Scandinavian or Polynesian archaeology should end).Thus, a book that can be recommended only with significant reservations. A pity, because when shorn of the rhetoric and when the author can keep on subject it has important things to say.

[antoneta1baciu · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Inspiring story...how to become real in our life...loved the transformation explained in a beautiful story...

[sullywriter_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Reissue of the classic as originally published in 1922 with the William Nicholson illustrations.

[callmechristina · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Such a wonderful little story. I was heartbroken when (***SPOILERS***)


The little boy got sick and they had to throw out all his toys because it was horribly catching.

[riao-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is a beautiful story of a boy's love for his stuffed bunny. In this story, a boy has a favorite stuffed animal he loves very much. When he gets sick, all his contaminated bedding and stuffed animals are taken outside to be thrown away. The little rabbit cries a tear in which a fairy appears and because of the love of the boy, makes the bunny a real bunny.I LOVED this story and would definitely share this with pre-kindergarten and up as it is a touching story that is so relatable to many kids, as they also have stuffed animals that they love very much.I also loved the illustrations in this book!

[sweetbeebecky · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This classic book is one that never grows old, even though the time in which it is set and the rules that are adhered to may have changed. It is the story of a boy from a well-to-do family who is primarily cared for by a nanny, and who has a lavish nursery filled with toys, including a well-loved velveteen rabbit. When the boy becomes sick with scarlet fever, the boy clings to the velveteen rabbit for comfort, but when he is well again, it is decided that anything that may contain germs, including the rabbit, must be burned. The rabbit manages to escape that fate, however, and is so well-loved, that he eventually becomes real, which is what the hobby horse in the nursery told the rabbit would happen. This story is mostly realistic fiction, but the bit about the rabbit becoming real injects just a bit of fantasy into the story, and is so believable that a child might think it to actually be able to happen should he love a stuffed animal of his own enough. The soft watercolor illustrations just add to the dreamlike tale, and would be alluring to even the youngest child. It is quite long for a children's book, and I used to read it to my daughters in sections if it were for a bedtime story, or during the daytime if we wanted to complete the entire book in one sitting. None of my daughters ever grew tired of hearing it again and again, and chose to read it on their own when they could each read independently, giving a nod to its timelessness and charm. I have honestly never heard of it being used in a classroom setting, but I'm sure there are possibilities, especially if used as a read aloud to the younger set, but probably in short segments read over a few days time.

[tapestry100 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Yet another classic that I recently discovered has slipped past me (or at least, if I ever read it as a child, I have no recollection), Williams' The Velveteen Rabbit is a beautiful book and one that I'm glad to have stumbled across as an adult rather than as a child. It all happened because of a quote:He said,"You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."This quote came across my Facebook feed the other day, and in discussing the book with a couple of friends, it then occurred to me that I don't think I had ever read it, so bought a copy that weekend. This book resonated far better with my adult self than I think it ever could have as a child, which speaks volumes for the magic of this slim little volume. A happy addition to my library.

[cmjohnson-2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Velveteen Rabbit takes you on a journey through the life of a plush rabbit who finally gets its wish of coming to life! It is a cute story that kids are sure to love! Imagination is a great thing to explore in children! How would you feel if your stuffed animal came to life?

[sommerkirk-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This classic modern fantasy is about a Velveteen Rabbit who is bought for a little boy and sent to live with the other play toys in the nursery awaiting the day they will be the chosen toy to be played with. The Velveteen Rabbit befriends a wise Skin Horse who knows everything about the nursery, and life. Life, as the Skin Horse tells the Velveteen Rabbit, is when you are made real by the love of a human. The Skin Horse suggests that when a child really truly loves you, then you become real, and the Velveteen Rabbit is really truly loved by Boy.

[cpaavola-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a classic story about a toy rabbit who wants so much to become real. The rabbit is owned by a young boy who loves him very much and plays with him all the time. The rabbit learns from his friend the skin horse that toys can become real when they are loved and played with. Then one day the boy says that his rabbit it Real and that makes the bunny happy until he sees two actual rabbits and discovers that he isn't a live rabbit. Then the rabbit needs to be thrown out because the boy had been sick and he encounters a fairy who turns him into an actual rabbit and he is truly Real. This is a classic story that shows the imagination of a child and the great love children have for their toys, so much so, they sometimes seem real. This can start discussion about what makes something "real" How one person defines real may be different to someone else. A teacher could have a student journal about one of their favorite toys as a child and if it was Real to them or not. This book could be used in a unit on classic books, books on imagination or friendship. The illustrations in this book are the original artwork. There are only eighth illustrations and they are spread throughout the book but not on every page. Sometimes the picture comes before the text that is depicting or explaining it which can be confusing. The style of illustration is hand drawn ink and color sketches with minimal use of color. The colors that are used are mainly the primary colors or muted blues, brown and yellow hues. The illustrations have a messy, chaotic feel because the backgrounds aren't solid colors but almost scribbled in and it adds to the busyness of the picture.

[heidijones · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is one of the sweetest classic stories I have read. In the beginning, the rabbit is a gift given to the young boy. The boy does not choose the rabbit as his favorite toy, and he even forgets about him for a while. Then, the boy's grandmother gives him the rabbit to sleep with one night when another toy becomes lost. The rabbit has heard tales of toys becoming real with enough love from their owners, and he wishes for that to come true for him. The plot twists when the boy becomes sick with scarlet fever (the book was originally written in 1922, and it is ordered that all of his toys be burnt and his room be cleaned and rid of the germs. The rabbit becomes real while he cries, and he is rescued by a fairy who takes him to a forest where he can live a real life. When he visits the boy later, the boy notices that he looks much like his toy.I loved that the power of love gave the rabbit life- a true testimony to it's force!

[rachelbowers · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A story sure to demonstrate how the power of love affects others. The velveteen rabbit is a new toy given a Christmas that gets tossed aside once other gifts are opened. Once the little boy becomes ill with scarlet fever his grandmother gives him the velveteen rabbit for comfort when another toy cant be found. It is also an important lesson on value.

[flamingrosedrakon · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was one of my absolute favorite books when I was growing up.... This story is short and sweet while easy to understand so it stays with you even after so many years. The older you get and the more you mature the more the story will mean to you for you will be able to see the lesson that is being told. The author has a beautiful way with words that bring the story to life whether it is the gentle fairy holding the Velveteen Rabbit, the other rabbits skipping in the woods or digging under the sheets. And the best voice I have found in the story is that of the old horse. But the best part of the story is that it is real. I had a Real cat named Buttercup who was a last gift that I had received before my adoptive parents broke-up. And through the years with all the troubles, tears and pain that my sisters as well I went through she became just as Real to us and just as important in our own lives thus it is a memory-filled book for me.

[mihalevich · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Author Margery WilliamsTitle The Velveteen RabbitIllustrator Christopher SantoroPublisher Western PublishingPages 20Date 1990Summary of main plot: This book is about a boy that loves his stuffed rabbit. The boy got it for Christmas one year. For awhile the rabbit lived in the toy cupboard with the rest of the toys. The rabbit comes to life and asks the horse which is another one of the boys toys. "What is real?" On night when the boy was going to bed he couldn't find the china doll he sleeps with so his grandma gives him the rabbit to sleep with instead. The boy falls in love with this rabbit and sleeps with him every night from now on. They play together. Finally the boy had to give the rabbit up throw him away because the boy came down with scarlet fever and wanted every toy out of the house that all the toys he has played with must be burned. Then the fairy came and turned him into a real rabbit where he could go be with other rabbits and frolic and play. The tags and subject headings would ne loyalty and friendshipMy response: I love this book. I use to read this book many times when I was a kid I lived the pictures in this book too, It always made me sad when I came to the part where the boy had to throw the rabbit away. Poor rabbit. :(

[emilydrennan · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The Velveteen Rabbit is a story about a rabbit that a boy receives for Christmas. He opens the rabbit and loves it, but tosses it to the side once he opens more presents. The rabbit is put away in a cupboard and is often found on the floor of the nursery. He befriends a Skin Horse who explains to him that they more you are loved and played with by a child, the more real you become. The velveteen rabbit eventually gets the chance to be loved by the boy and has the opportunity to become real. This story is about how loving your toys gives them a purpose and makes them real for you. As an activity, each student could bring in their favorite toy and share it with the class.

[tburfe1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I absolutely love this book! This has been one of my favorites, and is such a sweet story every time I read it. The language is clear, and the writing flows. The characters may not be realistic, but they are so believable and very well-developed. The plot is organized, and delivers the messages of unconditional love and what it means to be "real". The illustrations are gorgeous and enhance the story. Readers think about what it means to be real, to love unconditionally.

[hphipp2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

 (Personal Opinion: The Velveteen Rabbit is the saddest book written about personified objects. I hated this book as a child because of how sad it made me feel)This is a book about love and affection and what it means to be cared for. The boy came to love the rabbit, but when he became sick with Scarlet Fever, the rabbit was to be destroyed for fear of infection. The little stuffed rabbit comes to life and escapes because the little boy loved him and he loved the boy.This book is actually a good expression of what it means to be human. We are qualified as this and that but really what we do is love and be loved. And children need to know that.

[crunchymunchkin · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

"Real isn't how you are made,' said the Skin Horse. 'It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."Like the Skin Horse, Margery Williams understood how toys, and people, become real through the wisdom and experience of love. Williams' tale about the transforming power of love is as universal as it is timeless.

[harrisrm · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of my favorite classics, like the skin Horse, the the understands children's imagination of how toys can become real to them. After reading this wonderful classic again it was even better! I can really appreciated its message. This book "Velveteen Rabbity" one of Margery Williams first classics popular tales is about how a toy rabbit learns the true meaning of being real. I love this book, the whole concept of being real just moves me so much every time I read it!

[awalls4 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I like this book because of the writing. The writing was engaging and well organized. I like the inner and outer dialogue used throughout the story: for example, “Hurrah! Thought the little Rabbit” and “To-morrow we shall go to the seaside!” Including inner and outer dialogue in a story draws the reader into the story, and also sets a more conversational tone for the story. I think the central message of the book is how we are shaped by love. The love the boy had for the Rabbit and the love the Rabbit had for the boy was “real” and it helped guide the rabbit through life. Because he was loved, he felt important and valued. I think it’s a great story to read to elementary aged students. In order to understand the in-depth concept, I think it is more appropriate for the upper elementary aged students.

[mattm50 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Velveteen Rabbit is one of my favorite children's stories and is one that I remember reading as a child numerous times. It follows a stuffed velveteen rabbit who is given to a boy as a present and how he is loved by him. The rabbit's only wish is to eventually become a real rabbit. This book is eerily similar to Toy Story in that the toys are alive and are aware of the boy's love and affection for them. I love this story because it reminds me of the love that a child can have for their favored toys or blankets. It's main message is that only after a toy has been thoroughly used and worn out does it become real. It is not apparent until the end of the book that the rocking horse meant that they will forever be real in the eyes of the child who loves them. It is through a magical coincidence that the Rabbit finds himself in the presence of fairies in the garden who take it upon themselves to make him a real bunny rabbit. The illustrations (in my edition) are very realistic and remind one of almost pictures. They were done by Donna Green and a breathtakingly beautiful. The interpretation of the fairy that made the rabbit real is truly quite amazing. The illustrations will keep children rereading again and again. All in all I believe that this is a wonderful book (in no small part due to nostalgia) and one that children can relate to.

[kybunnies · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a wonderful classic child's story. This is a re-read. But something this wonderful never gets old. Reading this story as an adult makes someone want to believe in all the wonderful thing's we believed in as a child.

[aliceanna-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What a lovely little story! I never read this when I was young -- very sweet.

[dtolton93 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I would give this to a more advanced reader in my classroom to read by themselves. I think it's a bit too long to read aloud to the class. I liked how it gave a different perspective to the reader (from the toy's perspective) and it also shows children to be kind to their toys because they have a story of their own and they just want to be loved and taken care of. Also, this book may appeal or be comforting to a child who is really sick or has ever been really sick.

[kweber8 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Summary: There was a velveteen rabbit that was given to a young boy at Christmas, but the rabbit was forgotten about for some time because of new toys that came along. One day the rabbit was placed in the little boy’s hands when he was sick and that is where their friendship began. The boy took the rabbit everywhere he went and this is when the rabbit began feeling “real.” The rabbit was told that when someone is loved that is when they turn real. Their friendship grew and grew until they could not be separated at all. The bond between the rabbit and boy was unbreakable because they had shared what all best friends share together such as games, secrets, food, etc. Unfortunately, the boy became sick with scarlet fever and the rabbit was taken away. Review: Williams writes an emotion stirring story that focuses on the central message of love and commitment. In the beginning of the story the boy casts away the rabbit because it seems old and useless, but he somehow finds his way back to the rabbit when he is sick and his grandma needed to find something to comfort him. The bond grew automatically between the rabbit and the boy. The boy was constantly told that his rabbit looked old and ratty, but he insisted on bringing it everywhere he went. When he became sick and was forced to part with the rabbit it was heart wrenching because I remember when my parents told me I could not bring my rabbit, Strawberry, to kindergarten with me. The boy had unconditional love for his stuffed animal and it shows how powerful a bond a child can have with an attachment.

[natalie.loy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a classic tale of a boy and his toy rabbit. The boy takes his rabbit everywhere with him and plays games with him. However, when the boy gets sick he forced to give his rabbit up as it is contaminated with disease. On the way to the fire to be burned the Velveteen Rabbit falls out of the sack and lays in the woods. However, a fairy comes along and makes him into a real rabbit. A very cute book with a happy ending that young kids will love.

[thebookmagpie · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Made me ruinously sad as a child and I'm pretty sure I didn't learn anything from it except not to get one of those horrible olden days plague-diseases.

[emedwards-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This story is really sweet and sad at times. It is about a toy rabbit that lives in the nursery that is forgotten about until another toy is lost. Nana replaces the lost toy with the velveteen rabbit and the rabbit becomes the boys best friend. One of the other old toys tells the rabbit that he can become "real" if the boys really loves him and he turns old looking (worn out from being used/loved on). The rabbit is told by the boy that he is "real" but nothing happens, he is still made of velveteen. When the boy becomes sick with scarlet fever the rabbit is supposed to be burned along with all the other toys the child touched while sick. A fairy comes and takes him into the forrest and turns him into a real rabbit. This story is a very sweet fairy tale.

[evalangui_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

cute and touching. the profound truth that loves makes us real in a form accessible to a child.

[rosenstern · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed reading this book even as an adult. It is about a rabbit's fleeting fame, and then its journey to becoming a real rabbit. Heartwarming story that you can read to your arch enemy over a cup of tea. Really worth it, especially if you have any young people around.