The Velveteen Rabbit

 

It's almost the end of the A to Z Challenge, 

 

After thinking about what to do for the letter V, I've decided to write about one of the most popular children's book around, "The Velveteen Rabbit". It was written by Margery Williams and illustrated by William Nicholson.

 

Synopsis: A stuffed rabbit sewn from velveteen is given as a Christmas present to a small boy. The boy plays with his other new presents and forgets the velveteen rabbit for a time. The wisest and oldest toy in the nursery, the Skin Horse, who was owned by the boy's uncle, tells the rabbit about toys magically becoming Real due to love from children. The rabbit is awed by this concept; however, his chances of achieving this wish are slight. One night the boy's Nana gives the rabbit to the boy to sleep with, in place of a lost toy. The rabbit becomes the boy's favorite toy, enjoying picnics with him in the spring, and the boy regards the rabbit as 'REAL'. Time passes, and the rabbit becomes shabbier, but happy. He meets some real rabbits in the summer, and they learn that he cannot hop as they do, and say that he is not real. One day, the boy becomes sick with scarlet fever, and the rabbit sits with him as he recovers. The doctor orders that the boy should be taken to the seaside, and that his room should be disinfected, and all his books and toys burnt - including the velveteen rabbit. The rabbit is bundled into a sack and left out in the garden overnight, where he sadly reflects on his life with his boy. The toy rabbit cries and a real tear drops onto the ground, and a marvelous flower appears. A fairy steps out of the flower and comforts the velveteen rabbit, introducing herself as the nursery magic fairy. She says that because he is old and shabby and Real, she will take him away with her and "turn him into Real" - to everyone. The fairy takes the rabbit to the forest, where she meets the other rabbits and gives the velveteen rabbit a kiss. The velveteen rabbit changes into a real rabbit, and joins the other rabbits in the forest. The next spring, the rabbit returns to look at the boy, and the boy sees a resemblance to his old velveteen rabbit.

"The Velveteen Rabbit" exemplifies what true love is all about, even if it happens to be between a boy and a stuffed animal.

Obviously, toys can't come alive in real life, but what toy or stuffed animal was your favorite as a child? I still have a few of my stuffed animals/dolls from when I was really little and my favorites would have to be a baby Mickey Mouse and a doll that played "Fur Elise". When I was a baby and woke up crying in the middle of the night, my mom would put on classical music and it was the only thing that put me back to sleep. And I have loved classical music, especially "Fur Elise" as long as I can remember.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

♥Meg♥