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The Velveteen Rabbit: How Toys Become Real
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Velveteen Rabbit: How Toys Become Real Paperback - 2014

by Margery Williams; William Nicholson (Illustrator)


About this book

The Velveteen Rabbit, or How Toys Become Real, is the story of a toy rabbit who wants to become real through the love of his owner. The stuffed rabbit is overlooked by the boy whom he is given, the boy preferring to play with more mechanical and sophisticated toys than the simple stuffed rabbit. The rabbit holds onto a story told to him by the oldest and wisest toy in the nursery, the skin horse, about how toys can become real through love. Eventually, the boy becomes attached to the soft doll, but after developing scarlet fever the doctor orders the boy sent away to recover and all his toys and belonging burnt. The rabbit is so sad over his separation from the boy he begins to cry and sheds a real tear - after which the nursery fairy appears to turn him into a real rabbit.

It has been adapted many times into television, film and onto the stage. The National Education Association listed it among the top 100 books for teachers of children in 2007.

Author Margery Williams’ first children’s book, The Velveteen Rabbit was published in 1922 by George H. Doran Company in London and has remained in print continuously since, owing to its popularity as a story of the power of enduring love.

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First Edition Identification

The UK printing and the US printing occurred simultaneously and feature yellow-tan pictorial boards picturing a rabbit and seven chromolithographs by William Nicholson (later issues contained reproductions of these). One of the most coveted children’s books for collectors, copies in a dust jacket often appear for over $5,000, with pristine copies well exceeding $15,000.

Details

  • Title The Velveteen Rabbit: How Toys Become Real
  • Author Margery Williams; William Nicholson (Illustrator)
  • Binding Paperback
  • Pages 26
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
  • Date 2014
  • Illustrated Yes
  • ISBN 9781496107312 / 1496107314
  • Weight 0.14 lbs (0.06 kg)
  • Dimensions 10 x 7 x 0.05 in (25.40 x 17.78 x 0.13 cm)
  • Ages 07 to 09 years
  • Grade levels 2 - 4
  • Reading level 1050
  • Dewey Decimal Code FIC

About the author

Margery Williams Bianco (22 July 1881 - 4 September 1944) was an English-American author, primarily of popular children's books. A professional writer since the age of nineteen, she achieved lasting fame at forty-one with the 1922 publication of the classic that is her best-known work, The Velveteen Rabbit.