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The Velveteen Rabbit
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The Velveteen Rabbit Paperback - 2016

by D. Wallace; William Nicholson (Illustrator); Margery Williams

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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From the publisher

The story of a stuffed rabbit and his desire to become real, through the love of his owner. The book was first published in 1922 these fourteen original illustrations are enhanced and redefined. A child's toy in a child's world.The story starts with a message from the author, followed by Fourteen original color illustrations.Finally a detailed author's biography, with more of her published works listed at the end of the book.Punctuation added for ease of reading.

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
  • Author D. Wallace; William Nicholson (Illustrator); Margery Williams
  • Binding Paperback
  • Pages 58
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
  • Date 2016-07
  • ISBN 9781535562874 / 1535562870
  • Weight 0.36 lbs (0.16 kg)
  • Dimensions 8.5 x 8.5 x 0.15 in (21.59 x 21.59 x 0.38 cm)
  • Ages 05 to 09 years
  • Grade levels K - 4
  • Reading level 1050
  • Dewey Decimal Code 813.52

About the author

Author Margery Williams (1881 - 1944) Margery Williams Bianco was born on July 22, 1881 in London, England; and deceased on September 4, 1944 in NYC, New York. An author, predominantly of children's records, but that is not where she got her start. A good writer who was generally known for the 1922 release of The Velveteen Rabbit. The narrative of a sweet, humble toy rabbit who inquiries "what it is to survive and to love." It is the beloved story written by Margery Williams, whose other works were for adults up until, her most well-known book, and a classic for all times. Several children's books followed: 1925 The Little Wooden Doll, 1926 The Apple Tree and 1927 The Skin Horse. After which Bianco wrote numerous other children's books, in 1925's Poor Cecco: The Wonderful Story of a Wonderful Wooden Dog Who Was the Jolliest Toy in the House Until He Went Out to Explore the World-a book that has a long-winded title for today's standards. This lively adventure story is a novel for children, with many characters who inhabit the nursery. Illustrations by Arthur Rackham Cecco's illustrator may have assured its existence of rare book dealers The Little Wooden Doll, illustrated by her daughter, Pamela, in which the title character is badly mistreated but shown love and compassion by a child, which makes complete again. Bianco produced many books and short stories with toys coming to life to express human emotions and feelings. There was a period of gloom, but in the end the reader emerged. Margery Williams Bianco did not live to see Forward Commandos! published, she became ill and, after three days in the hospital, died at the age of 63.

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