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    The Velveteen Rabbit
    The Velveteen Rabbit
    The Velveteen Rabbit
    Audiobook22 minutes

    The Velveteen Rabbit

    Written by Margery Williams

    Narrated by Xe Sands

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    About this audiobook

    The bestselling children's classic with millions sold around the world. This version, read by Xe Sands, will delight listeners of all ages with its story of wisdom and boundless love.

    "What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"

    "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."

    "Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.

    "Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."

    "Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"

    "It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't often happen 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."
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPear Press
    Release dateApr 18, 2017
    ISBN9780996032698
    Author

    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. 

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    Reviews for The Velveteen Rabbit

    4/5

    1,950 ratings101 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Wow this is such a cute book I recommend it for young kids it was really sweet and I love rabbits I almost cried with happiness it is really heart warming it is to short I wish for more books like these I can’t believe such a sweet book could exist nothing compares to this
    • 5/5
      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.
    • 3/5
      Yet another of those childhood classics that depressed me. I would use this as a good way to talk to my kids about illness, selflessness, bravery, compassion, and karma.
    • 5/5
      I missed this as a child, but I can't imagine that there is any age which is too late to discover this story. It's lovely and utterly magical.Also reading this for the first time as a woman in her 40s, it really speaks to me on a whole other level about aging and realness.chapter book fictionGrades: PreK - 5Ages: 3 - 10Lexile Measure: AD820LDRA Level: 40Themes: dolls/toys/puppets, love
    • 5/5
      The Velveteen Rabbit is a purely fictional story. I loved this story both when I was little and now as an adult. The illustrations are very realistic and the story flows beautifully. The underlying message of the story is that if you love a toy enough the toy becomes Real, meaning it will live forever in your memory and will forever be loved. The illustrations match perfectly with the story. When the fairy was described as being born from a flower that grew from the rabbits tear, the illustration showed a beautiful rendition of this process. I like this book because it plays to the fanciful notions of children. Almost every child wants their toys to come to life and be real. (Thanks Toy Story) This book gives children the hope that it will happen. I also liked it because the illustrations really brought the story to life. The intricate details bring the story even more to life for me. I especially loved the depiction of the fairy at the end of the story. The third thing I love about the story was how well the story flows. Margery Williams does an excellent job of bringing the Rabbit to life through her story telling and eventually completely to life at the end of the book. This book truly made my toys Real to me as a child, and I can't wait to read it to my children, both biological and not.
    • 5/5
      A beautiful story of love ans dreams coming true. This is in my top three of childhood favorites.
    • 5/5
      This one's the best story ever, for all ages, beautifully read.
    • 4/5
      A classic book about a bunny who becomes REAL through the power of love. A great bedtime story, possibly best read in parts or on a rainy day.
    • 2/5
      Maudlin as hell, but convincing to the point that I used to carefully make sure every doll got attention, so they could all "become Real." Also, put the fear of Scarlet Fever into me! Way to go, old-timey books.
    • 5/5
      Such an evoking story, woven from beautiful wisdom about love and life. I loved it.
    • 5/5
      What does it mean to be REAL? This is the question that the Velveteen Rabbit asks in this book. It is a question that maybe readers should ask themselves today in a world where, "What is real?" is being asked a lot these days.
    • 5/5
      Sad, yet one of my favorite childhood books.
    • 5/5
      To many people this small story needs no introduction. I included it here because it was my daughter's favorite book. I read it so many times I pretty much knew it by heart.

      The story chronicles a stuffed rabbit's desire to become real through the love of his owner. First published in 1922 it has been republished many times since.

      If you haven't read this to your young children, you are missing some wonderful feelings.
    • 3/5
      Lovely children’s story book. It's considered a classic and I've finally read it. Simple tale of make believe, friendships and rabbits!
    • 5/5
      A true Classic. And now I can never get rid of my stuffed animals. Thanks.
    • 4/5
      I...hadn't realized just how short a story this was. It's a sweet little fairy story (literally, the fairy appears near the end to Make Him Real). A pleasant read, though there's not a lot there, at least on the surface.
    • 5/5
      “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.” This is the classic story of a boy and his stuffed velveteen rabbit. It’s about becoming Real in a story that has fascinated children of all ages. It’s a story of unconditional love and childhood magic. This book, part of the Kohl’s Cares program, is an heirloom edition to be shared, to be read aloud, to be loved.Highly recommended.
    • 5/5
      Formative, for me. Still makes me cry.
    • 3/5
      A great classic.
    • 5/5
      One of my absolute favorite stories from childhood, and the last on my little trip down memory lane revisiting the books of my youth (those that I currently own, at least).What can one say about the Velveteen Rabbit that hasn't been said already? It's so tender, and tragic, and beautiful, and sweet, and touching. It makes you cry both sad and happy tears. And those lovely illustrations by William Nicholson are just wonderful.This particular edition, again from my childhood, is a beautiful hardcover in a slipcase. No idea where it came from (parents or a gift from parents' friends), but I know it was a constant favorite, and it remains one today.
    • 5/5
      Don Daily’s illustrations makes the classic, “Velventeen Rabbit” magical. I highly recommend this particular edition of the book.ww2
    • 5/5
      I read this when I was very small and could never get the story out of my head. It's sad and wonderful. Read it with a tissue at hand.
    • 5/5
      This is one of my absolute favorites. I recently shared this book with my son and I was so glad that be also loved it.
    • 4/5
      Bought for a young relative, I didn't realise this was one to tug at the heart strings. Boy (the child remains unnamed) gets a stuffed rabbit for Christmas. Gradually the rabbit gets loved and, by the magic of the nursery, becomes Real. Lovely illustrations in a slightly old fashioned style.
    • 3/5
      What a lovely little book which tells of how a loved stuffed rabbit becomes "real" just because a child believes. I have several stuffed animals that I too believe are "real". They are my companions on quiet days and enjoy reading with me.
    • 5/5
      Loved, loved, loved this childhood book ... What it truly means to be loved.
    • 5/5
      I love this story. It's so sad and happy at the same time. A great kids books. Every child should have this read to them.


      This part is my favourite part.

      “What is REAL?" asked the Velveteen Rabbit one day... "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"

      "Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When [someone] loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."

      "Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.

      "Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."

      "Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"

      "It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't often happen 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... once you are Real you can't become unreal again. It lasts for always.”
    • 4/5
      This was always one of my favorite books. The wonderful rabbit who was such a good playmate for the boy. That Velveteen Rabbit is the essence of childhood, of faith and that naive innocence that treats everyone the same (toys and people) and who can believe that toys can be made real if you are just loved enough. And isn't that what magic is all about?
    • 5/5
      A delightful children's classic with beautiful illustrations to enhance the story.
    • 4/5
      I love this story. It's sad, but beautiful. The movie version made me cry like a baby.