The Velveteen Rabbit
100 years ago, The Velveteen Rabbit, written by Margery Williams was originally published in 1922. It is such a timeless and beautiful story about love. I started teaching art in elementary in 2014. It was only then that I discovered this story and it has become one of my favorites.
It’s about a toy rabbit who wanted to become real and the little boy who loved him and believed him to be real.
The first piece was inspired by the scene in the story where the toy bunny meets 2 real bunnies in the woods. The real rabbits sensed that the velveteen rabbit was not real and told him so…"I am Real!" said the little Rabbit. "I am Real! The Boy said so!" And he nearly began to cry.
The second piece was inspired by the scene where the rabbit is now old and worn. He was put in a sack to be thrown away. A tear trickled down his face and fell to the ground. A flower grew in its place and a fairy emerged.
From the book…
…”The Rabbit looked up at her, and it seemed to him that he had seen her face before, but he couldn't think where.
"I am the nursery magic Fairy," she said. "I take care of all the playthings that the children have loved. When they are old and worn out and the children don't need them any more, then I come and take them away with me and turn them into Real."
"Wasn't I Real before?" asked the little Rabbit.
"You were Real to the Boy," the Fairy said, "because he loved you. Now you shall be Real to every one."….
Thus, the much loved old and shabby rabbit became real and played with the other rabbits in the woods.
There’s more to the the ending. If you want to read the whole story, you can find it on the link below:
