Book Description About the Author The work of New York Times best-selling children’s book illustrator Charles Santore has been widely exhibited in museums and celebrated with recognitions such as the prestigious Hamilton King Award, the Society of Illustrators Award of Excellence, and the Original Art 2000 Gold Medal from the Society of Illustrators. He is best known for his luminous interpretations of classic children’s stories, including, The Night Before Christmas, The Little Mermaid, Snow White, The Velveteen Rabbit, and The Wizard of Oz. Read more Customers Review: When I was a very young child, so young that I do not remember the actual gift, my mother purchased the book along with it came a stuffed toy rabbit.I do recall taking it to her as a young child and showing her that an eye fell off or a seam came undone and she carefully repared it.I put it away in a trunk when I was in high school and forgot all about it until one day after my wife and I were married my mom suggested that I take the old trunk with stuff in it to our home.I did and inside the trunk when I opened it was my old teddy-bear & rabbit. I recall reading the Velveteen Rabbit for the first time when I read it to my kids and along with the reading showing them the rabbit, some time during my kids younger years the rabbit gained a necklace depicting Buzz-Lightyear. I still have these toys, and I imagine they are quite real and have been for the past seventy years or so.
Dear Baby-person, When I heard from your grandfather of your arrival here on Earth I went directly to my bookcase to fetch my personal copy of this little story. Grandfather was in quite the hurry to get to the airport so he could fly to meet you. No time to get your name or other particulars. I reckon, “The Velveteen Rabbit”, to be a welcome addition in any baby’s library. I hope you like it. Seeing as you’ll be quite busy, presently, growing hair and teeth and the like, and also not reading as yet, you should want to have someone read to you. May I offer my humble advice. Never too early to start. Once you’re properly changed and fed, you should want to sit comfortably in someone’s lap and be read to. It is the right duty and proper responsibility of those who read, to read to the young. This, as yet, has not been enshrined in any constitition of any sovereign nation I know of, but civilisation, Baby-person, is still in its infancy. Do not be a slave to perfection. No matter if the speaker is less than the best orator, or speaks with an accent, what matters is heart. The reader must really want to be there. A person with the clearest facility of diction and most melodious of speaking voices, who is thinking of the ball game or shopping, or lunch, whilst reading aloud to you, had better just be silenced. Close the book and tell the creature to bugger off and seek their heart’s desire elsewhere. Find someone who really wants to be with you, and a good time shall be had by all. There are so many wonderful stories in the wide world, not the least of which, the story you shall write for yourself. The one which is your life to come.I wish you all the best in your endeavours, Baby-person.kind regardsyour humble servantG
This is the classic story of the Velveteen Rabbit and it is WONDERFUL! I recommend it for everyone, kids and adults……But be careful. THIS copy says it is the original edition but it is not the same as the original. (Well, I dont know about the one written in 1922 but I have a copy from 1970 and this one is different). I was expecting it to be the same as my 1970 version but this one is bigger, (I don’t mind that), the cover and dust jacket are a different color from the original, the pages are a horrible shade of tan and the coloring in the photos is different. There are many cute versions of this book but it you want the “original” or something close to it, this is not it.
The first thing to know about The Velveteen Rabbit is that, while it is a children’s book, it also is not. It has so many deeper lessons adults need to hear as well. The story is a simple one of a special toy given to a little boy. He took the rabbit with him everywhere, even to bed every night. The book is told from the viewpoint of the rabbit and, more than anything, he wants to be real. One of the best passages in the book is when he is sitting in the nursery with the old skin horse and asks him what it means to be real. When the boy becomes very ill and quite contagious everything is taken from his room and disposed of. How the rabbit finds his way back to the boy is the rest of the story.I am a therapist and have used this book with adult clients of ever kind and have even used it with people coming straight out of prison for court-ordered therapy. I particularly use the part about what it means to be real. And it had an impact. Great for kids but, like Winnie the Pooh, there are lessons for all of us in this classic book.
I was feeling a little nostalgic one day and added this on a whim to my cart. I looked through it when it arrived and I couldn’t help falling in love with it again. This book is a classic and all children should have the extreme privilege of being able to know and love this book.I don’t think this item needs a long review to convince you to get The Velveteen Rabbit, especially if you’ve got a child to share it with. Get it. It’s magical!
I bought two copies of this version of the Velveteen Rabbit (illustrated by Donna Green) when both of my children were toddlers because not only is it a classic story, but Donna Green’s illustrations are stunning and beautiful. My children are now in their mid-20’s and off doing their own thing but they have kept their copies of this book for nostaglic purposes.Recently my niece and her husband had their first baby, after years of miscarriages and other failed efforts. Her sister threw a baby shower for her and asked guests to bring a book instead of a card for the new baby, so I was able to find another “new” copy of the book illustrated by Donna Green and included it with my baby shower gift. My niece loved it. Highly recommend this book for the story and for the beautiful illustrations! It’s a keeper!!
I love the story, but I was not expecting the book to have glossy yellow pages. I’ve never seen a children’s book with yellow printed pages before and honestly, I don’t see why it should have them!
Buyers of this cheaper version should be aware that there are no pictures in the book, just text. And REALLY just text. The first letter of the story, which I assume was supposed to be a fancied-up letter, is missing. It doesn’t impact the story, but people should know. The story itself is charming and heartwarming |
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