Synopsis: The Velveteen Rabbit makes a dashing entry in to the life of a little boy when he arrives in a Christmas stocking. He is soon forgotten and takes his place in the nursery as one of the lowliest toys because he has no mechanical or moving parts. The Skin Horse explains to the Velveteen Rabbit that although the modern toys consider themselves to be ‘real’ they will eventually break, but the Rabbit might become real by the power of nursery magic if the boy truly loves him. When the boy’s favourite bedtime toy goes missing, the Rabbit takes its place. In the months that follow the boy plays with the Rabbit in the daytime and keeps him in bed at night. The Rabbit is overwhelmed when pronounced ‘real’ by the boy. Left on his own outside, the Rabbit encounters wild living rabbits with whom he longs to play. An attack of scarlet fever marks another turning point in the Rabbit’s fortunes and his hopes of becoming ‘real’. Margery Williams explores themes of love, loss, and hope in this award-winning and much republished classic.

Review: First published in 1922 the setting of The Velveteen Rabbit’s story reflects a comfortable middleclass lifestyle that might seem quite foreign to many of today’s children. The language used also reflects the period. For this reason the story, although quite charming, is probably not as accessible and appealing as it once was to the younger side of its potential readership. However, the themes explored are universal and will still shine through for children with a good vocabulary.

The format for this edition is about three quarters of the most common picturebook size, has 44 pages and is illustrated with 7 colour plates of original artwork by William Nicholson. Some decades prior to illustrating this book Nicholson had been one half of the partnership, The Beggarstaff Brothers, a highly regarded and influential pair of poster artists whose designs incorporated large flat areas of colour, elegant line, and a reduced palette. These elements can be seen in the illustrations for The Velveteen Rabbit although Nicholson has allowed himself to be playful with the media, overlaying colour washes with pencil and pastel to add texture and modify the hues. I suspect that they don’t have broad child appeal given the wealth and type of images that children are exposed to today even though they are dramatic and theatrical, especially the last, showing rabbits in the wood at night.

Included with this edition is a CD with an audio version of the story, plus music and song. This seemed to be aimed at young children of 3 to 6, and would be good as a quiet story to listen to at bedtime. For this reason I include this book in the 3+ category although the book on its own is most suited to readers 6+.

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