Describe your new book: This book is the story of my life the ups, the downs, and the music. If someone were to write your biography, what...
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Nursery magic is very strange and wonderful, and only those playthings that are old and wise and experienced like the Skin Horse understand all about it.
"What is REAL?" asked the 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 a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real. It doesn't happen all at once. You become. It takes a long time. 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."
Synopsis:
Complete with the endearing, original color illustrations of William Nicholson, "The Velveteen Rabbit" tells a triumphant and timeless story about the redemptive power of love. The original edition.
Michael L, September 7, 2011 (view all comments by Michael L)
I was asked to read this aloud, bedtime-story style. I expected a simple story with an easy moral lesson. It is indeed a narrative that draws readers easily into its identifiable roles, but I was unprepared when a plot development resonated deeply with my emotions. The story is a beautiful discussion about what constitutes "Real"ness, when confronted with the desire for cosmetic beauty, the reality of ageing and material deterioration, and the vicissitudes of time. The child within me clamors for Hope and a happy ending, and he was not disappointed by this book.
A joyful heart, February 15, 2007 (view all comments by A joyful heart)
I read The Velveteen Rabbit to our 2 small children in the 70's . As I've gotten older (58) it has meant more and more to me. When the Skin horse talks about becoming real to the Rabbit, it's like me.
I have been becoming more and more real as I have been loved by my God, my husband, children and friends.
I was sexually abused as a child and spent many times and long periods of time in the hospital for corrective surgery for the polio damage as a child of 1 1/2 years old.
I smiled through my childhood and as a young adult. My future husband was the first person to look underneath the smile and find the real me.
Now 38 years later, I've found that beautiful smile I was gifted with is the real me. The damage of my childhood has been healed by my loving God. And I am real just like the Rabbit "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."
People see the real me most of the time, but some still see the braces and crutches and sometimes the manual wheelchair. But now I am the real me.
Signed "A joyful heart"
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"Synopsis"
by Libri,
Complete with the endearing, original color illustrations of William Nicholson, "The Velveteen Rabbit" tells a triumphant and timeless story about the redemptive power of love. The original edition.
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