Thursday, March 13, 2014

The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams- ESSENTIAL

Williams, Margery The Velveteen Rabbit. (Deluxe Edition). PICTURE BOOK. Random House Children’s Books, 2014. $19.99.  This is the Deluxe Edition of this timeless classic with cloth binding and gold accents.  This reconstructed classic is the perfect gift for a special teacher or a baby gift, etc.  The illustrations are different than the edition I grew up with because they are remastered from the 1922 first edition.  I personally favor having illustrations on every page instead of reading for two full pages and then having a two page spread of illustrations, but knowing it is patterned after the original made it easier to understand why it was printed this way.  For those who have never read this classic, Margery Williams creates a wonderful story about a stuffed bunny who becomes “REAL” by the love of a little boy.  Mechanical toys may come and go, but the toys that are truly loved by most children are special and unique. “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.”  We love this great book and loved exploring the new illustrations and colors of the original edition. Pre-K. EL (K-3). ESSENTIAL. Reviewer: SL.

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