“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.”
“Does it hurt?” asked the Rabbit.
“Sometimes,” said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. “When you are Real you don’t mind being hurt.”
“Does it happen all at once, like being wound up,” he asked, “or bit by bit?”
“It doesn’t happen all at once,” said the Skin Horse. “You become. It takes a long time. That’s why it doesn’t happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. 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.”
Margery Williams – The Velveteen Rabbit, 1922
While surfing facebook this morning — a bad habit I said I’d never go back to — I came across this and instantly decided to start a new feature, “Favorite Book Passages.” It will be random, like doodads. The Velveteen Rabbit is definitely one of my top favorite children’s books that old crones like me continue to love.
Update: as I just became aware that Fandango’s One Word Challenge word for the day is “real,” I consider it serendipity and will link this to his challenge word for the day.
Tao Talk 
I hadn’t thought of this passage in years. One of the best!
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So glad you were able to see it again today :)
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What a wonderful idea, Lisa!
And this passage is THE passage of the book, isn’t it?
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Yes, I think so. I also like the part at the end when he finally becomes real. Thanks, Dale :)
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Oh yes, oh yes, oh yes. I actually bought this book way after my kids were of being read to age!
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I love this passage. Beautiful thoughts and beautifully written
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:)
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Great idea Lisa…I love this book.
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I have a copy ready and waiting to read to my grandbaby <3
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I love the ending of it. I think Toy Story may have been inspired by this book. We still have the books we read to Bailey.
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Don’t you love it when synchronicity comes into play?
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Oops. I mean serendipity!
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Yes, I do.
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Awww….love it.
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:) Thanks, Vic!
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😁
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We should all strive for this kind of reality. Both my daughters still have their original, most beloved, stuffed animals.
This is a great feature and I look forward to more. (K)
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So happy it brings good memories to you. It’s the essence of love to me.
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The Velveteen Rabbit!!! The perfect passage. I gave the book (and rabbit) to a friend in college when she was going through some things. She did the equivalent of “Meh!” I took the book from her and read it to her in the Student Union — cover to cover. She held the rabbit the entire time. When I said she didn’t need to keep the book, she grabbed it from me.
I’ve given it… and had it given to me.
Great choice!
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Lovely story, Charley. So happy you have a personal connection to it. I remember blubbering like a sad bloodhound the first time I watched the movie and hear Meryl Streep’s narration.
You know they have a version illustrated by a Japanese illustrator out there now that is also quite charming.
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It was pretty engaging with Charley narrating it. I can’t do “crazy off the hinges” like Meryl… but still.
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:) My kids seemed to enjoy my narration with character voices. One of my favorite voices to do was Mayzie in, “Horton Hatches the Egg.”
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And I can do Horton! Hahaha!
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A perfect match! :)
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I love the velveteen rabbit its an awesome book!
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Yes it is and it’s a damfine animated movie as well, as narrated by Meryl Streep.
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