A SOFT AND FLUFFY VELVETEEN RABBIT lived in a toybox in a Boy's

room. Each day, the Boy opened the toybox and picked up the Velveteen Rabbit.

The Velveteen Rabbit felt as happy as the Boy.

Then newer, brighter toys came into the toybox. They had special tricks. Some

could move when the Boy pushed a button, and others bounced high. The

Velveteen Rabbit had no special tricks or buttons. After awhile, the Boy started to

choose the other new toys.

At night, when the toys were back in the toy box, the other toys talked with pride

about the fine things they could do. The Velveteen Rabbit was quiet. There was

not much to say.

The only other toy in the toy box that was soft and fluffy like the Velveteen

Rabbit and could not do any fancy tricks was Cowboy Horse. Cowboy Horse was

old and most of his fur was worn away.

Cowboy Horse said to the Velveteen Rabbit, “Do not listen to the rest of them.

Soft toys like us are really the lucky ones. We get loved the most. And when soft

toys get loved enough, we can become Real.”

“What do you mean, 'Real?' ” said the Velveteen Rabbit.

“Being Real is the best," said Cowboy Horse. "You can move when you want.

When you are Real, if you are loved you can show love back.”