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Becoming Real: The True Story of the Velveteen Rabbit

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Book Synopsis

For fans of Finding Winnie, a warm, lovingly detailed picture book that tells the true story of the beloved classic The Velveteen Rabbit and its creator, Margery Williams.

The Velveteen Rabbit has been treasured by generations of readers. Here, for the first time, is the story of how this beloved character came to be.

As a child, Margery Williams lost the father she adored and had to move to a city far away. She found solace visiting the animals in a wild and wonderful park near her new home, and in her toys—toys that became real to her. As an adult, she watched her children use their own imaginations to work through difficult times, and, inspired by their play, she wrote The Velveteen Rabbit.

This gorgeously written and illustrated story of Margery’s life will resonate with anyone who’s ever wished their beloved toys would become real—and those who believe they already are.

Our Review Panel says...

I first came across the original ‘Velveteen Rabbit’ story in a film and soon afterwards stumbled across a copy of the text itself in a second-hand book shop. It quickly became a precious book, a favourite, and a perfect gift for key birthday presents. So I approached ‘Becoming Real’ with a mixture of curiosity and trepidation; what could it say that the true story had not? ]

Becoming Real did not disappoint. It is a beautiful rendition of the writer, Margery Williams’ early life: her childhood, young adulthood, motherhood, migration and belonging. Crisscrossing the ocean from England to New York City to Paris and back to New York again – finding home whilst writing and bringing up a family and creating a world of comforting toys.

Molly Golden brings the author Margery Williams to life in a sensitive way, building a representation of a young female writer’s life at the turn of the last century. The freshness of the text belies the fact that the original story was written over one hundred years ago. The illustrations remind me of Ludwig Bemelmans’ Madeleine books. Interspersed with italicised extracts from The Velveteen Rabbit, the text flows from verse to bibliography seamlessly, opening a window into Margery’s life whilst linking it with her original writing of The Velveteen Rabbit.

At the back of the book, there’s an author’s note and mini biography of Margery’s life, followed by a double-page spread of ideas for Social-Emotional Activities to Share with your Toy. The bibliography at the end shows this book to be the result of detailed research; the creation of so much more than just a story.