First published 2027
The velveteen rabbit arrives in the nursery as just another plaything, but the wise old skin horse teaches him a secret. Real isn't about how you're made, the skin horse explains. It's about being loved so much that it changes you completely. The rabbit watches other toys come and go while he waits for his turn. When a little boy finally chooses him as a constant companion, the rabbit begins to understand what the skin horse meant. Through adventures and quiet moments, he discovers that becoming real means accepting yourself as enough. But the rabbit faces a question the skin horse never answered. How does anyone know when they have truly become real? Williams shows us that authenticity emerges not from pretending to be more than we are, but from recognizing our inherent worth. The rabbit's journey mirrors our own struggle between performing for others and embracing who we actually are.
Genres: 20th-century, fantasy
Vibes: emotional, intimate, whimsical
Tropes: found-family, self-discovery
24 pages · Board Book · Applesauce Press