The Velveteen Rabbit

"There was once a velveteen rabbit, and in the beginning he was really splendid," this story begins. "On Christmas morning, when he sat wedged in the top of the Boy's stocking, with a sprig of holly between his paws, the effect was charming."

But before long, the stuffed rabbit has been largely forgotten, and the rabbit dreams of becoming Real. To become Real, a wise old toy explains, is "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..."