World classic, retold in simple Mandarin
The Velveteen Rabbit
绒布小兔子
The Velveteen Rabbit (绒布小兔子, Róngbù xiǎo tùzi) is a fairy tale by Margery Williams, retold in simple Mandarin as a 4-chapter story with audio for learners at about HSK 1 (Beginner).
Retold from Margery Williams's 1922 classic: a shabby toy rabbit, a wise old horse and a boy who loves him. What does it take to become Real?
Meet the voices
- Narrator · 旁白 — A warm storyteller who sets the scene.
- The Velveteen Rabbit · 小兔子 — A soft toy rabbit who dreams of becoming Real.
- The Boy · 男孩 — A kind boy who loves his old rabbit.
- The Skin Horse · 老马 — An old, worn toy horse who knows the secret of being Real.
- Ding Ding · 叮叮 — A shiny wind-up tin dog who looks down on soft toys.
- Brown Rabbit · 小棕 — A lively wild rabbit who loves to jump.
- Grey Rabbit · 灰灰 — A plump wild rabbit who laughs easily.
- The Toy Fairy · 仙女 — A tiny fairy who makes loved toys Real.
- Nanny · 保姆 — The boy's busy, practical nanny.
4 chapters, one journey
Chapter 1: The Christmas Stocking
圣诞节的早上
A boy finds a new rabbit in his Christmas stocking, but shiny new toys steal his attention. Then an old horse in the cupboard tells the rabbit a secret about being Real.
Free to read
Chapter 2: What Is Real
什么是真的
The Old Horse explains what it means to be Real, and the boy takes the rabbit everywhere. Then one summer evening the rabbit is left alone in the grass.
SayMei Stories
Chapter 3: The Real Rabbits
真的兔子
Wild rabbits laugh because the toy rabbit cannot jump, but he is sure he is loved. Then the boy falls sick, and all the old toys must leave.
SayMei Stories
Chapter 4: Real at Last
变成真的
Alone in the dark, the rabbit cries one tear, and a flower grows. Will love be enough to make him Real, and will he ever see his boy again?
SayMei Stories
Key words in The Velveteen Rabbit
Behind the story
The Velveteen Rabbit was written by Margery Williams and first published in 1922. It is one of the best-loved children's stories in English, and it is now in the public domain.
Chinese readers know it as 绒布小兔子 (also called 绒布兔), and many parents read it to children. Its lesson, that love makes us Real, is popular in Chinese classrooms and reading lists about friendship and growing up.
Did you know?
- Christmas (圣诞节) is not a traditional Chinese holiday, but many young people in Chinese cities enjoy it with gifts and lights.
- The book has been translated into Chinese many times and appears in picture-book form.
- Velveteen is a soft cotton cloth that looks like velvet, which is why the toy rabbit is so soft.