Summer camp was always magical. This particular night was the beginning of the magic. Deep in the piney woods of Louisiana, the shotgun cabin was surprisingly still. The cozy screen-wrapped room was comfortably cool for a summer night. The cicadas, crickets, and frogs called to each other in their nightly symphony, lulling the campers to sleep.
“I have a surprise for you tonight,” said our cabin counselor after everyone settled into bed. “I bought a new album that’s become my favorite to play as I fall asleep. I want to share it with y’all.”
“Close your eyes, open your hearts, be still, and let the story pull you in,” she said calmly. The anticipation was as thick as the air. “This is a recording of my favorite book, The Velveteen Rabbit. You’ll recognize the narrator as Meryl Streep. I think you’ll enjoy the music, too, as it carries you through the story.”
In the darkness of the cabin, surrounded by my friends, I fell in love with the newly released Velveteen Rabbit album with its soothing piano music by George Winston and Meryl Streep’s narration. Though my Dad read my sister and me a bedtime story almost every night of my youth, this is the only bedtime story that I remember. In hindsight, this was my first experience with the peaceful soul-blanketing calm of mindfulness.
The Velveteen Rabbit is a story of love, life, loss, loyalty, and true companionship. At its very core, it is about being real. Though it was first released in England in 1922, the message remains applicable today. Unfortunately, these attributes are often lost in our society and day-to-day life. Just being still and listening is a luxury but vitally important.
While I’m a fan of The Velveteen Rabbit, it is a sad story. I shared my book with my children but they didn’t have the same connection with it that I did. However, my favorite is the 1984 Velveteen Rabbit album. If you have the opportunity to listen to it, I highly recommend that you do!
The award-winning story by Margery Williams chronicles the tale of a stuffed rabbit’s desire to be real. The rabbit is made of velveteen and was a Christmas present to a young boy. As time passes, the stuffed animal becomes more and more worn by love. And, the boy regards it as real.
Through the love of his owner, the rabbit is able to achieve his dream. The Nursery Magic Fairy turns the velveteen rabbit into a real rabbit with a kiss. He lives in the forest with the other rabbits. The next summer, he returns to visit the boy who recognizes him.
Williams’ first children’s book won the International Literacy Award/Children’s Book Council (ILA/CBC) Children’s Choice award. In 2007, the National Education Association voted The Velveteen Rabbit as number 28 in an online poll of the Top 100 Books for Children.
The magic of this album is not only in the story but also in the original piano music by George Winston. There are 16 tracks with narration and 18 tracks without narration including a four and half-minute bonus track.
It’s an award-winning story narrated by an award-winning actor set to music by an award-winning composer. What are you waiting for? Pick up the book. Give this classic a read. Look up the album. Give it a listen. I promise you’ll not regret it’s calming effect or life lessons.
I had forgotten about that magic of The Velveteen Rabbit in that little unairconditioned cabin in those piney woods all those years ago. Reading has always been an important part of my life. I fell in love with all of the classic children’s books by Judy Bloom and Beverly Cleary. But, none left such an impression as The Velveteen Rabbit set to George Winston’s music.
About the Creator
Cate Rhys
Born and raised in Louisiana. Cajun wife. Mother. Foodie. Nature lover.
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