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When the Velveteen Rabbit first arrives he is snubbed by the other toys. But the Rabbit soon makes friends with the Skin Horse who explains how toys can become "real", if only they are loved enough. The Velveteen Rabbit longs for this to happen. Even though Rabbit become shabbier and shabbier, he becomes "real" to the boy. The rabbits in the garden think otherwise. But when Boy is ill, and Rabbit is thrown away, Rabbit finally discovers what it truly means to be real. As he sheds a tear a magical fairy transforms him into a real, wild rabbit, though her parting words remind him that he was always real to the boy.

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