内容简介
List of Illustrations Christmas Morning The Skin Horse Tells His Story Spring Time Summer Days Anxious Times The Fairy Flower At Last! At Last! _________________________________________________________________ THERE was once a velveteen rabbit, and in the beginning he was really splendid. He was fat and bunchy, as a rabbit should be; his coat was spotted brown and white, he had real thread whiskers, and his ears were lined with pink sateen. 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. There were other things in the stocking, nuts and oranges and a toy engine, and chocolate almonds and a clockwork mouse, but the Rabbit was quite the best of all. For at least two hours the Boy loved him, and then Aunts and Uncles came to dinner, and there was a great rustling of tissue paper and unwrapping of parcels, and in the excitement of looking at all the new presents the Velveteen Rabbit was forgotten. Christmas Morning For a long time he lived in the toy cupboard or on the nursery floor, and no one thought very much about him. He was naturally shy, and being only made of velveteen, some of the more expensive toys quite snubbed him. The mechanical toys were very superior, and looked down upon every one else; they were full of modern ideas, and pretended they were real. The model boat, who had lived through two seasons and lost most of his paint, caught the tone from them and never missed an opportunity of referring to his rigging in technical terms. The Rabbit could not claim to be a model of anything, for he didn't know that real rabbits existed; he thought they were all stuffed with sawdust like himself, and he understood that sawdust was quite out-of-date and should never be mentioned in modern circles. Even Timothy, the jointed wooden lion, who was made by the disabled soldiers, and should have had broader views, put on airs and pretended he was connected with Government. Between them all the poor little Rabbit was made to feel himself very insignificant and commonplace, and the only person who was kind to him at all was the Skin Horse. The Skin Horse had lived longer in the nursery than any of the others. He was so old that his brown coat was bald in patches and showed the seams underneath, and most of the hairs in his tail had been pulled out to string bead necklaces. He was wise, for he had seen a long succession of mechanical toys arrive to boast and swagger, and by-and-by break their mainsprings and pass away, and he knew that they were only toys, and would never turn into anything else. For nursery magic is very strange and wonderful, and only those playthings that are old and wise and experienced like the Skin Horse understand all about it. A deluxe hardcover edition of Margery Williams's enchanting children's tale of how the magic of a young boy's love changes a toy bunny into a real, live rabbit. Illustrated in full color & packaged with a plush 15-inch tall Velveteen Rabbit toy. Ages 3-6
作者简介
Margery Williams (1881-1944) was the author of several books for adults and children, but The Velveteen Rabbit was her first and most-beloved children's book. She received the Newbery Honor for her young adult novel, Winterbound. Williams was born in London and spent most of her life in London and the United States.
精彩书评
A stuffed toy rabbit (with real thread whiskers) comes to life in Margery Williams's timeless tale of the transformative power of love. Given as a Christmas gift to a young boy, the Velveteen Rabbit lives in the nursery with all of the other toys, waiting for the day when the Boy (as he is called) will choose him as a playmate. In time, the shy Rabbit befriends the tattered Skin Horse, the wisest resident of the nursery, who reveals the goal of all nursery toys: to be made "real" through the love of a human. "'Real isn't how you are made,' said the Skin Horse. 'It's 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.'" This sentimental classic--perfect for any child who's ever thought that maybe, just maybe, his or her toys have feelings--has been charming children since its first publication in 1922. (A great read-aloud for all ages, but children ages 8 and up can read it on their own.) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition. Celebrate the Easter season with The Velveteen Rabbit, one of the most beloved of bunnies, as he celebrates his 75th??anniversary! This special edition, complete with the original story and artwork as they appeared in 1922, remains a timeless classic in children's literature with over 1.5 million copies in print. Ever since its first publication, this wondrous tale of the velveteen rabbit has delighted readers of all ages with its story of wisdom and love. Few other children's books so beautifully capture the spiritual meaning of Easter as does this simple tale of transformation and redemption through a child's unwavering love. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
前言/序言
好的,这是一本关于一匹名叫“提姆”的玩具小马的故事,它居住在一个充满奇思妙想的阁楼里,与一群性格迥异的玩具朋友们共同经历了一场关于友谊、成长与改变的冒险。 《阁楼里的旧时光》 在老旧的橡木地板吱呀作响的阁楼深处,阳光透过布满灰尘的窗户,在空气中投下斑驳的光影。这里是提姆的世界,一匹棕色斑纹、毛绒质地的小马,它曾是某个孩子最珍爱的伙伴,如今却被遗忘在了一个堆满旧物和回忆的角落。提姆的身体有些磨损,一边的耳朵耷拉着,但它的眼睛——两颗黑色的玻璃珠子——依然闪烁着对周遭世界的好奇与渴望。 提姆并不孤单。它的邻居是一只名叫“船长”的泰迪熊,船长曾经是探险家的象征,如今的它戴着一副歪斜的单片眼镜,总是在讲述着关于遥远海洋和失落宝藏的传奇故事。船长性格沉稳,是阁楼里的智者,它总能用它那低沉而沙哑的声音,为那些迷茫的玩具指明方向。 还有“星尘”,一只由旧雨伞骨架和闪亮亮碎布拼凑而成的仙女玩偶。星尘相信魔法,她坚信只要找到正确的“星辰碎片”(其实是收集起来的玻璃弹珠),就能让阁楼的灰尘重新变成璀璨的星光,将他们带回孩子们身边。她的想象力极其丰富,总是能将最平凡的日常变成一场盛大的幻想剧。 以及“滴答”,一个老式的发条机器人,它的身体由黄铜和生锈的齿轮构成。滴答的特点是它走路时总会发出巨大的“咔哒、咔哒”声,而且它的时间观念极其精确——至少在它的发条快要停止转动之前是这样。滴答是现实主义者,它不断提醒着大家,阁楼的时光是有限的,他们必须尽快找到一个离开这里的“出口”。 提姆是他们之中最年轻,也最渴望被“真正拥有”的一个。其他玩具虽然也怀念过去的时光,但大多已经接受了被遗忘的命运。唯独提姆,它总是盯着那扇通往楼下世界的小门,幻想有一天,一个温暖的小手会再次将它抱起,带着它去进行新的探险。 一天,一场突如其来的暴雨打破了阁楼的宁静。雨水顺着屋顶的缝隙渗了进来,形成了一条条细小的“河流”,直奔阁楼中央的木箱堆去。 船长立刻站了出来,用它那厚重的身躯挡住了最先涌入的水流。“稳住!孩子们,我们不能让雨水冲走我们的‘记忆之地’!” 提姆看着那浑浊的水流,心中涌起一股前所未有的恐惧。如果那些水流带走了什么,那些关于玩具们过往的故事,关于被爱与被珍惜的温暖,是不是也会随之消散? “我们得把这条河堵住!”提姆大喊,但它太小了,根本无法搬动任何一块木板。 “我们需要一个计划,一个行动的路线图,”滴答一边计算着水流的速度,一边发出急促的机械声。“我们必须利用阁楼里现有的资源。星尘,你那‘魔法’的碎片有什么用?” 星尘有些慌乱,但看到大家信任的目光,她深吸一口气。“我的‘星尘’……它们可以反光!如果我们将弹珠放在水流前方,或许能让水流改变方向,去冲击那堆旧报纸,而不是那些脆弱的旧相册!” 这是一个大胆的计划。船长负责指挥,他用坚硬的熊掌敲击着地板,发出清晰的指令。提姆负责在最靠近水流的地方传递信息,它的绒毛身体比其他玩具更轻便,能快速穿梭于木箱之间。滴答则利用它精确的定位能力,告诉星尘最佳的投掷角度。 在他们合力下,星尘将她所有的玻璃弹珠扔了出去。弹珠在水流中滚动,像微小的行星偏转了轨迹。水流果然被引导着,冲向了那些吸水性强的旧报纸堆。 雨势逐渐减弱,阁楼恢复了寂静,只留下滴答仍在低声计数,确认危机解除。 提姆筋疲力尽地靠在船长身边。它发现,在这次共同的危机中,它不再是那个只会幻想被抱走的玩具。它学会了如何合作,如何利用自身的特点去帮助群体。 “我们做到了,提姆。”船长低声说,它的眼睛里闪烁着一种新的光芒,那是对伙伴的赞许。“你行动得非常快,小马。你的渴望,救了我们。” 这次经历让阁楼里的玩具们的关系更加紧密。提姆开始明白,友谊不是等待别人来发现你的价值,而是在共同的经历中,用自己的方式去闪耀。 几天后,一个意想不到的访客到来了。这是一个小女孩,她是房子的新主人,名叫莉莉。莉莉并不是来找旧玩具的,她只是在寻找一个能让她练习讲故事的安静角落。 当莉莉发现这个布满回忆的阁楼时,她被眼前的景象迷住了。她没有急着去碰那些灰尘覆盖的宝藏,而是轻轻地坐到了提姆、船长和滴答的身边。 “你们看起来都很安静,像是在等待什么。”莉莉轻声说。 提姆的心脏(如果玩具能有心脏的话)猛地一跳。它紧张地一动不动,生怕自己不完美的皮毛会吓走这个可能带走它的“希望”。 莉莉没有立刻选择任何一个玩具。她只是开始对着他们说话,她为船长编造了关于一次史诗般海战的故事,为星尘描述了她想象中的闪亮宇宙,她甚至为滴答设计了一个复杂的发条机制,让它能说出完整的句子。 当莉莉讲到提姆时,她停顿了一下,温柔地抚摸着它有些褪色的鬃毛。 “你,小马,”莉莉轻声说,“你看起来像是一位见证者。你在这里,看着一切发生,你一定知道很多故事。” 提姆从未被如此认真地对待过。它不是被爱被抱起,而是被倾听,被视为一个“故事的载体”。 “我……我希望……”提姆在心里呐喊,虽然它发不出声音,但它希望莉莉能明白,它渴望参与到那些精彩的故事中去。 莉莉似乎读懂了提姆的渴望。她没有将提姆带走。相反,她做了一个让所有玩具都感到惊讶的举动。她从自己的小背包里拿出了一块干净的、柔软的蓝色丝绒布。 她小心翼翼地将丝绒布铺在了提姆和船长周围的地上,清理出了一小块“舞台”。 “从今天起,这里就是我们的‘剧场’。”莉莉宣布。“我每天都会来这里,我会给你们讲故事,而你们,就是故事里的主角。” 对提姆来说,这比被带走更有意义。它找到了一个属于自己的位置,一个真正能发挥作用的地方。它和它的朋友们,不再是被遗忘的旧物,而是活生生的、参与到创造中的伙伴。 在接下来的日子里,莉莉每天都会爬上阁楼。她将提姆放在舞台的中央,让它成为冒险队伍的向导;她让船长成为勇敢的船长,引领着想象的航船;她让滴答负责时间的掌控,确保每场冒险都在“精确”的时刻发生。 提姆的磨损和不完美,在莉莉的想象中,都变成了经验和智慧的象征。它不再是那个渴望被重新拥有的、单纯的玩具,而是一个不可或缺的“存在”。 阁楼的灰尘依然存在,窗外的光影依然斑驳,但对于提姆和它的朋友们来说,这里已经成为了一个充满活力和意义的地方。他们明白了,真正的价值,不在于你被谁拥有,而在于你如何与你所珍视的伙伴们,共同创造出那些永不褪色的故事。只要心中有爱与勇气,即使是一匹旧旧的绒毛小马,也能成为最伟大的英雄。