The Velveteen Rabbit

A children's book by Margery Williams, published in 1922, about a stuffed rabbit who longs to become real through a child's love.

The story explores how being truly loved—even to the point of becoming shabby and worn—transforms something into what matters most.

Have you read The Velveteen Rabbit?

The phrase has become shorthand for the idea that genuine affection, not pristine condition, confers value and authenticity.