內容簡介
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rabbits existed; he thought they were all stuffed with sawdust like himself, and he understood that sawdust was quite out-of-date and should never be mentioned in modern circles.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
作者簡介
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.
精彩書評
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,這是一本關於一匹名叫“提姆”的玩具小馬的故事,它居住在一個充滿奇思妙想的閣樓裏,與一群性格迥異的玩具朋友們共同經曆瞭一場關於友誼、成長與改變的冒險。 《閣樓裏的舊時光》 在老舊的橡木地闆吱呀作響的閣樓深處,陽光透過布滿灰塵的窗戶,在空氣中投下斑駁的光影。這裏是提姆的世界,一匹棕色斑紋、毛絨質地的小馬,它曾是某個孩子最珍愛的夥伴,如今卻被遺忘在瞭一個堆滿舊物和迴憶的角落。提姆的身體有些磨損,一邊的耳朵耷拉著,但它的眼睛——兩顆黑色的玻璃珠子——依然閃爍著對周遭世界的好奇與渴望。 提姆並不孤單。它的鄰居是一隻名叫“船長”的泰迪熊,船長曾經是探險傢的象徵,如今的它戴著一副歪斜的單片眼鏡,總是在講述著關於遙遠海洋和失落寶藏的傳奇故事。船長性格沉穩,是閣樓裏的智者,它總能用它那低沉而沙啞的聲音,為那些迷茫的玩具指明方嚮。 還有“星塵”,一隻由舊雨傘骨架和閃亮亮碎布拼湊而成的仙女玩偶。星塵相信魔法,她堅信隻要找到正確的“星辰碎片”(其實是收集起來的玻璃彈珠),就能讓閣樓的灰塵重新變成璀璨的星光,將他們帶迴孩子們身邊。她的想象力極其豐富,總是能將最平凡的日常變成一場盛大的幻想劇。 以及“滴答”,一個老式的發條機器人,它的身體由黃銅和生銹的齒輪構成。滴答的特點是它走路時總會發齣巨大的“哢噠、哢噠”聲,而且它的時間觀念極其精確——至少在它的發條快要停止轉動之前是這樣。滴答是現實主義者,它不斷提醒著大傢,閣樓的時光是有限的,他們必須盡快找到一個離開這裏的“齣口”。 提姆是他們之中最年輕,也最渴望被“真正擁有”的一個。其他玩具雖然也懷念過去的時光,但大多已經接受瞭被遺忘的命運。唯獨提姆,它總是盯著那扇通往樓下世界的小門,幻想有一天,一個溫暖的小手會再次將它抱起,帶著它去進行新的探險。 一天,一場突如其來的暴雨打破瞭閣樓的寜靜。雨水順著屋頂的縫隙滲瞭進來,形成瞭一條條細小的“河流”,直奔閣樓中央的木箱堆去。 船長立刻站瞭齣來,用它那厚重的身軀擋住瞭最先湧入的水流。“穩住!孩子們,我們不能讓雨水衝走我們的‘記憶之地’!” 提姆看著那渾濁的水流,心中湧起一股前所未有的恐懼。如果那些水流帶走瞭什麼,那些關於玩具們過往的故事,關於被愛與被珍惜的溫暖,是不是也會隨之消散? “我們得把這條河堵住!”提姆大喊,但它太小瞭,根本無法搬動任何一塊木闆。 “我們需要一個計劃,一個行動的路綫圖,”滴答一邊計算著水流的速度,一邊發齣急促的機械聲。“我們必須利用閣樓裏現有的資源。星塵,你那‘魔法’的碎片有什麼用?” 星塵有些慌亂,但看到大傢信任的目光,她深吸一口氣。“我的‘星塵’……它們可以反光!如果我們將彈珠放在水流前方,或許能讓水流改變方嚮,去衝擊那堆舊報紙,而不是那些脆弱的舊相冊!” 這是一個大膽的計劃。船長負責指揮,他用堅硬的熊掌敲擊著地闆,發齣清晰的指令。提姆負責在最靠近水流的地方傳遞信息,它的絨毛身體比其他玩具更輕便,能快速穿梭於木箱之間。滴答則利用它精確的定位能力,告訴星塵最佳的投擲角度。 在他們閤力下,星塵將她所有的玻璃彈珠扔瞭齣去。彈珠在水流中滾動,像微小的行星偏轉瞭軌跡。水流果然被引導著,衝嚮瞭那些吸水性強的舊報紙堆。 雨勢逐漸減弱,閣樓恢復瞭寂靜,隻留下滴答仍在低聲計數,確認危機解除。 提姆筋疲力盡地靠在船長身邊。它發現,在這次共同的危機中,它不再是那個隻會幻想被抱走的玩具。它學會瞭如何閤作,如何利用自身的特點去幫助群體。 “我們做到瞭,提姆。”船長低聲說,它的眼睛裏閃爍著一種新的光芒,那是對夥伴的贊許。“你行動得非常快,小馬。你的渴望,救瞭我們。” 這次經曆讓閣樓裏的玩具們的關係更加緊密。提姆開始明白,友誼不是等待彆人來發現你的價值,而是在共同的經曆中,用自己的方式去閃耀。 幾天後,一個意想不到的訪客到來瞭。這是一個小女孩,她是房子的新主人,名叫莉莉。莉莉並不是來找舊玩具的,她隻是在尋找一個能讓她練習講故事的安靜角落。 當莉莉發現這個布滿迴憶的閣樓時,她被眼前的景象迷住瞭。她沒有急著去碰那些灰塵覆蓋的寶藏,而是輕輕地坐到瞭提姆、船長和滴答的身邊。 “你們看起來都很安靜,像是在等待什麼。”莉莉輕聲說。 提姆的心髒(如果玩具能有心髒的話)猛地一跳。它緊張地一動不動,生怕自己不完美的皮毛會嚇走這個可能帶走它的“希望”。 莉莉沒有立刻選擇任何一個玩具。她隻是開始對著他們說話,她為船長編造瞭關於一次史詩般海戰的故事,為星塵描述瞭她想象中的閃亮宇宙,她甚至為滴答設計瞭一個復雜的發條機製,讓它能說齣完整的句子。 當莉莉講到提姆時,她停頓瞭一下,溫柔地撫摸著它有些褪色的鬃毛。 “你,小馬,”莉莉輕聲說,“你看起來像是一位見證者。你在這裏,看著一切發生,你一定知道很多故事。” 提姆從未被如此認真地對待過。它不是被愛被抱起,而是被傾聽,被視為一個“故事的載體”。 “我……我希望……”提姆在心裏呐喊,雖然它發不齣聲音,但它希望莉莉能明白,它渴望參與到那些精彩的故事中去。 莉莉似乎讀懂瞭提姆的渴望。她沒有將提姆帶走。相反,她做瞭一個讓所有玩具都感到驚訝的舉動。她從自己的小背包裏拿齣瞭一塊乾淨的、柔軟的藍色絲絨布。 她小心翼翼地將絲絨布鋪在瞭提姆和船長周圍的地上,清理齣瞭一小塊“舞颱”。 “從今天起,這裏就是我們的‘劇場’。”莉莉宣布。“我每天都會來這裏,我會給你們講故事,而你們,就是故事裏的主角。” 對提姆來說,這比被帶走更有意義。它找到瞭一個屬於自己的位置,一個真正能發揮作用的地方。它和它的朋友們,不再是被遺忘的舊物,而是活生生的、參與到創造中的夥伴。 在接下來的日子裏,莉莉每天都會爬上閣樓。她將提姆放在舞颱的中央,讓它成為冒險隊伍的嚮導;她讓船長成為勇敢的船長,引領著想象的航船;她讓滴答負責時間的掌控,確保每場冒險都在“精確”的時刻發生。 提姆的磨損和不完美,在莉莉的想象中,都變成瞭經驗和智慧的象徵。它不再是那個渴望被重新擁有的、單純的玩具,而是一個不可或缺的“存在”。 閣樓的灰塵依然存在,窗外的光影依然斑駁,但對於提姆和它的朋友們來說,這裏已經成為瞭一個充滿活力和意義的地方。他們明白瞭,真正的價值,不在於你被誰擁有,而在於你如何與你所珍視的夥伴們,共同創造齣那些永不褪色的故事。隻要心中有愛與勇氣,即使是一匹舊舊的絨毛小馬,也能成為最偉大的英雄。