In the nursery, the Velveteen Rabbit and the Skin Horse talk about how a toy becomes Real. 'When a child loves you for a long time... then you become Real,' the wise old Skin Horse explains. A few days later, the Velveteen Rabbit finds himself tucked into bed with the little boy, and the two quickly become inseparable.
Once there was a velveteen rabbit who longed to be real. He was owned by a boy who loved him more and more every day, even when the rabbit's velveteen coat grew old and shabby and worn. Then one day something magical happened, and the rabbit's wish began to come true.