The Velveteen Rabbit appeals to children growing up in the 1920’s due to the range of toy characters used in the story. Popularized toys in the early era of the 1900’s were used such as a toy rabbit as the main character, a toy skin horse, and tin toys. The toys not only fit the characteristics of that era by the type of toys and their function but also by how they’re built.
In the beginning of the story the rabbit begins to describe himself and all the toys alike, the rabbit being stuffed with sawdust and the jointed wooden lion the way these toys are built would appeal to children in the 1920’s because they would be familiar with these type of toys any thing different and more complex would confuse them at first. In the book the little boy had an attachment to his toys like any other child would have. Children who read the book could also relate to the little boy who treasured his stuffed rabbit, being that in the 1920’s many kids played with dolls and used their imagination.
At that age like the little kids have a direct tie to an object that is dear to them, as the boy becomes attached to the bunny, the bunny becomes real. Similar to all kids alike even in the 1920’s all kids carry large imaginations. Children playing with their toys and acting like their toys are coming to life in the real world may find appealing the same occurrence in the book. In the early 1900s the American audience was more receptive to the relationship between the illustrations and the text. The prose was finely crafted, and the illustrations were labored over.
The characters were well developed, however, the child has many details left unknown to the reader, and the author expects one to identify with the child through inanimate objects. Another aspect greatly detailed in the story is the vivid imagery of the enchanting descriptions of the toys and characters. The scenes in this book paint a gratifying story for the young, depicting a child’s environment from a toy’s perspective. The fantasy elements throughout the story are whimsical and wide appealing.
When the toy rabbit turns into a real rabbit by the fairy, it seemingly appeals to children in the 1920’s because it sparks the imaginative mind, thus being entertaining to hear – they relate to the creativity because of their youthful spirit. Early 1900’s Literature for children have a moral message for children to follow, this book contains vivid imagery with no problems in morality and only a message, with little moral or religious background to the story. Having les morality to the story leads it to be less uptight and more enjoyable to read.
The velveteen rabbit has followed the guideline of lessons while displaying itself in an imaginary manner with out the hidden instructional backbone that most children stories have. I could not see this story appealing to children today because life of a stuffed toy has irrelevance in today’s time. Modern children today are exposed to more technologically sophisticated toys, as time progresses toys become obsolete. The Children of today may not find amusement in playing with a stuffed toy’s or the story itself therefore seeking for more.
