By Margery Williams with illustrations by William Nicholson
By Margery Williams
With illustrations by Erin Stead
“…his beautiful velveteen fur was shabbier and shabbier, and his tail coming unsewn and all the pink rubbed off his nose where the Boy had kissed him.”
The Boy and the Rabbit share playtime, nighttime, whispers and high jumps into the air. Soon, the Boy declares that the Rabbit is REAL, just like the wise Skin Horse had told the animal that it might happen.
If you haven’t had this experience with a “lovey” or if you haven’t read this story before, or even if you have read it before than you should read it again to yourself and then with a beloved younger person, (not younger than four and probably around six through ten-ish.) The story is quite magical and precious, filled with love and understanding of one’s self.
My original copy of this book illustrated by William Nicholson has a torn and aged cover with yellowish pages. The book is just 8” tall and 5” wide with a round, largish font and has 44 pages. There are only seven illustrations each reminiscent of an older time when children were kept in a nursery. They fully capture the life of the Rabbit, his playtime, his anxiety of being left behind, the fairy flower and the joy of becoming physically real. Altogether it presents itself as a classic and because of this presentation you know it is a special treasure.
The newly published book illustrated by Erin Stead looks like a picture book. They created a book that is standard picture book width and height , 8 by 11”, has 16 illustrations, on most pages and is 39 pages long. Did the editors feel that readers today could only handle a standard picture book format and couldn’t handle the old fashioned, sophisticated feel of a classic story book? The font is not comforting to me and because of its standard look I feel that it adds nothing to the story. Stead is a master of woodblock printing and pencil illustrations but I don’t think she gets the mood of the story. Her illustrations don’t enhance the story, until page 13 and then they do even more so with her double page spread of the Skin Horse sharing his wisdom with the Rabbit. From there on Stead succeeds in marrying the story and illustrations together and we feel the true essence of pathos, concern, love and confusion experienced by the Rabbit.
I’m delighted there has been a reissue of this beloved story. It reminded me that I need to share it with my granddaughter. I hope that you get an opportunity to share this story quietly and lovingly and that you are sitting closely with your special person to appreciate it together. I will probably purchase the older edition of the book illustrated by Nicholson as gifts but maybe I’ll purchase the one illustrated by Stead also. (Funny thing is that while writing this review, the more that I look at the cover, the more I’m moved by the illustration.) My bottom line is to suggest that you go borrow it from the library or buy one or the other edition. Just do it. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Let me know.