The Velveteen Rabbit was the boy's favorite toy. He took that toy everywhere and slept with it every night. It was the rabbit's desire to become real and he finally believed he was. The boy became very sick and the doctor required that in order to sterilize his room he had to get rid of all his toys, even the Velveteen Rabbit. The Velveteen Rabbit ends up becoming a real rabbit and returns to visit his life-long friend.