Many children want to know about the toys Santa has built especially in my early days as Santa. I want to tell you about the first time I made a toy rabbit in my workshop — it all came about because of a rabbit I had come to know on my Christmas Eve travels. I called him Little Bun Rabbit because of his cute little tail that looked like a bun.

Now, many people do not often get to talk to rabbits because they are one of the most shy of all animals. Although they stay hidden from the world a good bit, you will often see them nibbling on grass, flowers, clover, and so on. They have very large eyes which enable them to see humans and other animals long before we see them so they often run and hide.

Now, you probably know what rabbits do in the summer – run around and play, eat cabbage, nap under bushes, and so on. But have you wondered what they do in winter? Well, rabbits do many of the same things as in summer with one big difference. 

Around Christmas time, rabbits keep watch to see Santa and the reindeer. You may not know this — but we don’t always fly everywhere we go. Sometimes, the reindeer like to rest a little by staying on the ground and running. The rabbits see Santa every year and are not afraid of me as I always give them a hearty hello and wave. Rabbits love seeing all the brightly colored toys loaded on my sleigh. The rabbits enjoy seeing the reindeer go by as the reindeer run even faster than the rabbits.

One Christmas morning I was on my way back to the North Pole with an empty sleigh when I saw Bun Rabbit sitting by the roadside. He started jumping up and down and waving his ears as he was always excited to see us. I stopped to talk with Bun Rabbit.

“You look very pretty this morning, Bun Rabbit” I said as Bun Rabbit smiled broadly. “Oh, if you were a toy how the babies and little ones would love you.”

Little Bun Rabbit said “I don’t doubt that at all Santa, but the babies may soon hurt me as they can be very rough with their playthings.”

I said, “that is true and yet you are so soft and pretty, it is a pity that the babies can’t have you to play with.”

“I think I shall make some toy rabbits that they cannot hurt. So, if you want to jump into my sleigh and ride back to Santa’s Village with me, you can stay a few days and I’ll see if I can make some rabbits just like you.” Bun Rabbit was elated to come along with Santa and have a toy made that looked just like him.

When we got to the North Pole, both Bun Rabbit and I were tired and hungry. After a wonderful meal prepared by Mrs. Claus (Bun Rabbit had clover and steamed cabbage), we both got a wonderful night’s sleep. The next morning we got an early start in the workshop. “If I can only make rabbits half as nice as you Bun Rabbit, the babies will be delighted.”

So I began by getting a roll of soft fur from a corner shelf and started cutting – carefully measuring Bun Rabbit’s ears, legs, and body to get everything in the right proportion. Then I sewed all the pieces together and stuffed the bunny with saw dust. Finally, I added 2 glass eyes which seemed to bring the bunny to life.

I sat the completed bunny on the table beside Bun Rabbit. “It’s a very good job, Santa.” As Bun Rabbit studied the toy rabbit I think, for a moment, he was not sure which was the live rabbit and which was the toy. Little Bun Rabbit was very pleased as the toy rabbit looked just like him. 

“I shall have to make a lot of these rabbits as the little children are sure to be greatly pleased with them. I can now make rabbits without having you for a pattern but you are welcome to stay and visit here in Santa’s Village.” Little Bun Rabbit was happy to stay and explored all of Santa’s Village while having steamed cabbage for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day. 

Bun Rabbit also spent time with Santa in the toy shop watching all sorts of other toys being built. After a week, the reindeer and I took Bun Rabbit back home.

The very next Christmas, I made sure to go by Little Bun Rabbit’s home so that he could see all the wonderful toy rabbits loaded onto the sleigh. As the years went by, Bun Rabbit always eagerly awaited the sleigh coming by with all the rabbits – he was so proud to see so many toy rabbits. Every year, I shouted out — “a very Merry Christmas to you Bun Rabbit – the babies still love you dearly!”

I once told this story to  a very close friend of mine — L Frank Baum. After hearing the story, Frank asked if I would allow him to write the story of Little Bun Rabbit so that children everywhere could know the story of my first toy rabbit. I heartily agreed!!

The story Little Bun Rabbit was first published by L. Frank Baum on April 12, 1902 as part of a collection of stories  — The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus.