That venerable children’s classic “The Velveteen Rabbit” is the Ur Text of any entertainment meant for children that’s about toys and the love that it takes to make them “real,” even if does have a hint of “Pinocchio” about it.

There would be no “Toy Story” franchise without Margery Williams’ 1922 British novel and its lovely illustrations by William Nicholson.

Adapted for the screen many times, it earns a new treatment for Apple TV+ just in time for the holidays, one that passes on a fresh appreciation for a this always-affecting, quintessentially-English but universally-loved fairytale.

In the 1920s a little boy (Phoenix Laroche) moves with his parents (Samantha Colley and Leonard Buckley) to this big English country house of his grandmother, his Momo (Tilly Vosbrough).

He’s very young and shy, and making friends at his new school proves hard. But Father Christmas leaves him a stuffed plush-toy in a Christmas stocking, a velveteen (fabric) rabbit. They bond quickly, even if the newcomer (voiced by Alex Lawther) is resented by the toy car (Louis Chimimba), the wooden King doll (Paterson Joseph) and the wooden lion (Clive Rowe), his fellow inhabitants of the play room.

They’re sure that, being plush, the rabbit will be “picked to be the bedtime toy.” Which of course he is.

But the Wise Horse (renamed from “Skin Horse” in the book) consoles the rabbit.

“When children love you, they do it with all of their heart,” Wise Horse (Helena Bonham Carter) says. A toy becomes “real” “when a child loves you a long long time.”

As the rabbit has adventures with little William in the garden, “tunneling” under the sheets at bedtime and such, their growing bond will be put to the ultimate test.

The Jennifer Perrott and Rick Thiele film uses stop-motion animation to bring the toys in the playroom — rabbit included — to life. And when William and the rabbit are on their various treasure hunting digs or safaris, the live action footage morphs into traditional looking 2D animation.

This take on the tale offers little that’s new, but the sentimental draw of the story is as strong as ever.

From audio books and films narrated by everyone from Christopher Plummer to Meryl Streep, an award-winning live action film version from 1973 to TV versions of many eras and animation forms, this tale of a beloved stuffed rabbit who dares to love back never fails to touch the heart.

Rating: G

Cast: Phoenix Laroche, Samantha Colley, Leonard Buckley, Tilly Vosbrough, and the voices of Alex Lawther, Lois Chimimba, Paterson Joseph, Nicola Coughlan, Clive Rowe and Helena Bonham Carter

Credits: Directed by Jennifer Perrott and Rick Thiele, scripted by Tom Bidwell, based on the children’s book by Margery Williams. An Apple TV+ release.

Running time: :45