An Upsy Downsy Storybook by Mattel
Copyright 1969
Considering how long I’ve owned this book, I’m really
surprised that it doesn’t have my name amateurishly printed inside. I’m not sure how it escaped my pencil. This was a well-loved picture book of
mine. I remember the little plastic toy
that came with it. The half I still own
is pictured here. At some point, Downy
Dilly’s purple Foot Mobile broke and was discarded.
Everyone in Upsy Downsy Land knew that little Downy Dilly
loved to play tricks.
After a very mischievous
morning, Downy wanted to go to the beach to relax.
Unfortunately, the beach was crowded with all
of her neighbors enjoying the sunny weather.
But Downy Dilly had an idea.
If
she could play a prank and convince everyone else that a sea monster was
coming, they would be scared, leaving the beach for her alone.
By digging giant footprints in the sand and
floating an inner-tube monster out in the water, she achieved her goal.
Her relaxation did not last long, for soon after she closed
her eyes she was startled by big drops of water landing on her.
Opening her eyes, she saw a very real, very
big, very pink sea monster, weeping great big tears.
Downy Dilly talks to young Splasha Lotta and
finds out she has lost her mamma.
Fortunately,
the baby sea monster is soon happily reunited with her mamma and both swim away.
By this time, Downy’s neighbors return, realizing she has
played yet another prank on them.
Of
course, no amount of arguing can convince Downy’s friends that she really did
see a sea monster.
Downy Dilly and the other residents of Upsy Downsy thought a
sea monster would be terribly frightening.
So frightening, they ran away and hid.
In actuality, though, the sea monster turned out to be quite harmless.
There was no need to run away screaming.
I think that is how it goes with many of our
fears.
What we imagine is usually much
worse than the reality.
If we face our
fears head-on, they just might turn out to be harmless.
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