Having no imagination (like having no sense of humor) is a dire situation and can lead to terrible consequences. As is the case in today’s book Upright Hilda.
Poor tightly wound Hilda just couldn’t abide any fun. Enjoying ones self was beneath her dignity.
No playing, no singing, no silliness. “Only fools stand on their head. Only fools enjoy such a tumble.”
That attitude persisted in Hilda as she grew. No birds, no swings, no dogs near Hilda’s tree. Look at those poor Hilda-afficted children across the street.
Even her wedding was a no nonsense affair.
Of course her own children led very stiff upright fun-free lives.
Then Hilda became ill and, well . . . she died. No one was very sad “for if in life one cannot gladden. Then in death one cannot sadden.” The book also tells us: “Her husband thinking of the fee, bought a plot just three-by-three.”
Not shown is a picture showing that the casket is partly built from the signs from “Hilda’s tree”; No Dogs, No Birds, No Swings.
With Hilda gone, the family learns to enjoy life, playing in the sunshine. Love the Dad with his yo-yo.
The final irony; Hilda will spend eternity on her head. How mortifying. giggle
So mind this lesson well: A life without imagination is nearly as bad as no life at all.
I picked this up at a library sale (what a shock) while on vacation a few years ago. Yes, even on vacation I will hit library sales. Oh yeah, we really looooove books. Picked this one up because I really liked both the story and the illustration style. Especially the small symbolic splashes of hot pink. These drawings remind me of Edward Gorey, whose work I am extremely fond of (I hit my love limit for this post).
So remember to practice your imagination, you don’t want it to get all rusty or undeveloped. Go enjoy something!
pamelavelner.blog 