Product Description

The first in a famous series about the best-known nanny in children's literature. Mary Poppins comes to the Banks' household like a breath of fresh air (literally).

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #79991 in Books
• Published on: 1998-11-02
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Review
'Like all great children's classics Mary Poppins is frightening and sad as well as magic and very funny.' The Observer 'Absolutely alive, and aglint with magic.' Walter de la Mare

It's a "natural" - just as Winnie the Pooh and When We Were Very Young were naturals. The grown-ups will take it from the children; the children will take it from the grown-ups. And everyone will have a good time getting acquainted with Mary Poppins, the upside-down sort of nurse, who blew in on one wind and out on another, and who transformed a household while she was in charge of the nursery. Humor that is fun - exaggeration, absurdity, imagination plus. Illustrated by Mary Shepard, a true daughter of her famous father. Watch it. (Kirkus Reviews)

Customer Reviews

The Original Mary
Katie Nana has left the Banks family in need of a new nanny. But before they know it, a woman blows in on the East Wind. Literally. She takes the position of caring for the four children, Jane, Michael, and the twins John and Barbara. But with her extremely prim and proper attitude comes magical adventures. A day in the park, having tea, running errands, and even Christmas shopping can turn into an adventure when Mary's around. And the kids love it.

This most decidedly is not the Disney Mary Poppins. Disney toned her down significantly for his movie, making her heart easier to see. Still, it's there if you look closely in the book. I had forgotten just how hard it is to see at times behind Mary's outward appearance and actions. Still, the kids come to love her because they know where they really stand.

As with all books in the series, this one is a series of adventures. Each chapter tells it's own story, each story it's own fun, magical adventure.

Those looking for Disney's Mary will be greatly disappointed. But anyone looking for a fun series of adventures will find a woman who does care for those around her, even if it's not always super obvious.

Don't expect a rehash of the film - but buy it anyway.
If you're buying this because you or your children love the film of Mary Poppins, don't expect the same slightly stern but very twinkly-eyed Mary as the one so fantastically portrayed by Julie Andrews. PL Travers' original and best Mary can be quite harsh with a rare show of tenderness limited to a "Hmph" as she tucks you in, but for all that, this is a book not to be missed. There are some valuable lessons for children and adults alike; some laugh-out-loud moments and some real tear-jerkers (see the chapter entitled "John and Barbara's Story". The film-makers took enough similarities from the book that children can recognise the Mary they know and love (sliding up the stairs, the carpet bag, the flavour-changing medicine etc.) but many of the adventures with Mary Poppins in this book are marvellously different. This book is a joy for adults to read aloud to children and despite explaining to my 6 year-old daughter that the stories in this original book of Mary Poppins were quite different to the film, she loves this book and eagerly awaits each night's chapter. A real gem and justifiably a classic - you'll be very sad to reach the end of the book.