Mary Poppins has been the world’s most famous nanny for the last 80 years and her success remains undimmed. Jane and Michael Banks need a new nanny so they set about writing a job description. In reply, blown in by the East Wind, comes Mary Poppins. From the moment that she slides up the banisters Michael and Jane know that Mary is not any ordinary nanny! Although Mary Poppins is not one to stand any nonsense, as the children soon discover, she is perfectly fair. And she is full of surprises. Soon the children are off on the most wonderful magical adventures – including flying!
The first in the 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).
Like all great children's classics, Mary Poppins is frightening and sad as well as magic and very funny Observer
As I grow older I realise how much of my world view was created by Pamela Travers and Mary Shepard, her illustrator, or perhaps how much they took the things that children thought about the world and made them real, and gave us one adult who was, ultimately, on our side. Neil Gaiman
Absolutely alive, and aglint with magic Walter de la Mare Mary Poppins is the Good Fairy, whom we are all seeking Times Literary Supplement
Author
About P. L. Travers
P.L. Travers was born in 1899 in Maryborough in Queensland, Australia and was one of three sisters. She was brought up simply, but traditionally, with a cook upon whom much of the character of Mary Poppins is based. She began her writing career in Australia, publishing many poems, then came to England and wrote for newspapers in Ireland and England. She began Mary Poppins 'out of the blue', while lying ill in bed. It was published in 1934, was an immediate success and was followed by another five books.
