Mary Poppins' Magic Born in P.L. Travers' Books

You may be surprised to find out that Mary Poppins existed before Disney brought her to life on the big screen in 1964. In fact, P.L. Travers wrote a whole series about the Banks children and their magical nanny in the 1930s. Unfortunately, those books have been almost eclipsed by the famous movie. If you loved Disney's Mary Poppins, you owe it to yourself to pick up the novels. In them, you will find many more adventures, some even more enchanting then those included in the popular film.

Mary Poppins(1934), the first book of the series, opens with Mrs. Banks' frantic search for a new nanny for her four–yes, four–children (in the book, Jane and Michael have a twin brother and sister, who are just under a year old). Soon, a woman answers Mrs. Banks' ad. It soon becomes apparent to Jane and Michael that this Mary Poppins is no ordinary woman. For one thing, she slides up the banister. The more time Jane and Michael spend with their extraordinary care giver, the more magical adventures they seem to have. Not only do they have tea on the ceiling with an uncle who can't quit laughing, but they also visit the zoo on a topsy turvy day when the animals run the facility and humans are the ones in the cages. Throughout the book, the reader sees Mary Poppins' many special skills: communicating with animals, understanding the language of babies, finding stores that are invisible to everyone else, and traveling around the world using only a compass. Needless to say, the Banks children are devastates when Mary Poppins has to leave, even though they knew that it would happen when the West wind began to blow. Their tears soon turn to smiles as they realize Mary Poppins has left them a message that she will see them again. And, so she does in the rest of the books.

Perhaps the most surprising thing about Travers' books is the character of Mary Poppins. Thanks to the Disney film, I always pictured Mary as a rosy-cheeked Julie Andrews. This Mary Poppins doted on the children, although she could be strict at times. She seemed constantly merry, always bursting into song at any moment. In the books, however, Mary Poppins is a strict, vain woman, who constantly sniffs and admires herself in the mirror. She displays little affection for the children, although she does grant several of their wishes. Perhaps her stern demeanor simply underscores her wonderful, magical personality. Personally, I would miss one hundred magical opportunities rather than deal with Mary Poppins day in and day out.

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