Rating: 3/5
This book, I believe, is a little hard to know where the story was set. They wear Victorian clothing, and it all seems to be in a grand Victorian house, but they have modern-day buses and shops. The four Banks children, Barbara and John, the twin babies, and Jane and Michael, the eldest, have got a nanny and a nursery, that far back in time. Their nanny leaves without word of warning or any notice, and the Banks, of number seventeen, Cherry Tree Lane, have to hire a new one.
No sooner had the first nanny left, and a queer young lady with an umbrella and a carpet-bag came knocking at the door – or rather, was knocked at the door herself. The wind seemed to carry her over the top of the garden gate and blow her right onto the house.
Within only a couple of days of knowing her, Jane and Michael understand that Mary Poppins, this peculiar woman, is no ordinary lady. She gets frustrated, and angry and cross; and never explains anything. But most of all, she has a compass that can take you round the world; an umbrella that seems to fling her at places; an odd, quizzical look when she stares at her reflection in shop windows; an empty bag with stuff always in it.
Probably wouldn’t read again but a good novel to read when you want to see something funny and intriguing and serious at the same time. You grow to like Mary Poppins, even though she can be strict and firm and cross. Travers has really caught the essence of her style; usually it can be very hard to make a character nice and angry.