BooksforTopics Reading for Pleasure Recommendations

With the recent film Mary Poppins Returns bringing a new surge of attention to these classic stories, we are pleased to host a giveaway for a set of Mary Poppins books. Read on for a guest review of the first book and a giveaway to win the full set.

Book Title: Mary Poppins (available here)

Author: P.L. Travers

Illustrator: Mary Shepard

Publisher: HarperCollins

Publication Date: First published 1934 – this edition published 2018

Reviewed By: Kirsty Crommie, Teacher.

Review

Like many people I had not read the original Mary Poppins before now but, as most of us are, I am very familiar with the Disney film version of the 1960s – the iconic characters and songs that have long been part of my memories. So it was with great intrigue that I approached the book.

Mary Poppins is the story of the magical nanny that blows in on the East Wind and lands into the lives and home of the Banks children – Jane and Michael and their younger twin siblings, John and Barbara. A stern and enchanting figure, she leaves an indelible mark on Number 17 Cherry Tree Lane and the young children who quickly grow to idolise her.

Throughout the story we are taken on a mesmerising journey with Mary and the children from one dreamlike adventure to the next. We travel the world with them as they meet a whole array of wonderfully engaging characters – Bert the matchman who draws pavement pictures that you can jump into, Mr Wigg whose laughter keeps him perched up in the ceiling, the bird lady outside St Paul’s Cathedral and the magical Mrs Corry to name but a few.

I was fascinated by the story of the young twin siblings, characters not included in the film. Although the main thread of the story focuses on Jane and Michael’s relationship with Mary Poppins, the twins help to provide a deeper insight into the magical nanny which helps to give the story more clarity.

The wonderful characters and locations would be an ideal stimulus for a literacy topic in the classroom, with unlimited scope for writing and art ideas. The author, P.L. Travers, led a fascinating life and would provide an interesting and notable character to research.

I absolutely adored Mary Poppins. It is so full of quirkiness and oddities that you cannot help but be drawn into the weird and wonderful story of the mysterious nanny. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book in the series!

****Book Giveaway****

Thanks to the publishers at HarperCollins, we have a full set of the Mary Poppins series to give away to one of our followers, including:

• Mary Poppins

• Mary Poppins Opens the Door

• Mary Poppins in the Park

• Mary Poppins Comes Back

• Mary Poppins in Cherry Tree Lane

To enter, simply follow @booksfortopics on Twitter and retweet the giveaway tweet by 11.59pm Tues 19th Feb 2019 (T&Cs here).

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You can order Mary Poppins online or from your local bookshop or library.

Many thanks to the publisher for sending us a review copy of this book and to Kirstie for reviewing.