Mary Poppins, By P.L. Travers

Those familiar with only the movie will be surprised at some things they find in the book, Mary Poppins. The Banks Family of 17 Cherry Tree Lane are in a bit of bind. Their nanny, Katie Nanna, has quit without warning, leaving the four (not two) Banks children, Jane, Michael, John, and Barbara, without a...well, nanny! However, an east wind is blowing and, before Mrs. Banks can even put out an advertisement, it brings a new nanny. Mary Poppins is like no one the Banks family has ever met before. She seems to be able to do anything she wants, no matter what. Magic seems to follow wherever she goes and, despite her stern demeanor, the children find that they can not imagine life without their new nanny. The elder two children, Jane and Michael, have quite a few adventures. She takes them to see her Uncle Albert, who floats whenever he's cheery and his birthday falls on a Friday. Mary Poppins uses a magic compass to take the children around the world to meet different animals. The children meet Mrs. Corry and her two daughters, Fannie and Annie. The old woman is old enough to remember William the Conqueror, has edible fingers, and hangs gingerbread stars in the sky. Jane and Michael go to a birthday party at the zoo, where animals can talk and humans are locked in cages for the night. The two babies, John and Barbara, are often just brought along for the ride, and don't have too many adventures themselves. However, one must not imagine their lives are boring. Being babies, they speak the language of birds, which, among humans, only babies and Mary Poppins can understand. Eventually, though, the wind changes, and Mary Poppins leaves the Banks household. However, she does so with a promise to return.
This book is...different. There isn't exactly a plot to the book. Rather, it's a series of adventures that Mary Poppins and the children have. It can be a bit disconcerting but, after a bit, one gets used to it and I rather like it.
Mary Poppins is a fascinating character. She seems to know people (and creatures) from all eras and all worlds. She seems immortal and, yet, there is reference to her birth. The reader never quite finds out who (or what) Mary Poppins is. In addition, there is something a bit sinister about her. There seems to be no limit to her powers and one can imagine that she could seriously hurt someone, if she wanted to. Animals and humans alike seem to honor and be awed by her. Mary Poppins intimidates people and is extremely vain. She's very strict and, while one might suppose she has a softer side, she very seldom shows it. However, I don't see why the children like her. I can understand that they like the fun she brings, but they seem genuinely fond of her and there aren't many instances where she shows her fondness of them. Children tend not to love people who never or almost never show them love, so I don't feel it's plausible for the children to be so completely devoted to Mary Poppins. Perhaps if there had been one or two instances where Mary Poppins had hugged them, told them she cared for them, etc., that aspect would have been more believable. Overall, I'd have to give the book a four out of five.