The Mary Poppins series has been a classic in children’s literature since the 1930s! A magical nanny shows up to take care of the young children in the Banks family: Jane, Michael, the infant twins John and Barbara, and the youngest child, Annabel, who was born later in the series. She can talk to animals and understand what they’re saying, and she takes the children to amazing places and introduces them to all kinds of strange people. Mary Poppins is a bit vain and maddeningly denies all of these adventures after they’ve happened, but the children know the truth.

Mary Poppins comes and goes from the Banks household a few times, but the author stated that not all the books in the series represent different visits to the household. Some books are supposed to include adventures from earlier visits which weren’t told before. Only the first three books are supposed to represent different visits.

The series is by P. L. Travers and has been made into movie versions, including the famous Disney version of the first book with Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke.

There are some issues with racial language in the original printings of the books. Later printings changed or removed inappropriate racial words. Some scenes were revised multiple times, so you can tell about how old a book is by seeing which version of a scene it has.

Books in the Series:

Mary Poppins (1934)

Mary Poppins comes to the Banks house for the first time.

Mary Poppins Comes Back (1935)

Mary Poppins returns to the Banks house, and Annabel is born.

Mary Poppins Opens the Door (1943)

Mary Poppins returns one more time.

Mary Poppins in the Park (1952)

This is a collection of adventures that specifically happen in the park, set during the previous two books.

Mary Poppins From A to Z (1962)

A collection of alphabetical vignettes with the characters from the series.

Mary Poppins in the Kitchen (1975)

Mary Poppins has to be an emergency substitute for the cook who works for the Banks family, and she teaches the Banks children about cooking. The book includes recipes for the readers.

Mary Poppins in Cherry Tree Lane (1982)

A magical adventure on Midsummer’s Eve with some nonfiction information about herbs.

Mary Poppins and the House Next Door (1988)

Miss Andrew, the strict woman who was Mr. Banks’s governess when he was young, has unexpectedly moved next door.