Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Dressler (2017), 272 pages
Description
Mary Poppins comes back on the end of a kite string, stays with the Banks family for a while, and then disappears on a merry-go-round horse.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Wombat
This is the second Mary Poppins book. Like the first, it presents a sterner, less sugar-coated Poppins than the one most people are familiar with from the Disney movie. Several chapters in this book inspired scenes in the Broadway musical, most notably the episode with Miss Andrew and her lark.
The
The
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similarities here go beyond the same characters and the same writing style. At first I thought that Travers was simply re-using her ideas---an upside down tea party, instead of one floating at the ceiling, and an evening out with at a celestial circus, instead of an evening at the zoo. But after a while I had to conclude that this was deliberate on Travers' part. Every chapter in this book has a twin in the first. This stories are different, and still entertaining. But there is an inevitable reference to the partner from the first book. I'm not sure what to make of this beyond the curiosity of it. I'll be interested to see what Lady Wombat thinks. Show Less
LibraryThing member MerryMary
The second in the series. Mary Poppins arrives on the end of Michael's kite, and departs on a merry-go-round that mounts up to the sky and becomes a star. In between, a dreadful governess, Miss Andrews, appears and leaves again, Jane visits the children in the Royal Doulton Bowl, the Sun and all
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the Constellations have an evening out with Mary, balloons create a very interesting afternoon, and Mary Poppins helps Nellie-Rubina bring in spring. The whole series is delightful and full of fun. (Mary Poppins is delightful, in an acerbic sort of a way - and the fun happens all around her, but she never acknowledges any of it.) Show Less
LibraryThing member rainbowdarling
Having been introduced to Mary Poppins in her original form long after I saw the Disney movie, I was shocked to find that not only was it a book first, but that there were many books! I picked this one up on one of my shopping trips and immediately set to devouring it.
I didn't find this one as
I didn't find this one as
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engaging as the first one was. I don't think it's the one that was written directly after the first, but I got no impression from reading it that they were to appear in any real chronological order. All the same, something was lost when I started reading this one. It was as if Mary Poppins had lost a little of her magic and gained instead more waspishness. It was not as pleasant to read as the first was. As such, I am hesitant to pursue further books in the series of Mary Poppins episodes. Show Less
LibraryThing member RoseMarion
This is the second book in the fantastical Mary Poppins series by P. L. Travers. In this book, Mary comes back to the children on a kite. Of course Mary pretends that she knows nothing about this adventure, but later Jane and Michael see the kite tassels in her pocket!
Other adventures ensue with
One of the best chapters in my opinion is the "Balloons And Balloons" chapter. It's absolutely magical as everyone picks their perfect balloon with their name on it and floats through the sky. (I wish I could do that!)
There are other adorable events in the book: Jane has a Bad Wednesday as opposed to Michael's Bad Tuesday (which is in the previous book), the children attend a circus of the stars where Mary gets kissed by the Sun, and they also get to visit Mary's cousin, Mr. Turvy, who just can't seem to control himself every second Monday of the month. Poor Mr. "Topsy" Turvy!
I actually liked this book better than the first book in the Mary Poppins series. It could be because I wasn't used to the sarcastic manner of Miss Mary when I read the first book. However, I now absolutely adore the way P. L. Travers wrote the character of Mary Poppins. Mary always pretends everyone is crazy or rude when they tell the truth about the magical happenings that occur when she is around, and I just smile and laugh because it's so funny/cute. :) Of course Miss Mary "never tells anyone anything!"
I HIGHLY recommend the Mary Poppins series!!!!
Other adventures ensue with
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all four children as the twins Barbara and John are older in this edition. Soon there is a new Banks child named Annabel. Annabel has a couple of conversations with the Starling that likes to watch the children in the nursery, but she too forgets things just like John and Barbara did in the earlier Mary Poppins book.One of the best chapters in my opinion is the "Balloons And Balloons" chapter. It's absolutely magical as everyone picks their perfect balloon with their name on it and floats through the sky. (I wish I could do that!)
There are other adorable events in the book: Jane has a Bad Wednesday as opposed to Michael's Bad Tuesday (which is in the previous book), the children attend a circus of the stars where Mary gets kissed by the Sun, and they also get to visit Mary's cousin, Mr. Turvy, who just can't seem to control himself every second Monday of the month. Poor Mr. "Topsy" Turvy!
I actually liked this book better than the first book in the Mary Poppins series. It could be because I wasn't used to the sarcastic manner of Miss Mary when I read the first book. However, I now absolutely adore the way P. L. Travers wrote the character of Mary Poppins. Mary always pretends everyone is crazy or rude when they tell the truth about the magical happenings that occur when she is around, and I just smile and laugh because it's so funny/cute. :) Of course Miss Mary "never tells anyone anything!"
I HIGHLY recommend the Mary Poppins series!!!!
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LibraryThing member simchaboston
More magical adventures with the British nanny without peer (that is, if you ask her!). I actually enjoyed this sequel more than the first book, mainly because there aren't as many interactions with pointlessly cruel characters. And Mary Poppins does soften once in a bit -- mostly when one of the
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children compliments her, naturally. Show Less
LibraryThing member AmberTheHuman
I am not reading these because of the upcoming movie - a movie which seems like such an odd choice for Disney to make considering how much she hated the company's eponymous founder. But I guess they figure better them than anyone else? I don't know. Anyway, I've noticed with the Mary Poppins books
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that sometimes the description is a bit lacking - but I don't see that as a flaw. Rather, an understanding that children don't need much to go on and don't want the worlds they're inhabiting through their books to be overwrought with description. This is where upside down tea party scene takes place. There is also a strange, god-like, circus in the clouds kind of thing. I'm not in love with these books, but there's something about them ... Show Less
LibraryThing member BookConcierge
Audiobook performed by Sophie Thompson
From the book jacket: Pulled down from the clouds at the end of a kite string, Mary Poppins is here again to take the Banks children in hand, leading them from one head-spinning adventure to another.
My reactions
Oh, My! I read these books when I was about nine
I re-read the first book when my first niece was about six (she’s 19 now), thinking I might want to give her the series. I was struck by how mean and unpleasant Mary Poppins was – definitely not the lovable nanny of my memory!
I had no such reaction this time, although Mary Poppins is certainly a stern taskmaster at times, not to mention vain. But I just loved the adventures she and the children had! Who would not smile at Mr Turvy, the Balloon Woman, or the trip to the Constellations?!
Sophie Thompson does a marvelous job narrating the audio version. Like many children’s books, this one lends itself easily to being read aloud. Thompson has great pacing, and a gift for voices that really helps to bring these characters to life.
From the book jacket: Pulled down from the clouds at the end of a kite string, Mary Poppins is here again to take the Banks children in hand, leading them from one head-spinning adventure to another.
My reactions
Oh, My! I read these books when I was about nine
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or ten years old. My best friend and I would share the books back and forth, spending countless hours at recess and over lunch talking about Mary Poppins, the Banks children and their fantastical adventures. There were only four books in the series at that time, and I think we read each of them three or four times. This was before the Disney movie adaptation, which we eventually saw and loved, though we recognized the differences and were a little disappointed that some of our favorite adventures were missing.I re-read the first book when my first niece was about six (she’s 19 now), thinking I might want to give her the series. I was struck by how mean and unpleasant Mary Poppins was – definitely not the lovable nanny of my memory!
I had no such reaction this time, although Mary Poppins is certainly a stern taskmaster at times, not to mention vain. But I just loved the adventures she and the children had! Who would not smile at Mr Turvy, the Balloon Woman, or the trip to the Constellations?!
Sophie Thompson does a marvelous job narrating the audio version. Like many children’s books, this one lends itself easily to being read aloud. Thompson has great pacing, and a gift for voices that really helps to bring these characters to life.
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LibraryThing member Cheryl_in_CC_NV
Since the edition of Mary Poppins that I read had this book bound with it as omnibus, I read this too. I still don't like the title character, but I like the children, the starling, the magic, the stories... so I'm glad I read it and do recommend it.
LibraryThing member meyben
The return of the nanny delights the Bank's children , with new adventures.
LibraryThing member Olivermagnus
Without Mary Poppins around, the Banks family is not doing very well. Mary returns and the Banks children immediately begin their adventures. They meet the King of the Castle and the Dirty Rascal, visit the upside-down world of Mr. Turvy and his bride, Miss Topsy, and spend an afternoon above the
There is a bit more darkness in this book than in the original. Mary Poppins herself is both more self-centered about her appearance as well as much crabbier to the children. Mary Poppins never explains how any of the magical things happen to the children and never answers their questions. It seems they are becoming more accepting of this in this second book, and just take her and the mysteries that surround her for part of who she is.
In this book we meet a new character, baby Anbabel. For the life of me I can't imagine why Mr. and Mrs. Banks keep having children they ignore and can't care for. These books were written in the 1930’s for an English audience but almost all children are familiar with the movie Mary Poppins and have wonderful memories associated with the whole series.
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park, dangling from a clutch of balloons.There is a bit more darkness in this book than in the original. Mary Poppins herself is both more self-centered about her appearance as well as much crabbier to the children. Mary Poppins never explains how any of the magical things happen to the children and never answers their questions. It seems they are becoming more accepting of this in this second book, and just take her and the mysteries that surround her for part of who she is.
In this book we meet a new character, baby Anbabel. For the life of me I can't imagine why Mr. and Mrs. Banks keep having children they ignore and can't care for. These books were written in the 1930’s for an English audience but almost all children are familiar with the movie Mary Poppins and have wonderful memories associated with the whole series.
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