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Mary Poppins #7
Mary Poppins from A to Z
P. L. Travers introduced Mary Poppins to the world in 1934. Ever since, the no-nonsense English nanny has been beloved by children and adults everywhere.
Originally published in 1962 and long unavailable, Mary Poppins from A to Z offers a unique glimpse of the famous Poppins cast. Twenty-six vignettes--one for each letter of the alphabet--weave unexpected tales of Mary Poppins, the Banks children, and other characters from Travers's timeless novels. As an added twist, each vignette is filled with fun and unusual words that start with the featured letter.
In full color for the first time, this enchanting new edition will delight both old and new fans of the inimitable Mary Poppins.
Originally published in 1962 and long unavailable, Mary Poppins from A to Z offers a unique glimpse of the famous Poppins cast. Twenty-six vignettes--one for each letter of the alphabet--weave unexpected tales of Mary Poppins, the Banks children, and other characters from Travers's timeless novels. As an added twist, each vignette is filled with fun and unusual words that start with the featured letter.
In full color for the first time, this enchanting new edition will delight both old and new fans of the inimitable Mary Poppins.
64 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1935
83 people are currently reading
2228 people want to read
About the author
P.L. Travers
64 books731 followersPamela Lyndon Travers was an Australian novelist, actress and journalist, popularly remembered for her series of children's novels about mystical nanny Mary Poppins.
She was born to bank manager Travers Robert Goff and Margaret Agnes. Her father died when she was seven, and although "epileptic seizure delirium" was given as the cause of death, Travers herself "always believed the underlying cause was sustained, heavy drinking".
Travers began to publish her poems while still a teenager and wrote for The Bulletin and Triad while also gaining a reputation as an actress. She toured Australia and New Zealand with a Shakespearean touring company before leaving for England in 1924. There she dedicated herself to writing under the pen name P. L. Travers.
In 1925 while in Ireland, Travers met the poet George William Russell who, as editor of The Irish Statesman, accepted some of her poems for publication. Through Russell, Travers met William Butler Yeats and other Irish poets who fostered her interest in and knowledge of world mythology. Later, the mystic Gurdjieff would have a great effect on her, as would also have on several other literary figures.
The 1934 publication of Mary Poppins was Travers' first literary success.Five sequels followed, as well as a collection of other novels, poetry collections and works of non-fiction.
The Disney musical adaptation was released in 1964. Primarily based on the first novel in what was then a sequence of four books, it also lifted elements from the sequel Mary Poppins Comes Back. Although Travers was an adviser to the production she disapproved of the dilution of the harsher aspects of Mary Poppins's character, felt ambivalent about the music and disliked the use of animation to such an extent that she ruled out any further adaptations of the later Mary Poppins novels. At the film's star-studded premiere, she reportedly approached Disney and told him that the animated sequence had to go. Disney responded by saying "Pamela, the ship has sailed." and walked away. Travers would never again agree to another Poppins/Disney adaptation, though Disney made several attempts to persuade her to change her mind.
So fervent was Travers' dislike of the Walt Disney adaptation and the way she felt she had been treated during the production, that well into her 90s, when she was approached by producer Cameron Mackintosh to do the stage musical, she only acquiesced upon the condition that only English born writers (and specifically no Americans) and no one from the film production were to be directly involved with the creative process of the stage musical. This specifically excluded the Sherman Brothers from writing additional songs for the production even though they were still very prolific. Original songs and other aspects from the 1964 film were allowed to be incorporated into the production however. These points were stipulated in her last will and testament.
Travers was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1977. She died in London in 1996.
Although Travers never married, she adopted a boy when she was in her late 30s.
She was born to bank manager Travers Robert Goff and Margaret Agnes. Her father died when she was seven, and although "epileptic seizure delirium" was given as the cause of death, Travers herself "always believed the underlying cause was sustained, heavy drinking".
Travers began to publish her poems while still a teenager and wrote for The Bulletin and Triad while also gaining a reputation as an actress. She toured Australia and New Zealand with a Shakespearean touring company before leaving for England in 1924. There she dedicated herself to writing under the pen name P. L. Travers.
In 1925 while in Ireland, Travers met the poet George William Russell who, as editor of The Irish Statesman, accepted some of her poems for publication. Through Russell, Travers met William Butler Yeats and other Irish poets who fostered her interest in and knowledge of world mythology. Later, the mystic Gurdjieff would have a great effect on her, as would also have on several other literary figures.
The 1934 publication of Mary Poppins was Travers' first literary success.Five sequels followed, as well as a collection of other novels, poetry collections and works of non-fiction.
The Disney musical adaptation was released in 1964. Primarily based on the first novel in what was then a sequence of four books, it also lifted elements from the sequel Mary Poppins Comes Back. Although Travers was an adviser to the production she disapproved of the dilution of the harsher aspects of Mary Poppins's character, felt ambivalent about the music and disliked the use of animation to such an extent that she ruled out any further adaptations of the later Mary Poppins novels. At the film's star-studded premiere, she reportedly approached Disney and told him that the animated sequence had to go. Disney responded by saying "Pamela, the ship has sailed." and walked away. Travers would never again agree to another Poppins/Disney adaptation, though Disney made several attempts to persuade her to change her mind.
So fervent was Travers' dislike of the Walt Disney adaptation and the way she felt she had been treated during the production, that well into her 90s, when she was approached by producer Cameron Mackintosh to do the stage musical, she only acquiesced upon the condition that only English born writers (and specifically no Americans) and no one from the film production were to be directly involved with the creative process of the stage musical. This specifically excluded the Sherman Brothers from writing additional songs for the production even though they were still very prolific. Original songs and other aspects from the 1964 film were allowed to be incorporated into the production however. These points were stipulated in her last will and testament.
Travers was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1977. She died in London in 1996.
Although Travers never married, she adopted a boy when she was in her late 30s.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
April 12, 2017
That was a really enjoyable book about the Alphabet and some stories from the Mary Poppins universe .. I liked it so much and it is very suitable to teach children the alphabet in a fun way :)
February 17, 2025
A whimsical look at the alphabet through the adventures of Mary Poppins and the family.
July 2, 2014
Mary Poppins A to Z was published in 1962, before the rise of niches in publishing and the modern-day folderol. Even so, did no one consider who the target audience was for this book? Too babyish for children who can already read, too advanced for tots learning their alphabet, and too silly for adults, I can’t understand who would pick up a copy of Mary Poppins A to Z and enjoy it. Only Mary Shepherd’s full-color illustrations save this for a one-star rating.
I adore P.L. Travers’ Mary Poppins series, but even as a die-hard fan, I couldn’t get past the letter D.
I adore P.L. Travers’ Mary Poppins series, but even as a die-hard fan, I couldn’t get past the letter D.
July 8, 2023
Absolutely a perfect Book that I Can't recall having read before. Dare I say that Every page was a Fine piece of Great Happiness? Illustrated with Joy and a Keen sense of Love by Mary Shepard! Now I must Officially recommend this Perfect ABC book, for there is none Quite so Rare and wonderful as this. Not Supercilious by any measure, Travers weaves Cherry Tree Lane, and the alphabet Uniquely for her readers. Verily, a book Written to compel a person to read aloud, the author seals it with an "X" for Young and old alike, but as always with her special Zing!
January 18, 2020
This book showcases a scene from life with Mary Poppins on Cherry Tree Lane focusing on each letter of the alphabet.
For A, Mary Poppins tells Andrew the dog not to take such “An Ample bite of Arrowroot biscuit” because he will spoil his Appetite for Asparagus. “Andrew is Anxious and Alarmed.” He prefers Almonds.
For D, Mary Poppins Dresses in her Dainty best for her Day off, while Mr Banks complains about the Dinner until Jane reminds him that there are Delightful Dates for Dessert.
There is no story line, but each scene cleverly uses words that begin with alphabet letters. The details in the illustrations make each scene fun and engaging.
Not as good as a real Mary Poppins story, but a cute little companion book.
For A, Mary Poppins tells Andrew the dog not to take such “An Ample bite of Arrowroot biscuit” because he will spoil his Appetite for Asparagus. “Andrew is Anxious and Alarmed.” He prefers Almonds.
For D, Mary Poppins Dresses in her Dainty best for her Day off, while Mr Banks complains about the Dinner until Jane reminds him that there are Delightful Dates for Dessert.
There is no story line, but each scene cleverly uses words that begin with alphabet letters. The details in the illustrations make each scene fun and engaging.
Not as good as a real Mary Poppins story, but a cute little companion book.
April 22, 2021
Loved this short collection. This isn't really a story, but it takes each letter of the alphabet per page, and gives you more information about the characters in the Mary Poppins series. For example, on the "H" page, we learn that Bert's (one of my favorite characters from this world) real name is actually Herbert.
Also - LOVED the fact that they went with U is for unicorn. There are several times throughout the series that a unicorn shows up (not the same one) and that just felt like a special treat.
Finally, I appreciated that in this edition all the illustrations were full color. It really brought Mary Shepard's (the illustrator) artwork to life.
Also - LOVED the fact that they went with U is for unicorn. There are several times throughout the series that a unicorn shows up (not the same one) and that just felt like a special treat.
Finally, I appreciated that in this edition all the illustrations were full color. It really brought Mary Shepard's (the illustrator) artwork to life.
January 12, 2021
I read this book with my six year old. It's not a chapter book, but it's not just a short children's story either. It's somewhere in between.
It's a typical Mary Poppins story, lots of silly little things. We laughed a lot.
Each page highlights a different letter of the alphabet while telling a short story.
It's a typical Mary Poppins story, lots of silly little things. We laughed a lot.
Each page highlights a different letter of the alphabet while telling a short story.
July 24, 2023
A fun little book for kids learning to read.
December 28, 2025
This was cute
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2020
Eh, it was okay. I'm obviously not the intended audience, and I suppose I could see someone reading this to their child or a child reading it themselves, but it just didn't feel to me like it was a great A to Z book. It felt like Travers was trying too hard and not being successful enough.
March 10, 2017
What whimsical wordplay with every letter of the alphabet! & accompanying fun illustrations by Mary Shepard. Totally enjoyable little book I read on a late lunch break I had to take on an aggravating day. (Read: "To hell with this day, I'm gonna go sit up on the roof & read Mary Poppins" *waves book wildly in the air, stomps off*)
November 1, 2024
The big, colorful illustrations for every letter were a big treat! 4.5 stars! Somehow Travers manages to make even an alphabet story charming and engaging, even to those of us who already know our letters.
January 14, 2014
What a quirkly little book, not like a real Mary Poppins book at all, but a page about every letter of the alphabet, using characters from Mary Poppins.
March 19, 2025
"ანბანში ყველაფერია. რაც იყო, არის და იქნება - ანბანის პირვლსა და უკანასკნელ ასოს შორისაა მოქცეული..."
პამელა ტრევერსის მორიგი წიგნი "მერი პოპინსი A-დან Z-მდე" მოგიტანეთ.
ეს წიგნი ტრევერსის სხვა წიგნებთან შედარებით განსხვავებული სტრუქტურისაა. გარდა მხატვრული ღირებულებებისა და სახალისო ჯადოსნური ამბებისა, მასში აღმოაჩენთ ერთგვარ გზამკვლევსაც, რომელიც თქვენს პატარებს დაეხმარება ანბანის შესწავლაში.
წიგნი 26 თავისგან შედგება და თითოეული მათგანი ანბანის 1 ასოს ეძღვნება.
ისტორიები კვლავინდებურად სახალისო და საინტერესოა. წიგნს მერი შეპარდის ილუსტრაციებიც ამშვენებს, ბავშვებს კი ძალიან უყვართ ნახატებით სავსე ფერადი წიგნები.
მშობლებსაც და მასწავლებლებსაც გირჩევთ გამოიყენოთ ეს წიგნი ანბანის შესწავლისას. სახალისო და შემეცნებითი თამაშების ინსპირაციაც კი შეიძლება გახდეს ეს წიგნი. მაგალითად, ყოველი წაკითხული თავიდან ახალი სიტყვების ამოწერა და შემდეგ მათზე მსჯელობა, ან თემატური ნახატების დახატვა.
ტრადიციულად ჩემს საყვარელ ნაწყვეტზეც გავამახვილებ ყურადღებას. სწორედ ამ თავის ილუსტრაციაა წარმოდგენილი ფოტოზე. მერი შეპარდის ეს ილუსტრაცია გასაოცრად ასახავს ამბის მნიშვნელობას. თითოეული პერსონაჟის უკან არის წარმოსახვითი მეორე მე. მხოლოდ მერის უკან არის მერი..
ასო G - Geese - ბატები.
– რას აჭმევთ ბატებს?
– ბალახს, ქვიშას, მატლებს და მარმელადებს!
– ღმერთო ჩემო! – აღმოხდება მისტერ ბენქსს. – კიდევ კარგი, ბატი არა ვარ!
– ესენი დიდებული გედები არიან, რომლებიც მოაჯადოვეს და ბატებად გადააქციეს, – ამბობს ჯეინი. – მაიკლი გოლიათების მმუსვრელია, მე კი – ოქროსკულულა გოგონა.
– ამას ვერასდროს გამოვიცნობდი! – ეცინება მისტერ ბენქსს. – აბა, თქვენ თუ იცით, რომ მე დიდი ჰერცოგი ვარ? გიტარაზე მხიარულ მელოდიებს ვუკრავ და გამყიდველს ფულს არასდროს ვუხდი.
– მერი პოპინს, ერთი სურვილი რომ გქონდეთ, რომელ გამოჩენილ ადამიანად ყოფნას ინატრებდით? - ეკითხება მაიკლი ქალს.
იმას თვალები უციმციმებს, სახეზე კი კმაყოფილების ღიმილი აფენია.
– მერი პოპინსად! – პასუხობს მაიკლს.
არაფერია გასაოცარი ანდა საკვირველი იმაში, რომ ბავშვებს ვიღაც სხვა სურთ იყონ, ეს მათი მიამიტობისა თუ ფანტაზიების გამოა. მაგრამ როცა ზრდასრულ, თითქოსდა შემდგარ კაცს სურს იყოს ის, ვინც არაა, ეს უკვე საკუთარი თავისგან თუ ყოველდღიური რუტინად ქცეული ცხოვრებისგან გაქცევას ჰგავს. აი, მერი კი, რომელიც ყოველთვის მერია და არავინ სხვა, იდელური მაგალითია შემდგარი ადამიანისა, რომელიც სწორედ ი��� გახდა ვინც უნდოდა ყოფილიყო და ცხოვრობს ისე, როგორც სურდა ეცხოვრა.
დავფიქრდი და...
იყო ის ვინც ხარ, მეტად დიდი ფუფუნება ყოფილა...
ერთი ფრაზა ამომიტივტივდა გონებაში - დაიწყე ოცნებების ასრულება, ახლა სწორედ ამის დროა...
აქ დავასრულებ წერას და დავფიქრდები გავხდი თუ არა ის ვინც მსურდა ვყოფილიყავი...
და თქვენ?
თქვენ ხართ ის ვინც გსურდათ ყოფილიყავით?
და ვინ გსურდათ ყოფილიყავით?
☂☂☂☂☂☂☂☂☂☂☂☂☂☂☂
ტრადიციული მინაწერი - ზოგიერთი საბავშვო წიგნი ზოგიერთმა ზრდასრულმა უმჯობესია არ წაიკითხოს. პამელა ტრევერსის „მერი პოპინსი“ სწორედ ასეთი წიგნი(ებ)ა. მერი პოპინსის თავგადასავლების წაკითხვას ვურჩევ ყველას, გარდა იმ ადამიანებისა, რომლებიც იმდენად გაიზარდნენ, რომ აღარ სჯერათ ჯადოსნური ამბების და სასწაულების...
☂☂☂
პამელა ტრევერსის მორიგი წიგნი "მერი პოპინსი A-დან Z-მდე" მოგიტანეთ.
ეს წიგნი ტრევერსის სხვა წიგნებთან შედარებით განსხვავებული სტრუქტურისაა. გარდა მხატვრული ღირებულებებისა და სახალისო ჯადოსნური ამბებისა, მასში აღმოაჩენთ ერთგვარ გზამკვლევსაც, რომელიც თქვენს პატარებს დაეხმარება ანბანის შესწავლაში.
წიგნი 26 თავისგან შედგება და თითოეული მათგანი ანბანის 1 ასოს ეძღვნება.
ისტორიები კვლავინდებურად სახალისო და საინტერესოა. წიგნს მერი შეპარდის ილუსტრაციებიც ამშვენებს, ბავშვებს კი ძალიან უყვართ ნახატებით სავსე ფერადი წიგნები.
მშობლებსაც და მასწავლებლებსაც გირჩევთ გამოიყენოთ ეს წიგნი ანბანის შესწავლისას. სახალისო და შემეცნებითი თამაშების ინსპირაციაც კი შეიძლება გახდეს ეს წიგნი. მაგალითად, ყოველი წაკითხული თავიდან ახალი სიტყვების ამოწერა და შემდეგ მათზე მსჯელობა, ან თემატური ნახატების დახატვა.
ტრადიციულად ჩემს საყვარელ ნაწყვეტზეც გავამახვილებ ყურადღებას. სწორედ ამ თავის ილუსტრაციაა წარმოდგენილი ფოტოზე. მერი შეპარდის ეს ილუსტრაცია გასაოცრად ასახავს ამბის მნიშვნელობას. თითოეული პერსონაჟის უკან არის წარმოსახვითი მეორე მე. მხოლოდ მერის უკან არის მერი..
ასო G - Geese - ბატები.
– რას აჭმევთ ბატებს?
– ბალახს, ქვიშას, მატლებს და მარმელადებს!
– ღმერთო ჩემო! – აღმოხდება მისტერ ბენქსს. – კიდევ კარგი, ბატი არა ვარ!
– ესენი დიდებული გედები არიან, რომლებიც მოაჯადოვეს და ბატებად გადააქციეს, – ამბობს ჯეინი. – მაიკლი გოლიათების მმუსვრელია, მე კი – ოქროსკულულა გოგონა.
– ამას ვერასდროს გამოვიცნობდი! – ეცინება მისტერ ბენქსს. – აბა, თქვენ თუ იცით, რომ მე დიდი ჰერცოგი ვარ? გიტარაზე მხიარულ მელოდიებს ვუკრავ და გამყიდველს ფულს არასდროს ვუხდი.
– მერი პოპინს, ერთი სურვილი რომ გქონდეთ, რომელ გამოჩენილ ადამიანად ყოფნას ინატრებდით? - ეკითხება მაიკლი ქალს.
იმას თვალები უციმციმებს, სახეზე კი კმაყოფილების ღიმილი აფენია.
– მერი პოპინსად! – პასუხობს მაიკლს.
არაფერია გასაოცარი ანდა საკვირველი იმაში, რომ ბავშვებს ვიღაც სხვა სურთ იყონ, ეს მათი მიამიტობისა თუ ფანტაზიების გამოა. მაგრამ როცა ზრდასრულ, თითქოსდა შემდგარ კაცს სურს იყოს ის, ვინც არაა, ეს უკვე საკუთარი თავისგან თუ ყოველდღიური რუტინად ქცეული ცხოვრებისგან გაქცევას ჰგავს. აი, მერი კი, რომელიც ყოველთვის მერია და არავინ სხვა, იდელური მაგალითია შემდგარი ადამიანისა, რომელიც სწორედ ი��� გახდა ვინც უნდოდა ყოფილიყო და ცხოვრობს ისე, როგორც სურდა ეცხოვრა.
დავფიქრდი და...
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ერთი ფრაზა ამომიტივტივდა გონებაში - დაიწყე ოცნებების ასრულება, ახლა სწორედ ამის დროა...
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თქვენ ხართ ის ვინც გსურდათ ყოფილიყავით?
და ვინ გსურდათ ყოფილიყავით?
☂☂☂☂☂☂☂☂☂☂☂☂☂☂☂
ტრადიციული მინაწერი - ზოგიერთი საბავშვო წიგნი ზოგიერთმა ზრდასრულმა უმჯობესია არ წაიკითხოს. პამელა ტრევერსის „მერი პოპინსი“ სწორედ ასეთი წიგნი(ებ)ა. მერი პოპინსის თავგადასავლების წაკითხვას ვურჩევ ყველას, გარდა იმ ადამიანებისა, რომლებიც იმდენად გაიზარდნენ, რომ აღარ სჯერათ ჯადოსნური ამბების და სასწაულების...
☂☂☂
December 31, 2019
This was a wonderful book, and my favorite Mary Poppins story so far. The illustrations by Mary Shepherd were beautiful and brought to life the whimsical world. I was especially fond of the short stories and how they not only highlighted previous characters and nuances, but focused with Scategories like precision on each letter of the alphabet. The prologue and epilogue were particularly creative. I think this book also contained the answer to the magic and message of Mary Poppins:
“To Turn with The Tide,” says Mary Poppins, “is To Take a Turn for The Better.”
Unicorns are sly creatures. They will Undertake to Unveil themselves only Under parrot headed Umbrellas to those who are Untouched by doubt and who can Understand.
“To Turn with The Tide,” says Mary Poppins, “is To Take a Turn for The Better.”
Unicorns are sly creatures. They will Undertake to Unveil themselves only Under parrot headed Umbrellas to those who are Untouched by doubt and who can Understand.
January 5, 2018
My husband and I were given this book for Christmas, or rather our 2 month old daughter was given the book and we accepted as her proxies. We read a few pages to her a day and completed the book in about a week or so while also reading the first Mary Poppins book. Since she is only 2 months old she cannot tell us what she thought of it, but we loved it! Each letter has it's own story and the words that begin with the selected letter are capitalized so they stand out. It will be a great book to read repeatedly to her, especially since the stories are quite creative and sometimes tongue twisters with all the alliteration.
April 17, 2020
It was a really fast-paced and very well-written children’s fantasy alphabet book. It had really excellent illustrations, really great characters, really fun letters and a really interesting story. This is going to be one of my favorite “Mary Poppins” books I’ve ever read in my whole life. I highly recommend this book to both children and adults.
July 17, 2022
Disappointing. A bit boring, a bit lame. There could have been a through story. There could have been at least some interesting little bits of story. Instead it is just a lot of words with the same letters. And for an alphabet book, each of the entries for each letter was also too long. The art was fine, but couldn't save this.
January 1, 2026
I read this because I needed a title with Z in it for my yearly reading challenge. I am also a big Mary Poppins fan. It was a cute book filled with alliteration, which is also one of my favorite things. Each story is about characters from the Mary Poppins world and tries to incorporate a letter from A to Z as much as possible. Overall, it was cute and fun.
July 28, 2017
Mary Poppins Is one of my favorites. I read most of the books while growing up. But my library did not have this one. So I've read it now and loved it. Entertaining for any age. Brought back great memories of the other books.
November 5, 2017
This is not really a Mary Poppins novel. It's more like a an alphabet book with little short scenarios about one or another character from her books. It became more about the letters than about any story line.
September 18, 2019
A is for Adorable! I could not love this Book more if I tried. The illustrations are super Cute, and the stories are Delightful. Every Mary Poppins book is great, but this one is Fantastic! Get your House a copy!
July 5, 2022
As a writer I very much appreciated the usage of words displayed in this book. Every chapter is centered on a different letter of the alphabet, and the author used just as many words starting with said letter as possible. I loved it.
October 16, 2022
Better for fans of the books, who are generally not the same people as those who like the movie. But still not necessary. Fun, though, for those who have the patience for 28 episodes w/ vocabulary lessons and humor. Charming art as usual, and the colorization looks wonderful.
August 16, 2018
This was a sweet book, and I’d love to add it to my collection for my children.
February 25, 2019
This is a wonderful picture book for letting the kids to sleep while learning the alphabet at the same time.
May 10, 2019
Charming. I shall use it in my phonics instruction!
March 15, 2021
Clever way to expand children vocabularies, using each letter to relive a year with Mary Poppins and some of the popular adventures from the early books.
May 4, 2021
A very cute alphabet book. Each letter is a short story where there are lots of words of that letter. Pretty color illustrations, and the familiar characters are nice. A small cute book.
June 6, 2021
A to Z with Mary Poppins. Silly and fun alphabet book.
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