I personally enjoyed this book even more than the first. Of course there were some glaring similarities between the first and this second book that you can only shake your head at: really, another tea party on the ceiling, with another man who can't seem to keep himself on the ground? But overall some sections of this book were absolutely enchanting: a celestial circus??? Get out of here! Constellation animals and stardust instead of saw dust... I just thought the whole thing was gorgeous and very clever, with so many of the starry animals that were featured actually coming from the stories of constellations that have been created over the years. As far as Orion, and the bear, etc.Another thing that I've found fascinating about reading this series as an adult is to see how people wrote for children in the 1930's: this is a classic, so obviously a good deal of children enjoyed it when it was published. When I think about Mary Poppins, other than being slightly mystified by her appeal to her charges and annoyed with her vanity, I try to think about her in the context of the times: in some ways she seems to be painted as "the ideal adult"- now, track with me here... Travers portrays the Banks' as boring grown ups who have jobs and not much imagination who are a bit foolish and blithering, honestly. While Mary Poppins is harsh and strict most of the time, and she clearly isn't any kind of friend to the children, she knows how to take care of them: I can see this being of huge importance back in the 1930's. And we do see the beginnings of a smile now and then, and a twinkle in her eye on occasion... to me it's clear that she does love the children.Another point that I find interesting is that for many of the adventures and high jinks in these books, they reflect things that the children have been talking about or curious about. For instance: the circus in Heaven; the kids talk about that before they go to bed, and all the sudden they've been invited to a circus in the sky by a shooting star! Of course you could say that that's Travers foreshadowing, but I think it's more than that: I imagine that Mary Poppins hears these fancies and decides to bring them to life for the children. As for why she pretends that they never happened... that is mysterious, but I think it comes down to not becoming a friendly figure to the children, because she's not their friend, she's their nanny. Also, these adventures are meant to be special treats and very unexpected, not magic tricks that can be begged for. I also like that Mary's magic is never explained, I think it rings true for childhood innocence: yes, children do ask "why?" all the time, but some things, like a magical Nanny with a Parrot-head umbrella, they can simply accept and enjoy.
I actually would rate this a 4 1/2 but it wasn't quite a 5 for me. (I don't give out 5 star ratings very often.) I had been curious about what the book was about since I was 'hooked' on the Disney musical, THEN after watching "Saving Mr Banks" by Disney and understanding behind the movie and the author I REALLY wanted to read the book(s) I didn't realize that Mary Poppins was book 1 of several until it was mentioned in a bio when they said that Ms Travers wouldn't allow Disney to make any more movies off of those. I actually listened to this story on CD. The reader Sophie Thompson has an English accent so that just made the story. There are words-wording that I didn't quite understand since I'm not British. But wasn't enough to stop me and it ruin the storyline of what was happening at the time. This is book 2 of the Mary Poppins series... and although you 'CAN' read it as an independent read and would understand the story etc By reading book 1 it gives you the 'background' on some of the characters why they do what they do. Many of the characters from the first book is incorporated into this one. The first book gives background and explains what they do (all the special magic things that comes with Mary Poppins and her friends) where as this book just takes you back to those characters and picks up where the other book left off. So by not reading book 1 you loose that background stuff but you won't be 'lost' by not reading book 1.This book is quirky, is kind of horrid at places but not NEAR as horrid as book 1 (I personally almost didn't finish book 1 due to it being so weird and at times horrid but I'm glad I did finish it and really enjoyed this book much better than the first.) Sometimes makes Mary out to be very cold and icy toward the children and those that don't know her. But those that really know Mary love her and the children when she leaves they don't want her to leave and have grown to love her. Like in life there are people who have been hurt in life and have a wall built up but if you are one of the lucky ones to look beyond that wall you will make a friend for a lifetime and I feel that way now about Mary. I will be checking out the rest of her books and only hope they continue to get better and better with each book.
What do You think about Mary Poppins Comes Back (2006)?
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 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 Jackie thinks.
—Keith
Had the collection of all the Mary Poppins stories as a child and read them many times. Rereading them now is going back in time.In Mary Poppins Comes Back she does—come back—as unexpectedly and unapologetically as she left at the end of Mary Poppins. And somehow she gets away with it, just leaving and coming back at will, to her job as the Bank’s children’s governess. She finds it open to her when she arrives, and steps back into place as if she never left, welcomed as the only one who can restore order. Part of you wants to be annoyed with her moxie, but another part (your greater self) prefers to admire her ... waiting to see what she will do next, especially to stand in wonder of what's coming next. For surely something amazing's about to begin!And amazing adventures happen over and over to Jane, Michael and the twins, John and Barbara. The author, P.L. Travers, knew what appealed to children of my generation. Although the books may seem strange (tame?) to children today who are used to so much more action, for those who long for less and like things at a slower pace, these books are a treat.They remind me of old-fashioned ballads with numerous verses which are fun to sit around a camp or a log-fire and enjoy. Somewhat repetitious and nostalgic but restful, sweet, and homey for being so.
—booklady
More smug, acerbic, and whimsically delightful Mary Poppins. In this series of 10 episodes, Jane and Michael (and the twins) are slightly older, and they are joined by their new baby sister, Annabel. Her chapter was by far the most compelling, sending shivers down my spine with her newborn's solemn 'I am earth and air and fire and water. I come from the Dark where all things have their beginning." Wow.Overall, though, it's more of the same as the first, and some of the themes (one of the children decides to be horribly naughty - oh no, what happens!) are just reimaginings of chapters out of the original. Since I read both volumes together as a child, I appreciated touching base with some of the episodes I remembered, but I'm ready to be done with Mary Poppins now.
—Liss Capello
