Book info

• Title Mary Poppins Opens the Door
• Author P. L. Travers
• Year 1943
• Genre Childrens

From the moment Mary Poppins arrives at Number Seventeen Cherry Tree Lane, everyday life at the Banks house is forever changed. Jane, Michael, and the twins have never had such a wonderful nanny, who brings enchantment and excitement everywhere she goes. In 'Mary Poppins Opens the Door,' Mary Poppins reappears just in time! According to her tape measure, Jane and Michael have grown Worse and Worse since she went away. But the children won t have time to be naughty with all that Mary has planned for them. A visit to Mr. Twigley s music box filled attic, an encounter with the Marble Boy, and a ride on Miss Calico s enchanted candy canes are all part of an average day out with everyone s favorite nanny.

Thoughts

Intensely similar to the books that have come before, this sequel in the Mary Poppins series follows the formula that has been so successful - the super-nanny arrives, promising to stay for a limited amount of time, and takes the children under her care on magical adventures in the meantime.

It also gets a bit more formulaic than that, with Poppins’ going off on her own adventure on her day off, just as she has previously. There’s also a strange family member to be visited, as well as an unusual trip flying over the park, just as before. None of that is a complaint, though.

In its familiarity, it’s quite charming, and even though it follows the same patterns, it’s still quite inventive. I enjoyed the story about the cat and the king, proving that knowledge is what you make of it. Two concepts stood out for me too: those under the sea fishing for humans (and throwing them back), and the gap at the end of each day, between the first and last stroke of midnight. Intriguing.

Rating: 3 / 5