Enduring Children's Classics, and the Illustrators we love
The illustrators
Mary Poppins (the book) is everything you see in the movie and more; inventive, magical; sometimes even a little eerie!
However, one thing that Mary Poppins (the character) is definitely NOT in my opinion, is “Practically Perfect in Every Possible Way”, as to me she came across a bit too vain and a little mean-spirited at times.
Enter the illustrator!
Given a precious but rather blank-faced wooden peg doll after which P.L. Travers instructed original illustrator Mary Shepard to model the look of Mary Poppins, Shepard worked endlessly back and forth with Travers to create the famous nanny as we all know her now: rosy-cheeks, kind-eyes, feet in the first ballet position, softening some of the pricklier aspects of Poppins’ traits.
Staying loyal to the book rather than the Disney film, I found only four illustrators of English versions to mention, and only two of those illustrated versions being unabridged!
The illustrators are few, but precious.
Mary Shepard
1909-2000
Original!
P.L. Travers originally wanted Winnie-the-Pooh illustrator, Ernest Shepard. However, being too busy with other commissions, he declined.
It was his daughter, Mary Shepard, who was destined for the role.
As fate would have it, Travers caught sight of Mary Shepard’s artwork on a friend’s Christmas card, and felt her style was perfect.
And…her style was perfect… the Mary Poppins she created influenced all Poppinses to come! – most notably Mary Poppin’s first-position ballet foot stance, so often employed in her illustrations. But she had to work for it, as P.L. Travers wanted Poppins to have her feet in the fifth position ballet stance. And, as you will see, it was a good thing Shepard stood her ground on this.
Mary Shepard was a very humble person, working with Travers who was extremely protective over her artistic rights. As a result, Mary Shepard’s artistic contribution was largely ignored; Disney included. Thankfully, due to the above mentioned first ballet position, Disney had to pay Shepard in the end.
Mary Shepard worked with P.L. Travers on all eight of her Mary Poppins books, from 1934 to 1988.
Published 2006 by Clarion Books
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Julia Sarda
Barcelona-based illustrator, Julia Sarda’s, artwork is beyond amazing. This is the only other illustrated version I could find that is unabridged, with Bad Tuesday being the revised version (*see note at end of post).
Colorful, delicate with a slightly enigmatic feel, Sarda’s artwork seems to honor Mary Shepard’s vision (for example the Mary Poppins flying away with her umbrella) while at the same time creating her own space.
Published 2018 by Clarion Books
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Lauren Child
Lauren Child’s style involves using fabrics from well-chosen haberdasheries to accentuate her collages. Here she chose various fabrics from Dashing Tweeds in London, and Paris-based Petite Pan.
This beautiful version includes seven of the twelve chapters, being, I think, the chapters most fitting for modern children, (but do understand that those left out chapters are still pure magic).
Illustrations are prolific and throughout, with hardly any pages left unadorned in some way. A wonderfully designed book!
Published 2018 by HarperCollins GB
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Mary Shepard - Paperback with cover art by Genevieve Godbout
A lovely paperback edition with Mary Shepard’s interior illustrations, and cover design by the same artist who recently did a wonderful picture book version (below). Several of the series in this design are available as singles or boxed sets.
Published 2015 by HMH Books for Young Readers
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Picture Book, Abecedary. Cookbook and More!
Staying true to the book version as opposed to the film, I only found one picture book that qualified, although there are several based off the film by Little Golden Books.
Also worth mentioning are two of the cutest books ever: a Mary Poppins Abecedary and a Mary Poppins cookbook!
Mary Poppins adapted by Amy Novesky and Illustrated by Genevieve Godbout
As stated above, this adapted version follows the events of the book (as in, not the movie). including in its pages some wonderful parts of the story you don’t see in the film, such as, my favorite chapter titled Mrs. Corry. However, the part where Mary and The Match-Man jump into the sidewalk art is not included, which is a shame, (but it is also the only part of the book that does not involve the children which may be why it was omitted- yes, in the book the children are not part of that adventure!).
But still, a wonderful book!
Published in 2015 by Random House Children’s Books
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Mary Poppins in the Kitchen
This cute book first tells the story of a week where Mary Poppins is in charge of cooking while the children, and a variety of characters from the other books, arrive to help out, and ends with the recipes for all the meals in the story.
The picture below portrays a visit from the Bird Lady, and here is an excerpt from a visit from Admiral Boom: “And nobody noticed, least of all Admiral Boom, that when at last he took his leave, he still had Mrs. Brill’s apron tied firmly round his waist”.
Published 2006 by Clarion Books
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Mary Poppins from A to Z
T
It is Tuesday. Mr. Banks Tears Through The house like a Tempest. “Why is my Tobacco Tin Topped-up with Toffee? Who Tied my Tartan Tie round The Toast?”
This whimsical Abecedarian has a full page of illustration and a slice-of-life essay involving each letter of the alphabet, as the example above.
Published 2006 by Clarion Books
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There is also a simplified version for the very young, sold as a board book.
Mary Poppins Four Books in One
This 80th Anniversary Collection includes Mary Poppins along with the next three books in the series: Mary Poppins Comes Back, Mary Poppins Opens the Door, Mary Poppins in the Park. Illustrations by Mary Shepard. Includes an introduction by Wicked author, Gregory Maguire.
Published 2014 by HMH Books for Young Readers
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Pictured here is P.L. Travers’ Wooden Peg doll off which she based Mary Poppins
She gave it to the New York Public Library in 1972 – called them out of the blue and asked if they wanted it. It is not always on display, so check ahead of time.
*Note: P.L. Travers revised a chapter titled “Bad Tuesday” many years after first publication. All of the versions above are the revised. Click here for more history.