Mary Poppins in the Kitchen

P.L. Travers, who penned Mary Poppins and its various sequels, published this wonderful cookbook in the 1970s. Beloved characters from the Mary Poppins books, from Mr. and Mrs. Turvy to the lady who sells birdseed at St. Paul's to Admiral Boom to Mrs. Corry and her daughters and many more, reappear to populate the story that introduces the recipes, which are listed alphabetically at the end.

The story is a delight, and you'll find yourself scribbling down recipes to save for later if you borrowed this book from the library, as I did. Highly recommended.

You want to already be a fan of the story books about Poppins and the Banks and their friends. Also of heavy British cooking. And you already have to know how to cook; so much is dependent on knowing stuff like what the batter should feel like, and that a key ingredient of Yorkshire pudding, meat drippings, does not need to be mentioned in the ingredient list. I found the story to be a superficial set of very brief adventures, and the recipes to be unappealing.

A nice little framing story of Mr. and Mrs. Banks being gone for a week - and Mary Poppins teaching the children to cook. There is one short chapter for each day of the week - and classic characters make cameo appearances to help out. All the recipes are in the back. The meals are distinctly English. Mary Shepard's illustrations are, as always, a delight.

Wonderfully fun Mary Poppins story with some very good recipes included! It's supercalifragilistrlicexpealidocious!!

A fun little book, revisiting old friends. I doubt even Mary Poppins could teach children to cook that quickly and easily.