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Quick answer: If you loved Mary Poppins, try Mary Poppins Comes Back, Nanny McPhee, Peter Pan, The Wind in the Willows, Five Children and It and The Railway Children. Each one is a magical classic with an unforgettable grown-up, everyday magic and family adventure.
P.L. Travers's 1934 book follows the Banks family of Cherry Tree Lane in London. Blown in on the east wind, the stern and vain nanny Mary Poppins slides up banisters, takes the children to tea on the ceiling and visits the Bird Woman and strange shops. She is sharper and stranger than the Disney film's version. Readers love its magic and odd adventures. These books share its magical grown-ups and its charm.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Age | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mary Poppins Comes Back | P.L. Travers | 7-11 | readers who want the sequel |
| Nanny McPhee | Christianna Brand | 7-10 | readers who like magical nannies |
| Peter Pan | J.M. Barrie | 7+ | readers who like London magic |
| The Wind in the Willows | Kenneth Grahame | 8+ | readers who like classic adventures |
| Five Children and It | E. Nesbit | 7-11 | readers who like wish magic |
| The Railway Children | E. Nesbit | 8-12 | readers who like family stories |
| Paddington | Michael Bond | 6-9 | readers who like London |
| Matilda | Roald Dahl | 7-11 | readers who like magical kids |
| Charlie and the Chocolate Factory | Roald Dahl | 7-11 | readers who like eccentric adults |
| The Wonderful Wizard of Oz | L. Frank Baum | 7-11 | readers who like journeys |
| Pippi Longstocking | Astrid Lindgren | 7-10 | readers who like unusual heroes |
| Bedknobs and Broomsticks | Mary Norton | 7-11 | readers who like magic beds |
| Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang | Ian Fleming | 7-11 | readers who like magic cars |
| The Phantom Tollbooth | Norton Juster | 8-12 | readers who like whimsy |
| The Willoughbys | Lois Lowry | 8-12 | readers who like nanny parodies |
1. Mary Poppins Comes Back by P.L. Travers
Mary Poppins returns on a kite string.
Best for: readers who want the sequel.
2. Nanny McPhee by Christianna Brand
A strange nanny tames naughty children.
Best for: readers who like magical nannies.
3. Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
Children fly to Neverland.
Best for: readers who like London magic.
4. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Mole, Rat, Badger and Toad.
Best for: readers who like classic adventures.
5. Five Children and It by E. Nesbit
Children find a wish-granting creature.
Best for: readers who like wish magic.
6. The Railway Children by E. Nesbit
Children move to the countryside.
Best for: readers who like family stories.
7. Paddington by Michael Bond
A bear joins a London family.
Best for: readers who like London.
8. Matilda by Roald Dahl
A clever girl with powers.
Best for: readers who like magical kids.
9. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
A boy tours a magical factory.
Best for: readers who like eccentric adults.
10. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
A girl travels to Oz.
Best for: readers who like journeys.
11. Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
The strongest girl in the world.
Best for: readers who like unusual heroes.
12. Bedknobs and Broomsticks by Mary Norton
Children travel on a magic bed.
Best for: readers who like magic beds.
13. Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang by Ian Fleming
A family's car can fly.
Best for: readers who like magic cars.
14. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
A bored boy drives into a land of words.
Best for: readers who like whimsy.
15. The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry
Children plot to get rid of their parents.
Best for: readers who like nanny parodies.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Mary Poppins: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
If you are not sure where to begin, start with the first three picks in the table: they are the closest match to Mary Poppins. The rest of the list moves further out, so it works well once you know which part of the original you liked most. If a pick is part of a longer series, read the first book before you commit, and check the age or content notes in the table before passing a book to a younger reader.
How to Choose
Continue with Mary Poppins Comes Back. For magical nannies, Nanny McPhee is perfect. If you love classic British magic, Five Children and It, Bedknobs and Broomsticks and Peter Pan are wonderful. The Willoughbys is a funny parody.
Related: Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie: Summary and Key Takeaways · Five Children and It by E. Nesbit: Summary and Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mary Poppins about?
A magical nanny brings strange adventures to the Banks children in London.
Is the book like the Disney film?
No. The book's Mary Poppins is sterner and stranger.
How many Mary Poppins books are there?
Eight.
When was it published?
In 1934.
What age is it for?
It suits readers about 7 to 11.
Who was P.L. Travers?
An Australian-born British writer.
What should my child read next?
Mary Poppins Comes Back.
Who are the Banks children?
Jane and Michael Banks, plus the twins John and Barbara.
Was there a film about P.L. Travers?
Yes. Saving Mr. Banks (2013) shows how Disney made the film.