Practically Perfect in Every Way

With the new Disney film Mary Poppins Returns hitting the big screen, there is renewed interest in all things Mary Poppins, especially the books.  This beautiful new picture book adapted by Amy Novesky, with gorgeous illustrations by Genevieve Godbout, is bringing the story of the strict but caring nanny to audiences of a whole new generation.

I have never actually read P.L. Travers original stories, my only Mary Poppins experience comes from the original Disney movie starring the beloved Julie Andrews and the charismatic Dick Van Dyke.  I would watch the movie incessantly and all of my friends and I would think it was hilarious to sing along to supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. For her birthday, The Bee was gifted the lovely new picture book and has been choosing it for bedtime regularly.  

I’m a huge fan of Genevieve Godbout’s art.  There is a timelessness to her illustrations making them so perfect for adaptations of older work as well as new stories.  Her work evokes a simpler time, a time for which I think we all desire. It’s so easy to get lost in the magic of her work and truly be transported right into the story.  Maybe it’s the combination of soft pastel and pencil crayon with which she creates her work, or perhaps it’s the lines and small details embedded in the art. Whichever it is, I can never resist her work and her picture books are always some of the most requested at bedtime.  If you want to recapture some of that Mary Poppins magic and pass it along to your little ones, this new picture book is a perfect place to start.