Mary Poppins is a series of childrens books (childrens literature) written by P.L. Travers and originally illustrated by Mary Shepard. The books centre on a mysterious, vain and acerbic magical (magic (paranormal)) English (England) nanny, Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins (character)). She is blown by the East wind to Number Seventeen Cherry Tree Lane, London and into the Banks household to care for their children. Encounters with chimney sweeps, shopkeepers and various adventures follow until Mary Poppins abruptly leaves, i.e., pops-out. The adventures take place over a total of eight books. However, only the first three books feature Mary Poppins arriving and leaving. The later five books recount previously unrecorded adventures from her original three visits. As P.L. Travers explains in her introduction to Mary Poppins in the Park, She cannot forever arrive and depart.

The books were adapted in 1964 (1964 in film) into a musical Disney film (Mary Poppins (film)) starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. In 2004, Disney Theatrical produced a stage musical adaptation (Mary Poppins (musical)) in the West End theatre. The stage musical was transferred to Broadway (Broadway theatre) in 2006. It is still running there to this day, to sold out crowds. It has been highly successful, as was the classic 1964 film.