# Julie Andrews Made Mary Poppins Magical

> Julie Andrews' Mary Poppins film softened P.L. Travers' darker books for a new TV series.
- Title: Julie Andrews Made Mary Poppins Magical · Woman's World
- Summary: Julie Andrews' Mary Poppins film softened P.L. Travers' darker books for a new TV series. P.L. Travers' darker Mary Poppins books, published from 1934 to…
- Keywords: p.l. travers, mary poppins, tv series, julie andrews, emily blunt, seattle, nfl, entertainment, books, cherry tree lane, banks children, mysticism
- Source: Woman's World — https://womansworld.com/entertainment/books/julie-andrews-made-mary-poppins-magical-the-books-were-much-darker
- Author: Ed Gross
- Published: 2026-09-29T20:00:24+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: p.l. travers, mary poppins, tv series, julie andrews, emily blunt, seattle, nfl, entertainment, books, cherry tree lane, banks children, mysticism
## Mary Poppins TV series in development
A Mary Poppins TV series is being developed from P.L. Travers' books.
## P.L. Travers' eight books
P.L. Travers wrote eight Mary Poppins books published from 1934 to 1988.
## Darker book adventures
The books reveal adventures, characters and a Mary the movies never fully explored.
## Travers' mysterious world
Travers' Ms. Poppins was considerably darker, her adventures more surreal.
## TV series optioned from Travers estate
Being shepherded by producer Tom Winchester through Pure Fiction Television, the show has been optioned from the Travers estate rather than Disney.
## First book: East Wind arrives
Mary arrives in the Banks household at Number 17 Cherry Tree Lane with a carpetbag and parrot-headed umbrella.
## Bird Woman and Uncle Albert
Mary and the children encounter the Bird Woman and Uncle Albert, whose uncontrollable laughter causes him to float toward the ceiling.
## Mary returns in second book
Following Mary’s departure in the first book, she returns from the sky at the end of a kite string.
## King of the Castle and Dirty Rascal
Jane and Michael encounter the King of the Castle and the Dirty Rascal during Mary’s return.
## Mary’s world expands
The book expands the Banks family with the arrival of baby Annabel and introduces the twins John and Barbara.
## Third book: Guy Fawkes Night
Travers set the third book on Guy Fawkes Night with Mary arriving amid fireworks.
## Marble Boy and magical elements
The story introduces Mr. Twigley and his music boxes, the Marble Boy and Miss Calico’s peppermint horses.
## Fourth book: Park adventures
Mary Poppins in the Park features six adventures during Mary’s previous stays with the Banks family.
## Fifth book: Alphabet vignettes
Mary Poppins From A to Z is a collection of 26 brief vignettes, one for each letter of the alphabet.
## Sixth book: Kitchen adventures
Mary Poppins in the Kitchen features the Banks household running the kitchen for a week with 30 recipes.
## Seventh book: Midsummer’s Eve
Mary Poppins in Cherry Tree Lane takes place on Midsummer’s Eve with the Banks children visiting the Herb Garden.
## Eighth book: House next door
Mary Poppins and the House Next Door introduces Miss Andrew, Mr. Banks’ former governess, moving into Number 18 Cherry Tree Lane.
## Key takeaway

P.L. Travers' darker Mary Poppins books, published from 1934 to 1988, inspired a TV series that avoids Disney's magical tone.