I’ve decided that it’s time to resume my Alphabet Adventures! Today I am sharing a particularly hopeful page for a time when everyone is cooped up sheltering in place to try and stop the spread of a virus. This page is from Mary Poppins ABC, which is a modified and shortened reprinting of Mary Poppins A to Z. Both are by P. L. Travers, the author of the original Mary Poppins books, and illustrated by Mary Shepard (although I’m pretty sure she had nothing to do with the color and cropping in this reprint).

Each letter has a little vignette and a few lines that use the letter as much as possible to tell a very short story. If you look closely at the images, they often have many other things that begin with the letter as well. In this case, it’s a story about Intelligent children celebrating being out after having been cooped up Indoors. I love the details and the expression. And the little one in the doorway still pulling on boots is adorable!

I is for Intelligent children in India-rubber boots Inquiring about the price of Ice cream after being cooped up Indoors.

P. L. Travers, Mary Poppins ABC

Makes me wish I could have some ice cream too! And now I want to find one of the original editions with the full black and white illustrations as well. Always more alphabet adventures to be had, after all!