The Perfect Nanny

"The Perfect Nanny" is a song from Walt Disney's film Mary Poppins, and it is composed by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman. This song is heard at the beginning of the film, and its theme is heard through the film as a leitmotif for the children. It is sung by the characters of Jane Banks (played by Karen Dotrice) and Michael Banks (played by Matthew Garber). It is a lyrical musicalization of a would-be newspaper advertisement, describing in the kids' words what they feel the qualifications are for a good caregiver, as opposed to the strict type of caregiver their father wants.

The song also appears in the Cameron Mackintosh musical stage production. It is unchanged in content; however, the music is more up-tempo than the original Irwin Kostal arrangement.

Literary Sources

• Sherman, Robert B. Walt's Time: from before to beyond. Santa Clarita: Camphor Tree Publishers, 1998.

P. L. Travers' Mary Poppins
Books	Mary Poppins (1934) Mary Poppins Comes Back (1935) Mary Poppins Opens the Door (1943) Mary Poppins in the Park (1952) Mary Poppins From A to Z (1962) Mary Poppins in the Kitchen (1975) Mary Poppins in Cherry Tree Lane (1982) Mary Poppins and the House Next Door (1988)
Characters	Mary Poppins Mr. Banks Mrs. Banks The Banks children Bert Miss Lark Admiral Boom The servants
Adaptions	Mary Poppins (1964 film) Mary Poppins, Goodbye (1983 musical miniseries) Mary Poppins (2004 musical) Saving Mr. Banks (2013 related film)
Songs	"Sister Suffragette" "The Life I Lead" "The Perfect Nanny" "A Spoonful of Sugar" "Jolly Holiday" "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" "Stay Awake" "I Love to Laugh" "Feed the Birds" "Fidelity Fiduciary Bank" "Chim Chim Cher-ee" "Step in Time" "A Man Has Dreams" "Let's Go Fly a Kite"
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