What happened to Marry Poppins?

Well, considering I'm one day fresh from finishing the entire Twilight saga, I had originally planned to write this blog about how much Bella gets on my nerves and how many times I had to stop myself from throwing the book across the room. Tonight, though, I came across a fictional character that infuriated me even more than whiny Bella Swan. While babysitting my 9 year old cousin Annie, she and I were reading aloud from the book Mary Poppins Comes Back.

Before we started reading, Annie warned me that Mary Poppins was "sort of mean". I think that was the understatement of the century. The book version of Mary Poppins is surly, hot-tempered, and just downright rude to Michael and Jane. She is nothing like the movie version of Mary Poppins, who at least is sweet and somewhat loveable.

She only read me one chapter, but that's all I needed. I listened to Mary spit venom at Michael when he mentioned the merry-go-round (c'mon, you know you remember the merry-go-round) being in town. I heard her crush the children's hopes by telling them that nothing good will last forever, not even her. I have no idea why they think she's good, when she's so quick to put them in their place, which she seems to think is just beneath her feet. This is a passage straight from the book.

"Oh do come on, Mary Poppins! You look all right," said Michael impatiently.
She wheeled about. Her expression was angry, outraged and astonished all at once.
All right, indeed! That was hardly the word. All right, in her blue jacket with the silver buttons! All right with her gold locket round her neck! All right with the parrot-headed umbrella under her arm!
Mary Poppins sniffed.
"That will be enough from you-and more!" she said shortly. Though what she meant was that it wasn't nearly sufficient.

I suppose the question that's on my mind is....what happened to Mary Poppins? I've never read the first Mary Poppins, myself.

Was the movie version sweetened up, so as not to frighten children? She's practically a monster!

Is this the sort of nanny children from the 60's loved to read about? I personally would have stopped reading after her first malicious retort.

I wish I hadn't read this book, for now I can never love Mary Poppins the same!