Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! Old ‘Mary Poppins’ book returns to library

By The Canadian Press

ST. PAUL, Alta. — It was a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious find.

A first-edition hardcover book of “Mary Poppins,” published in 1934, is back in an Alberta public library after 40 years.

Dwayne Olson with the library in St. Paul, a town northeast of Edmonton, says the book was taken off the shelves in 1978 and replaced with newer versions.

The copy was recently donated back to the library after being discovered at a local thrift store.

“I was surprised,” says Olson. “It’s in pretty good shape.”

The book was the first of eight in a series by P.L. Travers about a magical, umbrella-toting nanny that spawned a Disney movie and stage musicals.

Olson says the library’s copy is a bit faded. And it’s spine needs to be fixed.

He’s not sure how much it’s worth, but it’s not for sale.

“To have this book in our library, I mean, it’s priceless,” says Olson, “especially for people to look at and see it and kind of go, ‘Oh, that’s cool.’”

The book is being displayed in a locked glass cabinet with other old texts.

People can ask to see the book, but they won’t be allowed to check it out.

“It doesn’t leave the library,” says Olson.