"The Perfect Nanny" is a song from Walt Disney's 1964 film Mary Poppins, and it is composed by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman.^[1] 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 2004 musical stage production. The lyrics are unchanged but the music is more up-tempo than in the original Irwin Kostal arrangement.

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

v t e P. L. Travers's Mary Poppins
Books	Mary Poppins (1934) Mary Poppins Opens the Door (1943)
Characters	Mary Poppins
Films	Mary Poppins Saving Mr. Banks accolades Mary Poppins Returns
Television	"Mary Poppins" (Studio One) Mary Poppins, Goodbye
Musicals	Mary Poppins
Music	Mary Poppins: Original Cast Soundtrack "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" Duke Ellington Plays Mary Poppins Saving Mr. Banks: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Mary Poppins Returns: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack "The Place Where Lost Things Go"
Related	Susan Sto Helit "Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious" Cheshire Crossing
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