Author Guide · Memoir & Children’s Books
Books Written by
Julie Andrews published her first book, the children’s novel Mandy, in 1971, six years after Mary Poppins won her the Academy Award for Best Actress. She has written many books since, most of them for children and many with her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton; The Very Fairy Princess reached number one on the New York Times children’s list in 2010. For adults there are two memoirs: Home (2008), about her childhood in a family of music-hall performers, and Home Work (2019), about the Hollywood years. This guide covers her nine key books, in order, and where to begin.
By Lisanne Swart · 9 key books · 1971–2019 · Updated October 2026
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Quick answer
Julie Andrews’ best-known books are her memoirs Home (2008) and Home Work (2019), and the children’s novels Mandy (1971) and The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles (1974). Adult readers should start with Home; for children, start with The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles.
Where to Start with Julie Andrews
If you want her own story
→ Home (2008) — childhood and the music-hall years.
If you want Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music
→ Home Work (2019) — the Hollywood years.
If you want a novel to read with children
→ The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles (1974) — her best-known children’s book.
If you want a picture book
→ The Very Fairy Princess (2010) — a New York Times number one.
9 Julie Andrews Books, in Order
Mandy
Her first book, a novel for young readers published by Harper & Row under the name Julie Andrews Edwards. A 35th-anniversary edition appeared from HarperCollins in 2006.
The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles
Her second novel for young readers, published by Harper & Row under the name Julie Edwards.
Little Bo
Published by Hyperion, the first book in a series that includes Little Bo in Italy (2010).
Dumpy the Dump Truck
The first of the Dumpy books, written with her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton, and published by Hyperion. It started a series of picture books about the dump truck.
The Great American Mousical
A novel for young readers, written with Emma Walton Hamilton, published by HarperTrophy and illustrated by Tony Walton, Andrews’s first husband.
Home
Her first memoir, published by Hyperion and credited to her alone. It covers her childhood and early years on Britain’s music-hall circuit, and ends in 1962, when she won the role of Mary Poppins.
Julie Andrews’ Collection of Poems, Songs, and Lullabies
An anthology of poems and songs for children compiled with Emma Walton Hamilton, illustrated by James McMullan and published by Little, Brown. Their recording of it won the Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album for Children in 2011.
The Very Fairy Princess
A picture book written with Emma Walton Hamilton, illustrated by Christine Davenier and published by Little, Brown. It reached number one on the New York Times children’s best-seller list in June 2010.
Home Work
The second memoir, written with Emma Walton Hamilton and published by Hachette, picks up where Home ends, in 1962, and covers her Hollywood years.
In What Order to Read Julie Andrews
For adults, the order is simple: Home first, then Home Work, which picks up where the first memoir stops.
The children’s books are independent of each other, apart from the series (Little Bo, Dumpy), which are best read from the first title. Mandy and The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles are novels for young readers; the picture books are for younger children.
A reading path
1. Home (2008)
2. Home Work (2019)
3. The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles (1974), to read aloud
Everything Else Julie Andrews Published
Beyond the 9 key books: 4 more, grouped by kind.
Open a group with the + to see every book in it.
Children’s books with Emma Walton Hamilton
3
3 books · 2003–2007
- 2003Simeon’s Gifta picture book
- 2005Dragon: Hound of Honora novel for young readers
- 2007Thanks to You: Wisdom from Mother and Childa gift book
Series titles
1
1 book · 2010
- 2010Little Bo in Italya sequel to Little Bo
The years · 1935–2019
Quick facts about Julie Andrews
- Known for
- Julie Andrews is known for Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music, and has also written many children’s books.
- Born
- Julia Elizabeth Wells, 1 October 1935, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
- Oscar
- Best Actress for Mary Poppins, at the 1965 ceremony
- Grammys
- Best Album for Children (1965); Best Spoken Word Album for Children (2011)
- Honours
- Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (2000); Kennedy Center Honors (2001)
- Co-author
- Her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton
- Pen names
- Julie Edwards and Julie Andrews Edwards for her early books
The red mark is 2008: Home, her first memoir.
How Julie Andrews Writes: Two Careers on the Page
Andrews has two bodies of work. The larger is for children: novels and picture books, many written with her daughter Emma Walton Hamilton, several of them in series. Her first two books, Mandy and The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles, appeared under the names Julie Andrews Edwards and Julie Edwards.
The memoirs are a separate project. Home, credited to her alone, covers her childhood and the music-hall years up to 1962. Home Work, written with Hamilton, covers the Hollywood years that followed.
Both memoirs are chronological and end at natural breaks in her career. For more performers’ memoirs, see the reading list of the best celebrity memoirs; for actors who started as children, see the list on child stardom.
Watch
Julie Andrews on Home Work
Julie Andrews and her daughter and co-author Emma Walton Hamilton talk about Home Work at Talks at Google in 2019.
Frequently asked questions about Julie Andrews’ books
How many books has Julie Andrews written?
Many, most of them for children. This page covers her nine key books, from Mandy (1971) to Home Work (2019), and lists four more below them.
What are Julie Andrews’ books in order?
The key books are Mandy (1971), The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles (1974), Little Bo (1999), Dumpy the Dump Truck (2000), The Great American Mousical (2006), Home (2008), Julie Andrews’ Collection of Poems, Songs, and Lullabies (2009), The Very Fairy Princess (2010) and Home Work (2019).
Where should I start with Julie Andrews?
Adults should start with Home (2008), her memoir of her early years. For children, start with The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles (1974).
What is Julie Andrews’ most famous book?
Among adults, her memoir Home (2008). Among children’s books, The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles (1974) and The Very Fairy Princess (2010), which reached number one on the New York Times children’s list.
In what order should I read Home and Home Work?
Home first. It covers her childhood and stage career; Home Work (2019) picks up with her Hollywood years.
Did Julie Andrews write her books herself?
Home is credited to Andrews alone. Home Work and many of the children’s books were written with her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton.
Why did Julie Andrews write as Julie Edwards?
Her early children’s books, Mandy (1971) and The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles (1974), appeared under the names Julie Andrews Edwards and Julie Edwards. She was married to the director Blake Edwards from 1969 until his death in 2010.
Has Julie Andrews won awards for her books?
The recording of Julie Andrews’ Collection of Poems, Songs, and Lullabies, made with Emma Walton Hamilton, won the Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album for Children in 2011.
Can Julie Andrews still sing?
Vocal-cord surgery in 1997 permanently damaged her singing voice. She has continued to act and write.
Footnotes
- Julie Andrews — Wikipedia
- Julie Andrews — Grammy.com
- How Julie Andrews made herself at home in Hollywood — NPR
- Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton: Home Work — Talks at Google
Bibliography last verified 9 October 2026. Where sources give different first-publication years, this page uses the year in library catalogues or the publisher’s own record.
This list was not put together by a machine.
The notes are all mine,
and the books are all his.
Lisanne x
Written by Lisanne Swart, who has curated reading lists and author guides at lisanneswart.com since 2021.
See more on her personal bookshelf.
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