Nurse Matilda

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The Nurse Matilda books were written by Malaya-born British children's author Christianna Brand (1907 - 1988). They consist of three books: Nurse Matilda (1964), Nurse Matilda Goes to Town (1967) and Nurse Matilda Goes to Hospital (1974). They concern a nursemaid who becomes a nanny to the innumerable Brown children. The Brown children are "exceedingly naughty" and frighten off many governesses in a wonderfully mischevous way. At least until Nurse Matilda comes. She teaches the children to behave and deals with the fearsome and persnickety Great Aunt Adelaide Stich. The Nurse Matilda books were illustrated by Ms. Brand's cousin, Edward Ardizzone. Both cousins heard the stories from the same grandfather.

The books were later adapted into the film Nanny McPhee (2005), in which there are only seven children.