Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
by Virginia Lee Burton
List Price:
Our Price: $9.72
You Save: $7.27 (43%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.25 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Virginia Lee BurtonEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1939-09-09
ISBN: 0395169615
Number of pages: 48
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Book Reviews of Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
Book Review: Adaptable to any age!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
In a world that is constantly changing and growing technologically, the story of Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel, Maryann, is a lesson for everyone to learn from. This book is not only symbolic of the industrial revolution that went on in America's history and the dilemmas that were caused because of it, but it also tells a story about teamwork, faith, work ethic, and trust. Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel is a story about a man and his steam shovel. It starts off in the prime of their working careers and shows how they were the top-notch "diggers" that everyone counted on to do all of their digging. The story continues as they get older and all of the new gas and diesel powered steam shovels end up replacing Mike and the trusty Mary Anne in all of the endeavors. In an effort to prove their reliability and Mary Anne's ability to "do the work of 100 men", Mike and Mary Anne end up working hard to physically conquer their problem. Not only physically do they solve problems, but also in their haste they forget some key aspects to solving their challenge. However with the help of people around, they are able to come up with a solution that is beneficial for everyone around the town. The story of Mike and Mary Anne shows children that if you believe in yourself, you are capable of doing anything. It teaches that you should stick with whatever you are faced with and you work hard, you just may come out on top. The story shows that it isn't always the biggest and newest that can complete the job fastest and best, but that even the smallest and "not so new" can work hard and measure up to the expectations put forth by technology and society. The illustrations in this book are great. At first glance they may seem dull to the eye, but the dull color schemes and the sharpness of the crayon illustrations make you focus on the actions within the pictures. The pictures thoroughly correspond to the story and its content, which makes it easier for children to follow along. The dull gray coloring of the pictures is indicative of the nature of the industry, being so cold and harsh, yet some might suggest that the brighter tones that are thrown in a little bit suggest that there is still hope for the underdog. The illustrations clearly depict the mood of the story, and show the different situations that Mike and Mary Anne run into. I found that with each event as the plot thickens, so to speak, the pictures follow along very well keeping the child who can't read attentive to what is going on, and preventing confusion with what is going on in the story. The fact that the steam shovel (Mary Anne,) is portrayed as a female seems to be a welcome part of children's literature that does not follow the stereotypes that are expected in books about "trucks" and "boy stuff." It may be suggested that the author intended on showing a female character to be able to handle the work that is put forth as sort of a statement against stereotypes. The plot of this story, from my experience, is very appealing to children. In the experiences I have with my younger siblings, it is more appealing to boys than girls, due to the "steam shovel" on the cover and in the storyline. The girls that I have suggested reading this story to, have been more attracted to books that were more aimed at the young female group of readers. The theme of this book is both helpful in teaching lessons, and also in challenging the thoughts that are presented each day with the growth of technology in our world. This book helps the children to question whether or not they can set out to do something that is thought to be "impossible" and actually accomplish it, is a tremendous lesson to teach children. The language and style are very appropriate for the audience of children that the author is aimed at in that the word choice is simple enough yet also explanative as well. It does not seem to be oversimplified and still shows all of the lessons in a way that is not oversimplified, yet not too complex either. The flow of this book is excellent and seems to keep the audience of 3-6 year olds attentive and lets them follow along easily enough to understand what is going on, and possibly learn a lesson while being entertained. I would recommend this book for a child of any age. The depth and specificity of the lessons in the story can be adapted to a child of any age. Dependent on the child and their depth of understanding, you can take the story at its face value for younger children, or delve deeper into the symbolism with older children.
Summary of Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
A modern classic that no child should miss. Since it was first published in 1939, Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel has delighted generations of children. Mike and his trusty steam shovel, Mary Anne, dig deep canals for boats to travel through, cut mountain passes for trains, and hollow out cellars for city skyscrapers -- the very symbol of industrial America. But with progress come new machines, and soon the inseparable duo are out of work. Mike believes that Mary Anne can dig as much in a day as one hundred men can dig in a week, and the two have one last chance to prove it and save Mary Anne from the scrap heap. What happens next in the small town of Popperville is a testament to their friendship, and to old-fashioned hard work and ingenuity.
Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel Mary Anne make quite a team. The inseparable duo digs the great canals for the big boats to travel through, cuts through the large mountains so trains can pass, and hollows out the deep cellars for the great skyscrapers in the city. But the introduction of gasoline, electric, and diesel shovels means big trouble for Mike and Mary Anne. No one wants an old-fashioned steam shovel like Mary Anne when a modern shovel can do the digging in half the time! Forced to travel far out of the city to look for work, Mike and Mary Anne find themselves in the little town of Popperville. Mike and Mary Anne make a bid to dig the cellar for the new town hall, promising the town that if they can't dig the cellar in just one day they'll accept no payment for the job. Will Mike and Mary Anne be able to complete the job? The whole town of Popperville turns out to watch. Virginia Lee Burton, author of such classic children's books as The Little House and Katy and the Big Snow, offers a touching portrait of love and dedication while commenting on the modernization that continuously shapes our lives. Hamilton's wonderful crayon drawings bring Mike and the indomitable Mary Anne to life. (Ages 3 to 6)
Classics by Age Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Classics by Age Books
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (The Chronicles of Narnia)by C. S. Lewis
HarperFestival; Published: 2005-10-25; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $7.68
Price in other shops:
The Horse and His Boy (adult) (Narnia)by C. S. Lewis
HarperCollins; Published: 2005-05-24; Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.87
Price in other shops:
These Happy Golden Years (Little House)by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Harper Collins Publishers; HarperCollins; Published: 1953-10-14; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $7.41
Price in other shops:
Little House in the Big Woodsby Laura Ingalls Wilder
Harper Collins Publishers; HarperCollins; Published: 1953-10-14; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $6.98
Price in other shops:
Buenas noches, lunaby Margaret Wise Brown
Rayo; Published: 1995-08-04; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $5.99
Price in other shops:
Caps for Sale: A Tale of a Peddler, Some Monkeys and Their Monkey Businesssby Esphyr Slobodkina
HarperCollins; Published: 1947-01-01; Library Binding; Book
Best price: $12.48
Price in other shops:
Where the Wild Things Areby Maurice Sendak
HarperCollins Publishers; Published: 1964-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $9.93
Little Town on the Prairie CD (Little House)by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Spring Arbor/Ingram; HarperFestival; Published: 2005-07-26; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $14.98
Price in other shops:
By the Shores of Silver Lake CD (Little House)by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Spring Arbor/Ingram; HarperFestival; Published: 2004-10-05; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $14.94
Price in other shops:
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glassby Lewis Carroll
Scribner Paper Fiction; Published: 1962-05-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.49
Price in other shops:
Similar Books and other products
Tikki Tikki Temboby Arlene Mosel
Macmillan; Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); Published: 1968-03-15; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $9.67
Price in other shops:
Harold and the Purple Crayonby Crockett Johnson
HarperCollins; Published: 1998-05-15; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $9.50
Price in other shops:
Caps for Sale: A Tale of a Peddler, Some Monkeys and Their Monkey Businessby Esphyr Slobodkina
Harper Collins; HarperCollins; Published: 1947-01-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $6.93
Price in other shops:
The Little Engine That Couldby Watty Piper
Philomel; Philomel; Published: 2005-09-27; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $10.11
Price in other shops:
The Story about Ping (Reading Railroad Books)by Marjorie Flack
Grosset & Dunlap; Grosset & Dunlap; Published: 2000-08-28; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.06
Price in other shops:
Blueberries for Sal (Viking Kestrel picture books)by Robert McCloskey
Puffin Books; Viking Juvenile; Published: 1948-09-17; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $10.21
Price in other shops:
Make Way for Ducklings (Viking Kestrel picture books)by Robert McCloskey
Viking Juvenile; Viking Juvenile; Published: 1941-01-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $6.88
Price in other shops:
The Little Houseby Virginia Lee Burton
Houghton Mifflin Company; Houghton Mifflin Books for Children; Published: 1978-04-26; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $8.76
Price in other shops:
Katy and the Big Snowby Virginia Lee Burton
Houghton Mifflin Books for Children; Published: 1973-08-31; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $8.97
Price in other shops:
The Story of Ferdinand: 75th Anniversary Editionby Munro Leaf
Viking Juvenile; Published: 2011-03-31; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $11.91
Price in other shops: