Mike Mulligan & His Steam Shovel

This was tonight's bed-time story chosen by my youngest, who is four years old. We were given this book (along with others, none of which I had come across before, but which their kids had grown up with) by friends of ours now based outside Chicago, when I was expecting my eldest. It was a great present, and we still have all the books, albeit a bit battered.Mike Mulligan has a steam shovel whom he loves, and has named Mary Ann. Together they have dug canals, levelled hills for highways and dug basements for skyscrapers across the country. Unfortunately, steam shovels are being superseded by electric and diesel shovels, so Mike and Mary Ann can't find work. Mike has always boasted that Mary Ann could dig as much in a day as a hundred men could dig in a week ... but he's never been quite sure. He finds one last opportunity for Mary Ann and him to work, and gets the chance to test his boast.This is a charming tale for young children, with some suspense as Mike and Mary Ann race the sun to finish their job, and we see if Mike can get out of the hole he's dug for himself. I like it for a bedtime story as there's a lot of repetition, which forms a soothing rhythm, but the illustrations are also good as discussion points and a glimpse into a bygone era. And I like the ending and the solution to the problem, as well as the way Henry B. Swap turns out.Judging it (necessarily) as a children's book: 4.5 stars.

I wasn't as thrilled with this as I expected to be. While the parallels with the current times (outdated workers, going farther and farther to find work) this one just felt outdated to me.

I think students who are interested in digging, constructing and building will be more suitable but of course, those who aren't interested in that type of story can still learn many things. Such as numbers, problem solving, cooperation, and thinking positively--no matter what happens.

To prove his steam shovel, Mary Anne, is as good as new diesel or electric shovels, Mike offers to dig the basement of the Popperville town hall. They did an amazing job, but forgot to allow a way out so Mary-Anne became the heater. This is an engaging read with a clear problem and resolution. It is appropriate for a Consolidation Reader, probably 2nd or third grade.

One of my all-time favorites as a kid.

This story reminds readers to believe in their dreams and never give up on them. It is an engaging story that is relatable to many readers who dream of doing great things. This would be recommended for preschoolers and older.