No child should miss hearing the story
of Mike Mulligan and his trusty Mary Anne. First published in 1939, Mike
Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton is, in the words of
one reviewer, “the very symbol of industrial America.” But for children, it is
the immediate process of making things happen – in this case digging canals, roads
through the mountains and, finally, the cellar of the new town hall in
Popperville – that
fascinates. Against all odds and the opinions of others in the community, Mike
firmly believes that “old fashioned” Mary Anne can dig as much in a day as one
hundred men in a week. Well, stand by for the answer. The ending is sweet and
causes us to pause and consider the benefits of reuse and recycle, solid
infrastructure, and even meaningful paths in retirement if one considers the
whole of society! The overriding themes of dedication, friendship, hard work
and ingenuity – complete
with Burton’s memorable illustrations – make this a plain good story. Ages 3-7.
