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Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel (精装)
by Virginia Lee Burton
| Category:
Picture books, Boy's books, Machinery, Age 4-8 |
| Market price: ¥ 178.00
MSL price:
¥ 158.00
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| Stock:
In Stock |
MSL rating:
 Good for Gifts |
| MSL Pointer Review:
An all time classic in its 60th anniversary edition, this book have won the hearts of boys and girls for generations with a touching story and haunting images. |
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AllReviews |
1 Total 1 pages 8 items |
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The New Yorker (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-08 00:00>
This is fun both in its text and gray crayon drawings. Mike Mulligan remains faithful to his steam shovel Mary Anne, against the threat of the new gas and diesel-engine contraptions, and digs his way to a surprising and happy ending. |
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Erika Mitchell (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-08 00:00>
This book is a classic tale about technology and obsolescence and the consequences for the people whose jobs are eclipsed by the advancement of technology. Mike Mulligan has a wonderful steam shovel (have you ever seen such a beast yourself?). The steam shovel was very important in the past - it built canals, airfields, and even moved mountains. But nowadays, people use diesel-powered diggers, not steam shovels, and Mulligan's poor steam shovel is no longer in demand. In a tiny town out in the countryside, Mulligan gets one last job for his steam shovel, digging the foundation for a new city hall. Once the job is finished, the future does not look bright for Mulligan and his steam shovel. However, a small boy points out that they can be retrained - the steam shovel can become the boiler for the new building, and Mulligan its janitor. Brilliant solution - the last page shows the steam shovel sitting in the cellar, happily belching out steam to all parts of the building while Mulligan shovels coal into its hopper. The book doesn't have any elements that would scare young readers, and children with a fascination for heavy equipment will be delighted with the action. The big message can bring out a lot of questions and food for thought, however. The book has about 1100 words.
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-08 00:00>
In this story, Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel Mary Anne, are the best and fastest diggers, untill the new high tech equiptment come around. Although Mike and Mary Anne are still the best and fastest, they get replaced just because they arn't the "new thing". When they hear about a job in Popperville, they head out to see if they will be able to get it, since they haven't had work in so long. They get the job, but only have one day to get the job done, otherwise, they won't get payed. Fortunalty, there are many people there to watch them work, which makes them work faster and better. Mike and Mary Anne come across a few problems along the way, though. You should read this story and find out what happens.
I think this story is great. It shows that new things arn't always as good as the old. Also, it shows that teamwork can get you where you want to be. In addition to that, it shows that encouagement helps out too. If you have people behind you and cheering you on, you usually do better. I think you should read this book, find out what happens, and learn from it.
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Jenn Wetzel (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-08 00:00>
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. |
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C. Russell (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-08 00:00>
Virginia Lee Burton's classic imparts value far beyond its original intent. Sure, the saga of Mike and his beloved steam shovel celebrates the development of roads, canals, skyscrapers, and other trappings of modern infrastructure. But messages emerge on other levels. One is the inexorable march of technological obsolescence and its impact on society. Also, legal scholars (and perhaps novelist John Grisham) may appreciate the subplot involving town selectman Henry B. Swap's promise to Mike-exemplifying the practical problems of verbal contract arrangements. The happy ending is a solution entirely consistent with the book's 1939 vintage. What would happen if the same story were told in the year 2000, when fuel cells, microturbines, and cogeneration options exist? Maybe state utility regulators would get a clue from Mike and his steam shovel. Or then again, maybe not. But as-is, the delightful illustrations in this book cannot help but to endear it to children just as much today as it did sixty years ago....
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Dale Blanchard (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-08 00:00>
Yes, its true - I dreaded the nights (night after night after night) when one of my sons would insist we read this book! Why? Because it's long, and detailed - good for the child, terrible for a weary parent. My boys memorized the story, and if I ever tried to skip a page, I was found out and the missing page was revisited.
This book is a great gift to give to any child who is enthralled with heavy machinery, but there's more to it than that. At the time the story is written (1939) Mike Mulligan and Mary Anne, his steam shovel, are becoming outdated. They used to be busy in the big city, making basements for big buildings. But as always happens, something better - faster, more efficient gas, electric and Diesel shovels - is replacing them.
Mike Mulligan knows they still have value. He's always told people that Mary Anne could dig as much in a day as a hundred men could dig in a week, though he's never been quite sure this is true.
To find work, he ventures into the country to the town of Popperville, where a new Town Hall is being built. Mike promises to build the cellar in just one day ("What!" said Henry B. Swap. "Dig a cellar in just one day! It would take a hundred men at least a week to dig the cellar for our new town hall." ) Henry and the townpeople are swayed when Mike promises that "If we can't do it, you won't have to pay."
The citizens of Bangerville and Bopperville, Kipperville and Kopperville plus all the people from Popperville come out to watch Mike and Mary Anne work hard under the hot sun. They finish the job as the sun sets, just in the nick of time.
One small boy has been watching them, and he asks a really good question - "How are they going to get out?" Mike was in such a hurry, he forgot to make a way to get Mary Anne out of the cellar.
Everyone tries to think of a solution, but it's that astute little boy who comes up with the best one. They decide to keep the Steam Shovel in the cellar, and build the town hall over them. Mike Mulligan can be the janitor, the steam shovel will keep the building warm in the winter, they won't have to buy a new furnace (Henry B. Swap really likes this frugal thought!) and everyone is happy.
The kids who read it especially like looking at all the tiny details in the pictures, but I think they especially like the small boy finding the solution that none of the adults can figure out.
In retrospect, I suppose it really wasn't that awful to have to read it again and again and again. I've got the original hardcover in hand, waiting for the grandkids!
Definitely worth buying the hardcover edition! |
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Paul (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-08 00:00>
Few of us have ever seen a steam shovel in action, even we who had this great story read to us the first time around, back in '39. The diesel shovel digging out the neighbor's cellar down the street just didn't have the personality of Mary Anne and the operators didn't seem to have the determination of Mike Mulligan, though they always left a cellar ramp clear so they could get out when they were done.
But the tension in this story builds as the sun gets high in the sky and goes down so fast, as the dirt flies, the townfolks cheer and the job gets done only to have Henry B. Swap smile in his "rather mean way" when it is discovered that no exit was dug for Mary Anne to get out of the hole. Then "the little boy," who might have been me, or might have been my daughter when I read the story to her, or my grandson when I read the story to him, comes up with the idea that makes Ol' Henry B. Swap "smile in a way that wasn't quite so mean."
And finally, in semi-retirement, Mike Mulligan and Mary Anne don't have to compete any longer with the new-fangled machines and Henry B. Swap is there, "smiling in a way that isn't mean at all." There in Poppervile they have the contentment in aging that is worth dreaming about.
One of the great Books!
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-08 00:00>
Growing up, my older brother was obsessed with all things that were at all related to construction, big tools and trucks in general. Naturally, a book about a steamshovel that could dig a foundation in one day became an instant hit in our house. This book must have been read an average of five times a day (no exaggeration there), rebound three times and finally covered entirely in contact paper to hold together the love-tattered pages. I keep that original copy on the book shelf that holds my most cherished posessions and anticipate with delight the opportunity to share this book with my children. It is my favorite gift to give the mother of a newborn baby boy and I recommend it with enthusiasm and joy. Enjoy it as my family, friends and I have.
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1 Total 1 pages 8 items |
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