 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
- By Virginia Lee Burton
- Genre: Friendship
Common Sense Media says
Teaches important lessons about faith, friendship.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that there's no objectionable content in this book. Lively drawings and simple text encourage kids to chime in, and the story has an unusually satisfying ending.
What's the story?
This classic story will have your kids cheering! Can Mike and his trusty steam shovel, Mary Anne, dig the cellar for the new town hall in just one day? This fun book, filled with energetic crayon illustrations, teaches kids important lessons about faith and friendship.
Is it any good?
A family favorite for more than 60 years, this book is a reassuring slice of nostalgia. With a story as steady and reliable as Mary Anne, it gives kids the opportunity to anticipate what will happen next. Down-to-earth language, with repeating phrases, lets kids become comfortable with the text and join in. One adult who hadn't read the book since childhood was delighted to discover she still remembered key words.
The pictures support the aura of familiarity. No fussy, fancy artwork -- just crayon drawings of rectangular houses with smoke curling from the chimneys, and of the sun, a smiling yellow ball. With such a trustworthy delivery, you can rest assured your kids will absorb the important messages. MIKE MULLIGAN AND HIS STEAM SHOVEL suggests that kids aim high, work hard, and expect to fulfill their dreams.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about perseverance. Mike and Mary Anne don't give up -- they seek out challenges. Ask kids about challenges they've faced and how they persevered.
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AGE
This book has to have something about it to have remained in print for so many years. I read it, aged about 6, 52 years ago, and still remember it with great affection. The punning name for the shovel (for people unfamiliar with the real things, Mary Anne is a play on 'Marion', a famous steam-shovel builder) gives it a friendly personality and ties the whimsy in to reality.
Great story, with a happy ending.
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AGE
Lovely
This classic children's book teaches children about the value of friendship, and luckily for parents, only gets better with repetition!
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April 9, 2008
AGE
A classic story of friendship
This is a really great story about how friendship, perserverence and pride in workmanship. The interplay of characters is really lovely story for yound ones to hear. My two year old enjoys it but can find it a bit long. It's a classic book worth owning.
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| Author: | Virginia Lee Burton |
| Illustrator: | Virginia Lee Burton |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Friendship |
| Publisher: | Houghton Mifflin Children's Books |
| Publication date: | September 9, 1939 |
| Number of pages: | 44 |
| Paperback price: | $5.95 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 4 - 7 |
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