Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton

Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel, Mary Anne, struggle to find their place when modern machines come into existence. Mike works a deal with a town to build a basement for city hall and in his rush to get the job done by the deadline he forgets to allow an exit. The town suggests that the hall be built around Mary Anne allowing her to act as a furnace and Mike can be the caretaker. This solves their current dilemma of how to get out of the foundation but also of what to do with Mary Anne in an increasingly complex world.

I enjoyed the illustrations in this book as much as the text. It is a classic story that would still be loved by children today. I also liked the message of adapting to a changing world.

Burton, V. (1939). Mike mulligan and his steam shovel. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company.
ISBN: 0395169615
Illustrated by author