Favorite Books: Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel

I love a good story. So does my husband. So do my children. The best stories are the ones that are enjoyable for all of us. They are the kind of books we can read over and over again and still want to read more. In reading them over and over the characters become real friends, and we often refer to them as if they were part of our extended family. "Favorite Books" is the place on this blog where I share these books with you.

I wanted to get Katy and the Big Snow from the library today, but as it was checked out I chose Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel which is written by Virginia Lee Burton.

This picture book is about, well, Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel named Mary Anne. This digging team has been replaced by gasoline, electric, and diesel shovels, and they can't find anyone who will hire them. They hear about a job in Popperville and decide to recommend themselves for the job. You will have to read this classic book to find out what happens to Mike and Mary Anne. In the meantime, here are some of my favorite quotes from Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel.

Mike Mulligan was very proud of Mary Anne. He always said that she could dig as much in a day as a hundred men could dig in a week, but he had never been quite sure that this was true.

Now the girl who answers the telephone called up the next towns of Bangerville and Bopperville and Kipperville and Kopperville and told them what was happening in Popperville.

'Hi! Mike Mulligan! How are you going to get your steam shovel out?'

The book ends with this nice little note to the reader:

Now when you go to Popperville, be sure to go down in the ...

Oh, wait, I can't give away the end of the story. You have to read it to find out what happens!