[4], "As a child, his steam fueled hot 1939 children's classic", "For generations of kids, he was Captain Kangaroo", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mike_Mulligan_and_His_Steam_Shovel&oldid=1015781954, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This popular book was occasionally read by, This page was last edited on 3 April 2021, at 14:45. The book states, “Mike loved Mary Anne”–what kind of love is there between the two? Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel Mary Anne are a great team. Is it good that he did? Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books at … How do you show that you are loyal to someone? Great deals on Mike Mulligan And His Steam Shovel In Antiquarian & Collectible Books. Mike and his trusty shovel Mary Anne are known for digging canals, cutting through mountains and creating roads. In this way, many questions can be discussed with both loyalty and love in mind. Mike and Mary Anne settle contentedly into their new jobs. recognizing the unique value in the beloved and responding to it or wishing to give value to the beloved through caring)? First published in 1939, in the wake of the Great Depression, it features Mike Mulligan, a steam shovel operator, and his steam shovel Mary Anne. Mike … It is considered a classic favorite of children's literature: based on a 2007 online poll, the National Education Association listed the book as one of its "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children."[1]. Get this from a library! They also have a guide for navigating tough conversations. Do you think they require similar characteristics? Dick, then about 12 years old, suggested the steam shovel could become the building's heating source. The pair finish the job before sundown. The book was published in multiple languages including English, consists of 56 pages and is available in Hardcover format. For those who have not read Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton (spoilers ahead) it’s the story of Mike, a man who operates a huge an outdated piece of machinery called a steam shovel. Are there ever times when it is acceptable, or even admirable, to stop loving someone? She was inspired to convert the steam shovel to a furnace by the son of friends, as they all discussed the book over dinner: At dinner on Chestnut Hill that evening, the author told the Albertsons and Berkenbushes about her dilemma. After many years working together, Mike and his coal-powered steam shovel Mary Anne face competition from more modern gasoline, electric, and diesel shovels. Find tips for leading a philosophical discussion on our resources page. A child suggests that Mary Anne be converted to a boiler for the new building's heating system, and that Mike become its janitor. Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel is a good companion book to The Little House, also written by Virginia Lee Burton. Some argue that loyalty is a virtue in itself, while others bring up examples such as sports teams or even gangs to demonstrate that the value of loyalty might be dependent upon the object of loyalty. Once at the digging site, Mike lowers the DIPPER STICK close to the ground. Some of the books on this site may contain characterizations or illustrations that are culturally insensitive or inaccurate. Why are you loyal to that person? Mike and his trusty steam shovel, Mary Anne, dig deep canals for boats to travel through, cut mountain Continue reading » Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton is a story about hard work and perseverance during the technology revelation. )[2], In 1990, HBO first aired an animated short film adapted from Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, directed by Michael Sporn, adapted and narrated by stand-up comedian Robert Klein, and produced by Michael Sporn Animation and Italtoons Corporation. Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel (ISBN 0-590-75803-9) is a children's book by Virginia Lee Burton. Both books have a central theme of finding your way, and where you fit in life as the world grows and changes all around you. Rather than dismissing this opinion, it might be worthwhile to discuss with the group how you show love, what kinds of people are worthy of love, and whether there are specific tasks that one must do for another person if they truly love them. Since it was first published in 1939, Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel has delighted generations of children. But she has a name, and it’s Mary Anne. This can push the children to question themselves on the concept of loyalty, reflect on how it is presented and carried out in their everyday life, and assess whether and when they think it is right. Is it love as union (having a desire to share an identity and well-being with another person, even if results in personal sacrifices), as robust concern (caring about another person for their sake and always acting to promote what would be best for their well-being), or as valuing (i.e. This virtual incarnation of the book features a reading by actress Madeline Kahn. Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel. The New Yorker "This new edition features a snazzy red foil dust jacket and some brief back matter...A perfect choice to replace well-worn copies of this beloved book." But when newer, more advanced shovels come along, no one wants to hire Mike and Mary Anne anymore–until Mike hears that the nearby town of Popperville needs someone to dig the cellar of their new town hall. Get this from a library! What’s the difference between liking and loving? Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel, Mary Ann worked hard at their jobs to help build infrastructure in the growing west. ),] -- When Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel, Mary Anne, lose their jobs to the gasoline, electric, and diesel motor shovels, they find a new opportunity in a very surprising place. Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel Mary Anne are a great team. Product Details Item #: NTS130617 An animated short film of the same name, directed by Michael Sporn, narrated by stand-up comedian Robert Klein, was adapted from the book and first aired by HBO in 1990; it has been regularly shown as an "HBO Storybook Musical" and has been released on DVD. For instance, a motivating factor of being loyal to someone may be that you love them, and vice versa. Find tips for leading a philosophical discussion on our Resources page. A modern classic that no child should miss. Big diesel machines threaten to run Mike Mulligan and his little old steam shovel, Mary Anne, out of business until Mike agrees to tackle a big job. Why does Mike stick with Mary Anne even though there are better machines available? She had written Mike and Mary Anne into a literal corner -- they were stuck in the hole they dug for the Town Hall basement. Audio Excerpt from Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel; Video Book Reading from Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel; Grade; PK-5; Year Published 1967. Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel raises questions about the nature and morality of loyalty. Mike and Mary Anne travel slowly down the road on the CATERPILLARS. According to a 2006 article in The Boston Globe, the author set the book in West Newbury, Massachusetts after she attended town meeting in 1938 and sketched town hall and the townspeople. Since it was first published in 1939, Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel has delighted generations of children. When discussing the topics of loyalty and love to children, it might be helpful to discuss them together as they are inherently interlinked. It is considered a classic favorite of children's literature: based on a 2007 online poll, the National Education Association listed the book as one of its "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children." How do people show you they love you? Since it was first published in 1939, Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel has delighted generations of children. In this way, perhaps love and loyalty both clash with morality. Do you admire him for it? Searching for work, they find a small town about to build a new town hall. What reasons would make that okay? This book also raises questions about the nature and morality of love. As of 2012 this short film is regularly shown as an "HBO Storybook Musical." Are the two always intertwined? At sunup the next day Mike and Mary Anne begin work. Do you think that being loyal and loving someone both require that you be irrational at times, doing things that you would otherwise not do (perhaps because it’s wrong)? First published in 1939, in the wake of the Great Depression, it features Mike Mulligan, a steam shovel operator, and his steam shovel Mary Anne. While this greatly perplexes everyone at first, a little boy comes up with a brilliant solution. And if they don’t, will they get paid? If Mary Anne didn’t do a good job digging, would you still admire Mike for being loyal to Mary Anne and refusing to use another machine that will build better houses for all of us to live in? Privately, even Mike has some doubts. Mike and his trusty steam shovel, Mary Anne, dig deep canals for boats to travel through, cut mountain passes for trains, and hollow out cellars for city skyscrapers -- … Mike is proud of Mary Anne and suspects that she could "dig as much in a day as a hundred men could dig in a week." Is it ever okay to do something bad for someone you love. This conversation can refer back to the book by asking the children to identify specific points in the book where they think an action consisted of love, and where they might think it did not. Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel Mary Anne make quite a team. 2961 W County Road 225 S How does one distinguish between whether it is loyalty or love that drives one to take on certain actions on behalf of others? NPR Summary When Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel, Mary Anne, lose their jobs to the gasoline, electric, and diesel motor shovels, they find a new opportunity in a very surprising place. MIKE MULLIGAN AND HIS STEAM SHOVEL, story and pictures by Virginia Lee Burton, was published in 1939 by Virginia Lee Burton. Is it still good to be loyal to someone or something that does bad things? Mike and his trusty steam shovel, Mary Anne, dig deep canals for boats to travel through, cut mountain passes for trains, and hollow out cellars for city skyscrapers — the very symbol of industrial America. (This may be slightly more challenging and would work better with an older group of children.) Answers to this question range from how loyalty benefits society as a whole to how it benefits individuals. Mike remains loyal to Mary Anne throughout the story, even when he has the option to replace her with a potentially better machine. Click here to see other Weston Woods stories. Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel (ISBN 0-590-75803-9) is a children's book by Virginia Lee Burton. Word Count 1,688. (21) 21 product ratings - Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel - Paperback By Burton, Virginia Lee - GOOD The colorful music written by Stephen Simon and performed by the London Philharmonic is … If that can be justified, does that mean that we love people based solely upon their properties (e.g., because they are funny or smart or attractive)? Or perhaps properties are the reason we begin to love people, but they become less important as time passes. First published in 1939, in the wake of the Great Depression, it features Mike Mulligan, a steam shovel operator, and his steam shovel Mary Anne. Since it was first published in 1939, Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel has delighted generations of children. Mike and his trusty steam shovel, Mary Anne, dig deep canals for boats to travel through, cut mountain passes for trains, and hollow out cellars for city skyscrapers -- the very symbol of industrial America. The first edition of the novel was published in September 9th 1938, and was written by Virginia Lee Burton. When is it okay to not be loyal or not to love someone anymore? Mike offers that if he and Mary Anne can't do the job in a single day, the town won't have to pay them. What can you be loyal to other than people? Is it still good to love someone or something that does bad things? We encourage educators to visit the Association for Library Service to Children’s excellent resource guide for talking to children about issues of race and culture in literature. Moreover, being loyal often results in one having at least some affinity towards the person, organization, or cause. For what reasons? When sundown comes they have just finished the job, but realize they have neglected to leave a ramp by which Mary Anne can get out of the cellar. Since it was first published in 1939, Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel has delighted generations of children. 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