Product Description

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 have a very important job. They dig deep canals for boats to travel through cut mountain passes for trains and hollow out cellars for big city skyscrapers the very symbol of modern industrial America. But with progress comes new machines and soon the inseparable duo are out of work. Mike believes that Mary Anne can dig as much in a day as a hundred men can dig in a week and the two have one last chance to prove it and save Mary Anne from the scrap heap. What happens next in the small town of Popperville is a testament to their friendship as well as old-fashioned hard work and ingenuity. This Read-Along Book and CD Favorite includes a paperback edition of the book and a compact disc in a newly designed reusable package.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #627880 in Books
• Brand: Houghton Mifflin
• Published on: 2006-09-20
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: .68" h x 12.90" w x 8.96" l, .61 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 48 pages

From Amazon.com
Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel Mary Anne make quite a team. The inseparable duo digs the great canals for the big boats to travel through, cuts through the large mountains so trains can pass, and hollows out the deep cellars for the great skyscrapers in the city. But the introduction of gasoline, electric, and diesel shovels means big trouble for Mike and Mary Anne. No one wants an old-fashioned steam shovel like Mary Anne when a modern shovel can do the digging in half the time! Forced to travel far out of the city to look for work, Mike and Mary Anne find themselves in the little town of Popperville. Mike and Mary Anne make a bid to dig the cellar for the new town hall, promising the town that if they can't dig the cellar in just one day they'll accept no payment for the job. Will Mike and Mary Anne be able to complete the job? The whole town of Popperville turns out to watch. Virginia Lee Burton, author of such classic children's books as The Little House and Katy and the Big Snow, offers a touching portrait of love and dedication while commenting on the modernization that continuously shapes our lives. Hamilton's wonderful crayon drawings bring Mike and the indomitable Mary Anne to life. (Ages 3 to 6)

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3 - Author/illustrator Virginia Lee Burton's classic tale comes to life in this jubilant orchestral rendition. Composer and conductor Stephen Simon makes use of strings, brass, winds, and percussion in the telling of the tale, but no other instrument is used as effectively as the Irish bagpipes that present Mike's theme. Narrated by Yadu, this production faithfully follows the story of Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel, Mary Ann, as they prove their worth in the face of new technology. The 18-minute story appears twice on the CD - at the beginning and then again following segments that provide background information on the story, the author, and the composer's various musical techniques. There's also a vocal performance by opera singer James Shaffran of Mike Mulligan's theme song, a jazzy, infectious tune that will have kids singing along. Burton's story still strikes a chord despite its 1939 copyright, and Simon's joyful orchestration is sure to win new fans. - Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Maryland School for the Deaf, Columbia
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From AudioFile
Following in Prokofiev's tradition, composer/conductor Stephen Simon sets Burton's classic tale against a musical backdrop performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Narrator Yadu (a.k.a. Konrad Czynski) humorously teases out the story's central drama (will Mike Mulligan finish digging before the sun goes down?) while the orchestra's musical illustrations and sound effects heighten the suspense. After the story Simon offers insights about how he composed the music so that listeners can hear the story again "with new ears." Children will enjoy picking out the airplane/trombones and the Irish (not Scottish) bagpipes featured in Mike Mulligan's theme song. Both children and parents will enjoy the information in the "Magic Maestro" program book, which comes with the CD. J.C.G. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine