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Loading... Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel (original 1939; edition 1980)by Lee Virginia Burton
Work InformationMike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton (1939)
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. What an odd story about obsolescence and repurposing! Riffing off the legend of John Henry, a steam shovel operator wagers that he can completely dig a building foundation in a day with his outdated equipment or he won't get paid. Somehow the whole town gets caught up in this race against time and circle the growing hole to watch. The cadence of the story is weird, but lends itself to some equally weird experimentation when reading it aloud. Today I tried reading the whole thing as a boxing announcer. The anthropomorphized face on the steam shovel seems out of place and unnecessary, but sure, why not. For me, the best part is the asterisk near the end of the story where the author acknowledges the little boy next door who came up with an ending when she literally wrote herself into a corner. How candid and considerate. Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton is a story about hard work and perseverance during the technology revelation. Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel, Mary Ann worked hard at their jobs to help build infrastructure in the growing west. However, times are changing and new gas powered steam shovels are doing the work faster and better and threatening to end their partnership. It's their last chance to prove they can beat any modern machine and make a deal with a mayor of a town to build it's town hall in one day! The story is about dedication, loyalty and never giving up. A great lesson to learn for all kids! no reviews | add a review
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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. No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)813.52Literature English (North America) American fiction 20th Century 1900-1944LC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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