Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
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 asThe Little  HouseandKaty 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)