Mike Mulligan y su maquina maravillosa (Spanish Edition) (Paperback)

by Virginia Lee Burton (Author) "Mike Mulligan had a steam shovel, a beautiful red steam shovel..." (more)
Key Phrases: Mike Mulligan, Mary Anne, New Town Hall

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
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) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 3-This longtime children's favorite, first published in 1939, has never lost its appeal. Now, it has been translated into simple, easily understood Spanish. After working together for many years, Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel, Mary Anne, are told that their services are no longer needed. Not one to give up easily, Mike proposes that he and Mary Anne will excavate the basement for the new town hall in only one day. The whole town gathers around the work site to see how this indomitable pair will fare in their race against time. The brightly colored, charming crayon drawings add to the cheerfulness of presentation.
Tania Colmant-Donabedian, Queens Borough Public Library, NY
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (October 30, 1997)
• Language: Spanish
• ISBN-10: 0395861349
• ISBN-13: 978-0395861349
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 8.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (85 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #815,252 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How I dreaded those nights............, August 3, 2000

By	Annie Quaker "reader" - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel (Hardcover)

Yes, its true -- I dreaded the nights (night after night after night) when one of my sons would insist we read this book! Why? Because it's long, and detailed -- good for the child, terrible for a weary parent. My boys memorized the story, and if I ever tried to skip a page, I was found out and the missing page was revisited.

This book is a great gift to give to any child who is enthralled with heavy machinery, but there's more to it than that. At the time the story is written (1939) Mike Mulligan and Mary Anne, his steam shovel, are becoming outdated. They used to be busy in the big city, making basements for big buildings. But as always happens, something better - faster, more efficient gas, electric and Diesel shovels - is replacing them.

Mike Mulligan knows they still have value. He's always told people that Mary Anne could dig as much in a day as a hundred men could dig in a week, though he's never been quite sure this is true.

To find work, he ventures into the country to the town of Popperville, where a new Town Hall is being built. Mike promises to build the cellar in just one day ("What!" said Henry B. Swap. "Dig a cellar in just one day! It would take a hundred men at least a week to dig the cellar for our new town hall." ) Henry and the townpeople are swayed when Mike promises that "If we can't do it, you won't have to pay."

The citizens of Bangerville and Bopperville, Kipperville and Kopperville plus all the people from Popperville come out to watch Mike and Mary Anne work hard under the hot sun. They finish the job as the sun sets, just in the nick of time.

One small boy has been watching them, and he asks a really good question - "How are they going to get out?" Mike was in such a hurry, he forgot to make a way to get Mary Anne out of the cellar.

Everyone tries to think of a solution, but it's that astute little boy who comes up with the best one. They decide to keep the Steam Shovel in the cellar, and build the town hall over them. Mike Mulligan can be the janitor, the steam shovel will keep the building warm in the winter, they won't have to buy a new furnace (Henry B. Swap really likes this frugal thought!) and everyone is happy.

The kids who read it especially like looking at all the tiny details in the pictures, but I think they especially like the small boy finding the solution that none of the adults can figure out.

In retrospect, I suppose it really wasn't that awful to have to read it again and again and again. I've got the original hardcover in hand, waiting for the grandkids!

Definitely worth buying the hardcover edition!

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mulligan an all time classic., August 1, 2000

By	James Totton (Auckland, New Zealand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel (Hardcover)

When I was growing up, I don't think there was any story I requested more than Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel.I have fond memories of my grandfather reading it to me again and again.

The easy to remember and recite text, and the early 40s middle America drawings combine to create an evocative time piece.

I believe this is one book that will cut past the computer generated entertainment for today's youngsters, and prove to be a classic in generations to come.

If parents don't buy this for their kids, then I hope they'll buy it for themselves.

Great ending too!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The Board Book took out the plot, May 6, 2007

By	D. Moulton (Broomfield, CO United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel: Board Book Edition (Board book)

I hate to give this such a low rating, but before you buy the board book edition you need to know that it isn't just shortened, but the whole plot is gone.
Yes Henry B Swap is mentioned, but no mention of a challenge to dig the cellar in one day, or he won't get paid.
No sun high in the sky and being halfway done.
No Henry B Swap saying that since the steam shovel can't get out they don't get paid.
No ending where Henry B. Swap sits in the cellar and smiles in a way that's not mean at all.
If you want the great story, DON'T BUY THE BOARD BOOK!