{"product_id":"mike-mulligan-and-his-steam-shovel","title":"Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eHomeschooling families often gravitate toward stories that highlight perseverance, creativity, and the dignity of meaningful work. \u003cem\u003eMike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel\u003c\/em\u003e delivers all of that in a way children immediately understand. \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eMike and Mary Anne’s “we can do it” attitude mirrors the mindset many homeschoolers cultivate—learning at your own pace, pushing through challenges, and taking pride in effort.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVirginia Lee Burton’s classic picture book follows Mike Mulligan, a devoted steam shovel operator, and his beloved machine, Mary Anne. For years, the two work side by side digging canals, roads, and foundations, proud of their speed and skill. But as newer, more modern machines appear, Mike and Mary Anne find themselves pushed aside.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDetermined to prove their worth, they travel to the small town of Popperville, where Mike promises they can dig the basement for the new town hall in just one day. The townspeople gather to watch, and Mike and Mary Anne dig faster and faster—so fast, in fact, that they forget one important detail: how to get \u003cem\u003eout\u003c\/em\u003e of the hole once they’re done.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn the end, the townspeople decide to keep Mary Anne right where she is, turning her into the building’s furnace, while Mike becomes the janitor. They remain together, valued and appreciated in a new way.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Virginia Lee Burton","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50681298452766,"sku":"BS-F4A-259399","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0888\/3001\/7822\/files\/9780395259399-HD.jpg?v=1772756050","url":"https:\/\/www.time4learning.com\/products\/mike-mulligan-and-his-steam-shovel","provider":"Time4Learning","version":"1.0","type":"link"}