Statewide Outreach Center at Texas School for the Deaf

Written by Virginia Lee Burton, Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel was first published in 1939, during theGreat Depression. The story centers around Mike Mulligan, a steam shovel operator, and his steam shovel that he has named Mary Anne.  Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel is considered a classic favorite of children's literature.

This book was chosen because although it is a younger children's book, the reading level is challenging at an 820 Lexile level and is listed to be at a 3.2 grade level. Many teachers now use this book at the 2nd grade level, so those are the TEKs that were selected to be used.  Scholastic also lists it at a Guided Reading: N.

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