Statewide Outreach Center at Texas School for the Deaf

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Written by Virginia Lee Burton, Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel was first published in 1939, during the Great 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.