Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel

Virginia Lee Burton wrote Mike Mulligan in 1939.  As with all her books, it was written to entertain her two sons. Her boys loved cars, trucks and machines of any kind. Their influence was in all her writings.Virginia Lee Burton also illustrated her books, which won her a Caldecott award for the book  "Little House."
Mike Mulligan is a story about a man who owns a steam shovel named Mary Anne.  Steam engines were prior to gas or diesel engines Once the diesel or gas engines became popular, the steam engine died out,and Mary Ann became useless. Mike considers dumping her in a junk yard, but instead opts to keep her. He travels around the little towns trying to find work. Eventually, Mike comes to a small town where they are getting ready to build a new town hall. Boldly Mike informs the township that he and Mary Anne can dig the cellar of the town hall in one day. The selectmen are skeptical, but Mike assures them that if the selectmen allows Mary Anne the chance, and they fail, they don't have to pay him. 
So the next morning, at dawn he begins  A crowd starts to show up to watch Mary Anne and Mike work.  Mike tells the crowd that they more people who watch the faster and better Mary Anne will work  So more and more people show up.  At sunset, the cellar is dug but Mary Anne has dug herself in a corner. Mike forgot to leave a way out of the cellar. One selectman says that Mike won't get paid unless he can get out of the cellar by sunset, How they resolve this issue is credited in the book to a neighborhood boy who made the suggestion when Burton was stuck. 
In the end, everyone is happy. Especially Mike and Mary Anne.
This is an excellent book for ages 4 to 6. It is a classic in every sense of the word. It is mentioned in Beverly Cleary's Ramona the Pest book.  Ramona's kindergarten teacher reads it to the class, and afterwards, Ramona raises her hand and asks how Mike Mulligan went to the bathroom, causing a class discussion that leaves the teacher at a loss.
Mike Mulligan is a fun book to read.  Read it yourself and find out!