MIKE MULLIGAN AND HIS STEAM SHOVEL 75th Anniversary Edition

Listeners young and old cherish the story of Mike Mulligan and his trusty steam shovel, Mary Anne, now celebrating its 75th year. Matthew Broderick’s evenly modulated voice is as unflappable as Mike is when faced with adversity. It was Mike Mulligan, Mary Anne, “and some others” who dug the great canals and train tunnels and created roads and airplane runways. When people would gather to watch, they’d “dig a little faster and a little better.” Broderick’s narration is light, purposeful, and crisp. He lets Burton’s repeated phrases resonate, and he voices a cantankerous Henry B. Swap. The background music is tailored to the story, and energetic sound effects—train whistles, hissing engines, cheering crowds—help create delightful visual pictures for listeners. A.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2015]