For an adult, this book depicts the rise and fall of the steam shovel and its effect on the working class. Mike Mulligan, the symbol of then-modern industrial America, is made to face the reality that progress births new machines and he (as well as Mary Anne) must adapt to the changing times or fall into obscurity. The overlying theme is the importance of the power of friendship, and old-fashioned hard work and ingenuity in overcoming adversity and embracing change together.

But to most children, it is simply a story about a man and his best friend setting out to do the impossible, and I think there is a lot of value in both interpretations.

I grew up with this book and its HBO musical adaptation, so it holds a very special place in my heart and on my bookshelf. No matter what kind of day I've had, this story still has the power to bring me so much joy every time I set aside a few minutes to indulge in it and naturally the older I got the more I had to think about while following along.

So, of course, I wrote a much longer analysis of it: https://trialbymagicks.wordpress.com/2021/07/04/the-immortal-mike-mulligan-and-his-magic-steam-shovel/