Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel was a favorite of mine in the 1960's, one I eagerly shared with my children in the 1980's. I am now happy to gift it to my four-year old grandson. The fact that his grandfather has a backhoe much like Mike Mulligan's steam shovel, Mary Ann, makes it a sure fire winner. And, of course, the repetition and playful rhyming just add to the appeal for a future reader. Katy and the Big Snow and The Little House my sons discovered simply because of name recognition, located next to their favorite on the library shelves. They too became familiar friends, much read and much loved. The last story is unfamiliar, but I plan to read it along with the others and perhaps discover a new friend. These stories may seem outdated, but they really just provide lots of opportunities for parents or other readers to share history with youngsters--always a good thing!