Dear Mama, if it is difficult for you to find wholesome, engaging books for young boys, look no further. Virginia Lee Burton to the rescue!
Virginia Lee Burton’s children’s books are just the thing to acquaint boys and girls (but especially boys) with the wonderful world of books. And her books seem to not have an set age range…even older boys and every adult I know who has read one becomes engrossed in the pathos of the story and detailed illustrations!
“I am a part of everything that I have read.” ~Theodore Roosevelt
Virginia Lee Burton
Virginia Lee Burton is best remembered as a Caldecott award-winning author and illustrator of children’s books. Her memorable characters, still ‘alive’ in our grown children’s imaginations, make her one of our very favorite children’s book authors.
Virginia was born in 1909. She won the 
prestigious Caldecott Medal for The Little House in 1943, and her illustrations for Song of Robin Hood (1948) found a spot on the Caldecott Honor list.
Burton’s themes take us back to a simpler life. She pays tribute to heroes who persevere through difficulties with goodness and strength of character.
Burton specializes in bringing the inanimate to life with her vibrant and detailed drawings and stories of courage and vulnerability. The beauty of the her stories is that they are simple, yet deep and complicated at the same time.
One biographer wrote, “Virginia Lee Burton believed in trying to give children what they like and want. The popular children’s book author always wrote and illustrated her books in collaboration with her two sons and their friends; if something didn’t appeal to them it would be changed. In this way her books were created and became classics of children’s literature.”
It is true that her books captivate boys. Trains! Trucks! Tractors! Cable cars and Steam Shovels and Diesel Engines and Bulldozers! Every young boy’s dream. But in truth, everyone (girls included) from toddlers to grandparents are drawn into the oftentimes heart-tugging predicaments the subjects find themselves in.
Personification
Her use of personification, a highlight of her stories, makes for rich conversation with children. Her winsome animated machines can lead to great fun as we think about machines and why we sometimes compare them to humans (or animals) when we talk about them. Can you tell we like her works?
In all, she wrote and illustrated 7 children’s books:
The Little House
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
Katy and the Big Snow
Maybelle the Cable Car
Choo Choo
Calico the Wonder Horse
Now there is a 4-book collection that commemorates Virginia Lee Burton’s most popular classic stories, each featured complete and unabridged. They have been entertaining children, parents, and grandparents for more than sixty years, and I think they will entertain you, too!
Mike Mulligan and More: Four Classic Stories
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Thanks for reading!
Laura S. says
November 19, 2014 at 4:12 amWe love Virginia Lee Burton books too! I have managed to find used copies of “The Little House” and “Choo-Choo” for my kids’ library. We can get “Mike Mulligan” from the library. I will look for the other titles, too. Thanks!
Jacqueline says
November 19, 2014 at 11:48 amGood to hear from you, Laura! I need to stop by for a LONG visit! I miss you…
God bless your growing family 🙂
Dawnita says
November 19, 2014 at 3:24 pmIt’s nice to know the story behind the woman who wrote some of our favorite books. Thanks!
Christy C says
November 19, 2014 at 10:39 pmI remember these books! My favorite had to be Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel!
My little sister, now 46, received The Little House for a birthday! Thanks for sharing!
Have a beautiful day and many blessings!
Hilary says
November 20, 2014 at 2:50 pmThank you for this lovely insight into Virginia Burton’s life. I always like to read about the lives of the authors of some of our favorite books. I have added a link to this post on my site this week. Thanks for another wholesome reading recommendation. God bless you and yours this Thanksgiving season.
Hilary
Kathryn Ross says
November 23, 2014 at 7:41 pmHi Jacquline! Oh–I just love The Little House. I have a reprint edition of the original and when I read through it, the words and illustrations transport me to the elementary school library where I first read it as a child in the 1960’s. Comfort food to me. The storyline is also near and dear to my heart – seeing the loss of all things simple and clean and down to earth for the crass “big city” crowding. It is another His Story tale that is all too common in our small towns and American landscapes. I am glad of the happy ending to the story, though. I see so many beautiful “little houses” that once rang with laughter and family joys left to ruin or raised for shopping centers. Yes – I’m getting on a soapbox, so I’ll stop now.
Anyway – thanks for posting this – and visiting me as I kick off my Thanksgiving tribute. Hope you drop back this week for the rest of the story. All five parts will be live by Thanksgiving day. May you and yours take great joy in your Thanksgiving table and time together.
BTW – my All Things Bright & Beautiful monthly link-up is this week. Perhaps you could share a couple posts – http://www.thewritersreverie.com/2014/11/all-things-bright-beautiful-link-up-7.html
Joy to you!
Kathy
Jacqueline says
November 23, 2014 at 10:55 pmThank you, Kathryn! I didn’t even know you had a link-up! I have always missed it, I guess, but I will try and do it. Thank you, again, dearie 🙂
~ linda says
December 9, 2014 at 8:22 pmWhat a fine collection with great detail about each book. Ms. Burton is a favorite of mine from the standpoint of a children’s librarian/teacher. I am going to have to find “Calico” as I had completely forgotten about that one. Thanks for a great job! ~ linda
Jacqueline says
December 10, 2014 at 11:38 amThanks, Linda! What fun you must have as a children’s teacher and librarian 🙂 I’m sure you are a wonderful blessing to the kids.
Tina at Mommynificent says
December 11, 2014 at 9:42 amI love all the books of Burton’s that I’ve read, but I hadn’t heard of some of these you’ve highlighted! I’ll be on the lookout for them for sure. I’m excited to share them with my little guy (soon to be guys!) Thanks for sharing this at Booknificent Thursday! Hope your Advent/countdown to Christmas is going well!
Tina
Judy Goddard says
August 10, 2015 at 11:17 amI remember these books so well from when I was a child! I especially remember “The Lonely House”. Disney did an animated short of it.
Thank you for bringing back good memories!