Last year I was introduced to the fabulous Maestro Classics Stories in Music children’s CD series. This innovative collection combines beautiful classical music and timeless children’s stories to create a listening experience that helps to introduce a child to classical music while entertaining them with a great story at the same time.
I reviewed the Maestro Classics My Name is Handel last August (you can read the review here) and I was so impressed by the vision behind these award-winning CDs, which feature the professional sound of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. So when I got the chance to review another CD in the series, one with a story that was perfect for a younger audience, I was delighted.
I received Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel to review. The story is a retelling of the classic 1939 picture book by Virginia Lee Burton with a musical score composed and conducted by Maestro Stephen Simon. I was so excited to see what my boys thought of their new CD from the Stories in Music collection.
The story is one that is sure to get children excited. Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel Mary Anne make a great team, and working together they have dug everything from boat canals to skyscraper foundations. But when gas-powered and electric shovels are introduced, Mike and Mary Anne become obsolete.
They don’t give up hope, though! Instead, they promise the officials in the small town of Popperville that they will dig the cellar of the new town hall in just one day or the job will be free. While the task seemed almost impossible, with the help of a little boy they might just be up to the challenge!
What I really loved most about this disc was watching the reaction of my boys as we listened together. While they enjoyed the story, they also reacted quite visibly to the different musical themes in the song and on occasion even talked about the way the music made them feel. The loud and majestic moments in the score my oldest son Zackary described as “kind of scary,” and both boys were noticeably concerned when they heard the sad music that was featured as Mike and Mary Anne were replaced by more modern machines. It was so interesting to see how the music itself made my sons feel happy, sad, excited or scared!
I also loved that the CD included information about the author/illustrator Virginia Lee Burton. I had never heard of the story before but it was absolutely enthralling to learn about how the author actually took some of the suggestions from her children to finish the story. And after the information session, there was a jazzy vocal rendition of the main musical theme that was featured in the story!
The CD also featured a lesson about the music itself from composer Stephen Simon and after learning about some of the different aspects of the music, children and adults are able to listen to the story once more so that they can listen for the special musical sections described by Simon for themselves. And finally, children are given an exciting opportunity to sing the Mike Mulligan Song for themselves and enjoy some applause afterwards too!
The set also includes an activity book with extra information and fun games. Zackary loved connecting the dots to draw his own picture of Mary Anne the steam shovel!
Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel is perfect for preschool children or younger school-aged children and the timeless story is entertaining for adults as well! I had a great time listening to the story and music with my boys and I loved that the CD had given us the opportunity to enjoy some family togetherness! If you’re looking for a way to provide your children with some basic concepts about music appreciation and education, look no further than the ingenious Maestro Classics series! They’re a great way to get your children thinking about music while they enjoy a fun and absorbing story!
Buy It: Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel and other great titles in the Maestro Classics Stories in Music collection can be purchased online at the official Maestro Classics website
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I learned the CDs have won over 45 national awards
I like the swan lake cd.
I like the puzzles and games for kids that they have onsite.
I have learned those cd’s are for kids ages between 5-12
I learned they have some in spanish also.
Listen! It is wonderful, with a great narrator.
It has interesting educational material
Maestro Classics CDs Homeschool Music Curriculum Guides
History, Science, Geography, Language Arts, Art, Music, and Math are integrated with the music CDs for PreSchool to Middle School.
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As a teacher I love how there are lesson plans to accompany the dvd/cd’s Definitely will be using those, Thanks for posting!
You’re very welcome! I actually thought the same thing; what a perfect idea for a class activity!
I learned that they have won many national awards.
mariam_b1984 at hotmail dot com
I also would love to get “The Scorcerer’s Apprentice” because I just love the music from it
I really like that you can buy either a cd or download it MP3!
I learned there is much more variety to these CDs than I realized.
I learned that you can by the cd or you can buy the download for you MP3 player from their website.
I think it’s great that they have a Kid’s Club with fun activities to interest children in classical music.
they have a kid’s club with monthly puzzles, games and activities
I learned that they have many selections and they have done a fantastic job at giving ideas on how to integrate each CD’s theme/music into various subjects. The ideas are awesome!
I would love to try the Juanita the Spanish Lobster CD!
I listened to Swan Lake and My Name Is Handel. I want them all….
I like the 9 cd collection. I want them all too.
I like that they have a section for kids on their website with puzzles and games.
I love that they have lesson plans that accompany the CD/DVDs. What a great tool!
I like the Casey at the Bat cd
How fun! I’d love to get some of these for my niece and nephews. I’d love to have My Name is Handel and Peter and the Wolf as well as Mike Mulligan. The narrator is great and it was so fun listening to previews!
Thanks for the giveaway!
I learned that these CDs have won over 45 national awards.
I like Peter and the Wolf
I learned they have 7 in English, 1 in Spanish, 2 more are coming soon.
Peter and the wolf.
I learned the CDs have won over 45 national awards! Thanks so much for the fantastic giveaway!
Renee Walters
Bored2quickly@hotmail.com
I learned that their CDs have won over 45 national awards.
I posted a review of Swan Lake this morning. We LOVED it! I learned Tchaikovsky was a messy child and performed at the opening of Carnegie Hall!
That is quite possibly my favourite piece of classical music; it’s so beautiful!
And what fun facts about Tchaikovsky too! I’m totally going to use that the next time my husband bugs me about my lax cleaning habits! 
I love the fact that CDs are accompanied with lessons booklet.
i like the Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel cd for my grandson
I would love to have the Peter and the Wolf CD for my 2 little granddaughters. I remember my 2 children loved this tale & Prokofiev’s music is delightful. I love how the composer represented different characters in the story with a different instrument especially the music by my favorite instrument, the flute for the bird. I learned that he composed this children’s music for his two young sons and he lived in the Russian countryside where folks were actually afraid of the wolves.
I like that I can listen to a sample of each CD before picking one.
learned the CDs won over 45 national awards
I learned these cd’s are for kids ages between 5-12
I like the kids Club
I learned that the company is located in Falmouth, Massachusetts.