Books by Virginia Lee Burton. Author spotlight and book guide. www.inspirethemom.com

Books by Virginia Lee Burton: An Author Spotlight and Favorite Titles

Byinspirethemom

I’m not sure if you are familiar with Virginia Lee Burton’s books, but they are a treasure. They are the kind of children’s books that seem to stay with you long after you’ve closed the pages.

I enjoyed learning that Virginia Lee Burton was a busy wife and mom (of two boys), using her talent to entertain her kids while creating stories for future generations of children.

I can just imagine her getting inspired by watching her boys zooming around the house playing with their trains and tractors, or her sons hanging over her shoulders while she drew steam shovels and cable cars.

After reading her books, it’s obvious that she had a wonderful gift for taking ordinary things—houses, trains, tractors, cable cars—and moments with her kids and turning them into characters children could truly care about.

Her books are full of life and personality and offer lots of opportunities for conversation and learning. And somehow, they don’t feel like they’re trying to teach us something. They’re simply good stories and I’m excited to share these titles with you.

Who Is Virginia Lee Burton?

Virginia Lee Burton was an American children’s book author and illustrator who lived from 1909 to 1968. One of her most famous books, The Little House, won the Caldecott Medal in 1943.

She studied art in San Francisco and Boston before settling with her family in Folly Cove, Massachusetts, where she wrote and illustrated seven children’s books. (Six picture books and an Earth’s Complete History book.)

Burton was a mom of two boys, Aristides (Art) and Michael. Their childhood interests inspired many of her ideas, including trains, tractors, steam shovels, houses, and cable cars. In her books, Virginia was able to bring those machines and other inanimate objects to life, giving them personalities, challenges, hopes, and feelings that children all over the world could relate to.

Information Sources: Cape Anne Museum and Harper Collins Publishers

Picture Books by Virginia Lee Burton

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1. The Little House

Winning the Caldecott Medal in 1943, The Little House is probably the best-known of Virginia Lee Burton’s books. (This was the first of her books that I read, and I instantly fell in love with it.)

The story follows a little house sitting happily in the countryside. As the years pass, the world around her changes. Roads appear. Buildings grow. The city expands until the little house finds herself surrounded by a busy urban landscape. At the end, she gets another chance at a quieter life again…

This is such a lovely book for talking with kids about change, seasons, communities, cities, country-life, transportation, and the passage of time.

2. Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel

If your kids love construction equipment, there’s a very good chance this one will become a favorite.

In this story, Mike and his beloved steam shovel, Mary Anne, travel together in search of work as newer machines begin replacing old-fashioned steam shovels. They eventually get the chance to prove what they can do—and determination plays a big part in the story.

3. Katy and the Big Snow

Are your kids hoping for a snow day? If so, here is another favorite in our Virginia Lee Burton reading pile. Katy is a big red crawler tractor who spends the summer helping her town with all kinds of jobs. When winter arrives and a huge snowstorm covers everything, Katy becomes the machine that helps the town get moving again.

This is a classic for a snowy winter day. Katy works her way through the town, making it a natural book for talking about weather, snow, community helpers, maps, transportation, and problem-solving.

4. Choo Choo

Do you have a child who is obsessed with trains? Try this one. This was one of Burton’s earliest books, published in 1937. Choo Choo is about a little locomotive who gets tired of doing the same thing every day and decides she’d rather run off on her own…

5. Maybelle the Cable Car

Maybelle is a San Francisco cable car that faces the possibility of being replaced by newer forms of transportation. I think it is super cool that this story is based on the real history of San Francisco’s effort to preserve its cable cars.

Since Burton had a personal connection to San Francisco from her years there as an art student, that connection and knowledge are reflected in this book. Making this a wonderful choice for talking about history, transportation, cities, technology, and preserving things from the past.

6. Calico the Wonder Horse

Calico the Wonder Horse, or The Saga of Stewy Stinker, is a little different from some of Burton’s other books, but charming and adventurous like the others.

It tells a Western-style adventure about a villain, Stewy Stinker, who tried to hold up Christmas, and a nice cowboy and his brave horse, Calico, who set out to save the day.

The illustrations in this book are black and white and are in a comic-strip format, using more of a panel-style way of storytelling than her other books. But if your child loves horses or Western adventures, you should definitely give this vintage book a go.

A Must-Read Picture Book Biography of Virginia Lee Burton and Her Work

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If you want to learn more about Virginia Lee Burton or want to do an author study with your kids, you have to check out the picture book Big Machines: The Story of Virginia Lee Burton by Sherri Dusky Rinker!

This is a picture book biography of Virginia Lee Burton’s life that we truly enjoyed reading! It follows her life as an artist and a mother who draws whatever she imagines, creating the most wonderful characters out of big machines for her boys.

Appreciation for Books by Virginia Lee Burton

I love shedding light on authors from the past that should be remembered and appreciated for their work. Virginia Lee Burton’s is no exception. Her books have lasted because they offer something that can be hard to find: simple stories that have depth.

A little house can open a conversation about change and growing communities. A steam shovel can lead to discussions about technology and perseverance. A snowplow can introduce weather, teamwork, and problem-solving.

All without turning every book into a lesson. You can simply enjoy the stories. That is what we call living books.

I hope this author spotlight of Virginia Lee Burton has encouraged you to collect some of her books for your home library and share them with your kids and grandkids. Her stories will take you back to a different time, invite you to slow down, and follow each character through the challenges they face.

Frequently Asked Questions About Virginia Lee Burton and Her Books

Who was Virginia Lee Burton?

Virginia Lee Burton was an American children’s book author and illustrator who lived from 1909 to 1968. She wrote and illustrated seven books, many of which have become beloved children’s classics

What is Virginia Lee Burton best known for?

Virginia Lee Burton is best known for bringing machines and everyday objects to life as characters. Her stories feature trains, tractors, steam shovels, cable cars, and even a little house. Her books also explore themes like perseverance, change, seasons, community, and finding your place in the world.

What is the most famous Virginia Lee Burton book?

The Little House is probably Virginia Lee Burton’s most famous book. The story follows a little house as the countryside around her gradually changes and becomes a busy city. The book won the Caldecott Medal in 1943.

Did Virginia Lee Burton write and illustrate her own books?

Yes. Virginia Lee Burton wrote and illustrated seven children’s books. (Six picture books and an Earth’s Complete History book.)

What are the best Virginia Lee Burton books for kids?

Some of her most popular books for children include The Little House, Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, Katy and the Big Snow, Choo Choo, Maybelle the Cable Car, and Calico the Wonder Horse.

What age are Virginia Lee Burton books for?

Virginia Lee Burton’s picture books are generally a wonderful fit for young children, especially preschool and early elementary-aged readers.

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