✨Lost Evangeline (2025)

By Kate DiCamillo

Illustrations by Sophie Blackall

4Rbooks                                5+/6               grades         3-7

Amazon                                 4.4/5              grade level   2-5

Goodreads                             4.14/5          

Common Sense Media             5/5                ages 7+

147 pages

Synopsis

             There once was a shoemaker who had longed to go to sea.  He was married but he and his wife had no children.  One day, he was repairing an old boot.  In the squared-off toe he discovered a tiny baby. He rescued her and gave her the name Evangeline.

            The shoemaker built her a bed and made her clothes, which wasn’t easy since she never grew more than a few inches tall.  She had a wonderful singing voice and would stay with the shoemaker while he worked.  She would sing for him and he would tell her stories of the sea.

            The shoemaker’s wife was jealous and one day sold Evangeline to a man who worked for a rich, elderly woman. Evangeline sang for the woman, but then planned an escape with the help of a cat.  She traveled back to town to find the shoemaker. At the same time, the shoemaker found out what happened and went to rescue her. 

            Eventually they both ended up on ships heading to sea. Unfortunately, they were on different ships but they were hoping that one day they would find each other.

Parental Guidelines:    low

 Evangeline is sold by the shoemaker’s wife to a representative from a dying elderly woman.

Evangeline is captured a kidnapped by a man who runs a curiosity show.  He plans to keep her in a cage and make her sing for customers who pay.

 The kidnapper’s tailor is a boy whose mother has died and he is working as a slave for the man, paying off a debt he can never repay.

Evangeline and her father both go off to sea in separate ships, possibly never meeting up again.

Recommendation

            This is the third book of the Norendy Tales series by Kate DiCamillo. Thought completely different stand-alone stories, they share many similar themes: overcoming obstacles, appreciating differences, faith in love and friendship.

            Lost Evangeline also shares many similar themes and storylines with the classic Hans Christian Anderson tale, Thumbelina. The story is accessible to readers of all levels, and I believe most children will find it interesting and worth reading.  At 147 pages, most should finish in a week, if not a day or two. It would also work as a quick classroom read, with many topics of discussion, and a small group read.