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Lost Evangeline (A Norendy Tale)
CCBC Review:
In this newest “Norendy Tale,” a shoemaker who longs to go to sea and has given up hope of ever having a child is surprised—and delighted—by the appearance of a mouse-sized human baby in the toe of one of his boots. He raises the girl as his daughter, Evangeline, fitting her with tiny, handmade clothes and furniture—even a minuscule, functional lantern. Evangeline has the voice of an angel. The man’s wife, though, fears the girl and sells her to an ailing woman who believes Evangeline’s song will cure her. Evangeline soon escapes the woman’s clutches, but she is again intercepted, this time by a circus ringmaster who views her as a curiosity to add to his show. Evangeline escapes this cage, too—she has a clever way of using stories to persuade others to assist her—and goes to sea with her rescuer. The shoemaker, who has not stopped seeking his daughter, has taken to the water as well, hoping he might find Evangeline there. The story’s resolution is murky, which may frustrate readers; the narrative returns to the miniature lantern, now displayed in a mariner’s museum along with its legend of a father who held it aloft on the prow of a ship, hoping to find his daughter. With its beautiful language; wistful, yearning atmosphere; and masterful illustrations, this novel feels timeless and immersive. ©2026 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
Illustrated by Sophie Blackall
CCBC Age Recommendation: 7-10
Age Range:
PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7)
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Format:
Novel
Subjects:
Fantasy
Fathers
Good and Evil
Lost and Found
Open Endings
Stories and Storytelling
Publisher:
Candlewick
Publish Year: 2025
Pages: 146
ISBN: 9781536225525
CCBC Location: Fiction, DiCamillo