Lost Evangeline

Gr 2-5–In this charming tale, a shoemaker who has been hoping to grow his family finds a tiny baby in the toe of a boot he is repairing. The shoemaker names the baby Evangeline and raises her as his own. Though she ages, she does not grow in size and remains a miraculously tiny girl. While the shoemaker quickly embraces his role as her father, his wife rejects ­Evangeline and her magic. After tiring of the work it takes to hide the child from the world, she eventually sells her off. ­Narrator ­Corduner’s delivery weaves a spell, ­enveloping listeners in magic and wonder. His perfectly executed voice brims with tenderness, drawing readers in and keeping them glued to the story of tiny Evangeline. The narration brings the characters to life just as the book’s illustrations do. Listeners can experience the mesmerizing story without the book in hand, as Corduner’s immersive storytelling keeps them on the edge of their seats, wondering whether the shoemaker will find his sweet Evangeline after she’s been sold.