The Little Match Girl

By Hans Christian Andersen

In The Little Match Girl, a barefoot girl tries unsuccessfully to make money for her family by selling matches on the street. Afraid to go home empty-handed and face her father's wrath, she decides to take shelter in an alley for the night and lights matches to keep herself warm. The harsh realism of this story reminds listeners to be grateful and kind during the cold holiday season.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dreamscape Media
• Release date: Oct 3, 2017
• ISBN: 9781974995523

Hans Christian Andersen

Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author and poet best remembered for his fairy tales, both original and retold, including the beloved classics "Thumbelina," "The Emperor's New Clothes," "The Fir Tree," "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Princess and the Pea," "The Red Shoes," "The Ugly Duckling," and "The Snow Queen." 

Reviews for The Little Match Girl

[dustandshadow · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It's a classic... but I am not sure I would read it to my kids... on second thought I might to teach them about poverty, generosity... ok I would read it to my kids. I just remember hating it when I was younger because I found it so depressing and IT IS! But there is still a lesson to be learned if you talk through it with the child.

[pam8enser · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I love the illustrations in this edition

[haidji-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It is cold.New Year's Eve.A small, poor girl tries to sell matches in the street.Already shivering from cold and early hypothermia. Afraid to go home because her father will beat her for not selling any matches...There is no mother anymore.All of the sudden something happen...This is one the most beautiful, heartbreaking and sad tales I have ever read.This story is so sad and heartbreaking.

[schuman_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I thought this was a really, really sad story but I loved the illustrations. It is a sad story about this poor little girl who tries to sell matches during a cold winter night without any success.She lights the matches one by one and sees beautiful visions, ending with the vision of her grandmother. She ends up dying but it makes the reader feel like maybe she did end up in heaven with her grandmother. I think it might be a good story for kids that have lost someone, it kind of gives you hope that at the end it is beautiful for them.

[puttocklibrary · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have always loved this version of the story. It is sad, yes, but also joyful, and the illustrations are among the most beautiful I have ever seen in any edition.

[skayw-655209 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The illustrations of this edition are beautiful but the story is just tragic. It’s definitely not a cozy bedtime read.

[auntieknickers · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Just such a sad story I can't give it more stars!

[Nicole Gilliland · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

It was so sad! I wish that poor girl didn’t die! I wish she didn’t Freeze to death! That is a terrible day die!

[brittburditt · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In this tragic story, a little girl is selling matches in the cold winter night. She decides to light one of the matches to keep herself warm, and as she continues to light matches, the little girl begins picturing warmer places and happy memories of her grandmother. As the little girl lights the last bundle of matches, the girl's grandma, who has passed away, appears again and the two are reunited in a warmer place. This is a tough story to read to children who do not understand the concept of death, but it makes the subject easier for them to comprehend.

[tcochr1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I think the central message of the story is being afraid. The little girl is afraid of getting beaten if she returns home from trying to sell matches. Therefore, she chooses to stay the night outside in the cold and snow. I really enjoyed reading this story because of its plot. The plot was simple, and easy to follow. However, it was unpredictable. For example, I did not expect the girl to be afraid of getting beaten. I also did not expect her to freeze to death. I actually thought that the people in the house would find her and keep her safe. Another reason why I enjoyed the story was because of the illustrations. They are what really add emotion to the story. For example, as the little girl sits in the corner, she imagines something to help keep her mind off the cold. She imagines that she is sitting under the prettiest Christmas tree, and the illustration really helps the reader imagine with the little girl. The last reason why I love this story is because of the story forces reader to think about tough issues. For example, one issue that is addressed is poverty. The little girl comes from a poor family who sells matches for a small income. Another issue that is addressed is abuse. The little girl gets abused at home. This story is very insightful, and could serve as an “eye opener” to some readers.

[othmanw_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Little Match Girl." By Hans Christain Anderson is a large-format picture book that reflects the early twentieth-century city scenes which form the background for this tale. It has attractive large watercolour illustration that conveys the details of the New Year’s Eve story very well especially the different version the little girl had seen like the warm stove, the tasty goose, and the decorated Christmas tree. The font is easily readable and appropriate for the children reading level. The story setting is in urban American in 1920s. On a cold New Year’s Eve, a poor girl tries to sell matches in the street. She is freezing badly, but she is afraid to go home because her father will beat her for not selling any matches. As night falls, she huddles against a brick wall and begins to light her matches to stave off the cold. In their glow, she sees several lovely visions including a Christmas tree and a holiday feast. The girl looks skyward, sees a shooting star, and remembers her deceased grandmother saying that such stars mean someone died, and is going into Heaven. As she lights her next match, she sees a vision of her grandmother, the only person to have treated her with love and kindness. She strikes one match after another to keep the vision of her grandmother nearby for as long as she can. The child dies and her grandmother carries her soul to Heaven. The next morning, on lookers find the dead child against the wall, with rosy red cheeks and a smile on her face. They express sadness at her death and the burnt-out matches she must have used to warm herself, but they cannot know the wonderful visions she saw in her final moments or how gloriously she is celebrating the New Year with her grandmother.It is a very noble classical tale. It is very sad but it is one of the most heart warming tales I’ve ever read. It has a great message for people to help those in need and be generous, and will make any child thankful with what they have compared to the little match girl. This is a wonderful story with beautiful pictures that just help the authors' words in describing the warm feelings. No matter how many times one may read this story, one will always feel the same sympathetic emotions as if it were the first time.