Other editions of book The Little Match Girl

Fearful of returning home to a violent father without having sold enough matches for the day, the Little Match Girl remains on the street resigned to warming herself by lighting matches. With each match, she sees a vision—a warm stove, a table laden with hot food, a beautiful Christmas tree decorated with lights leading up to the sky, so high that one becomes a shooting star. According to her grandmother, each shooting star is a person who had recently passed on and is now heading to heaven. Her next strike brings a vision of her grandmother—the only person in the world who ever loved the Little Match Girl—who takes her away in her warm embrace to heaven. The classic ending is intact here and accompanied by gentle, sensitive illustrations—children will return to this stirring tale often to understand its tragedy and the valuable lessons within.

This modern adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's classic tale presents the heartwarming story of Adriana and her grandmother, who travel to a new world in the hopes of finding a better life. But suddenly Adriana's dreams are shattered, and she's left with only a flute, a box of matches, and her faith in God to fulfill her dreams. A wonderful story full of compassion, love, and faith.

The Little Match Girl is a short story by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen. The story is about a dying child's dreams and hope, and was first published in 1845. It has been adapted to various media including animated film, and a television musical. "The Princess on the Pea" is a literary fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen first published on 8 May 1835 in Copenhagen. Andersen had heard the story as a child, and it likely has its source in folk material, possibly originating from Sweden. The story tells of a prince who wants to marry a princess, but is having trouble finding a proper wife. Something is always wrong with those he meets, and he cannot be certain they are real princesses. One stormy night (always a harbinger of either a life-threatening situation or the opportunity for a romantic alliance in Andersen's stories), a young woman drenched with rain seeks shelter in the prince's castle. She claims to be a princess, so the prince's mother decides to test their unexpected guest by placing a pea in the bed she is offered for the night, covered by 20 mattresses and 20 featherbeds. In the morning the guest tells her hosts that she endured a sleepless night, kept awake by something hard in the bed; which she is certain has bruised her. The prince rejoices. Only a real princess would have the sensitivity to feel a pea through such a quantity of bedding. The two are married, and the pea is placed in the Royal Museum.

On New Year's Eve, a little girl walked barefoot and offered her matchboxes to passersby. It was cold, freezing cold and passers wrapped up in their cloaks of wool and paid no attention to this poorly dressed girl. She did not sell any matchbox and was too scared to go back home empty-handed because she feared the wrath of her father, she chose to stay the night of New Year's Eve in the snowy streets. To warm up, she scratched her matches one by one. The gentle flame warmed hers fingers numb, but that gave her happiness, it was the vision of the wonders of the holiday season and the appearance of her late grandmother in the firelight ...

Hans Christian Andersen's poignant story of a poor child trying to survive on the city streets is among the world's best-loved tales. Andersen, who grew up in the slums of Odense, Denmark, had first-hand knowledge of poverty and neglect. Drawing on his childhood experiences, he created a tale that has touched the hearts of generations. Christine San José captures the heart and lyricism of Andersen's classic in a tale "told with originality and grace," according to School Library Journal. First published in 1995, this retelling features beautiful new illustrations by Kestutis Kasparavicius.

This classic retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s sad tale of “The Little Match Girl” comes to life once more through the artwork of Stanley F. Gilmore. Jr. This wonderful story is an ageless chronicle of a young girl struggling to stay warm on New Year’s Eve using the very matches she is suppose to be selling to earn money for her family. With each strike of a match the little girl sees wonderful things in the flames which warm both her heart and soul. Old Line Publishing is proud to bring our young readers yet another wonderful book as part of our Classic Christmas Collection. Enjoy the other books in our Classic Christmas Collection including Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”, Clement C. Moores’ “T’was the Night Before Christmas” and “The Birth of Christ” as written in the Gospel of Luke. Share the gift of reading with your young ones this holiday season.