Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Puffin Books (2001), Edition: Reprint, 32 pages
Description
The wares of the poor little match girl illuminate her cold world, bringing some beauty to her brief, tragic life.
User reviews
LibraryThing member puttocklibrary
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.
LibraryThing member othmanw
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
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.
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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.
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LibraryThing member Schuman
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
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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. Show Less
LibraryThing member pam.enser
I love the illustrations in this edition
LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26
The Little Match Girl, illustrated by Rachel Isadora.
Den Lille Pige med Svovlstikkerne, literally "The Little Girl with Sulfur Sticks," is one of Andersen's original tales, and follows the heartbreaking story of a poor young match-seller who freezes to death on New Year's Eve. Unable to return home
Like The Fir Tree, The Little Match Girl is one of Andersen's melancholy holiday stories, more focused on the tragedy of existence - be it arboreal or human - than on seasonal celebration. I have always found it one of Andersen's most affecting tales, and cannot read the the scene in which the poor young girl sees a shooting star, and thinks "someone is dying," without feeling a shiver of grief.
This edition of the tale, one of three that I have particularly enjoyed, is illustrated by Rachel Isadora, whose illustrations - even in scenes in which golden light is spilling out of windows - all have a blue undertone. Her art captures the chilly gloom of a wintry night, and the wonder of the little match girl's visions. The scene in which she sits under the imaginary Christmas tree, and in which she is held in her grandmother's arms, are particularly well done.
Den Lille Pige med Svovlstikkerne, literally "The Little Girl with Sulfur Sticks," is one of Andersen's original tales, and follows the heartbreaking story of a poor young match-seller who freezes to death on New Year's Eve. Unable to return home
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until she has sold her wares, the girl huddles in the shadows of a building, trying to keep warm. Gradually, one by one, she lights her matches, seeing visions of all the delights denied her...Like The Fir Tree, The Little Match Girl is one of Andersen's melancholy holiday stories, more focused on the tragedy of existence - be it arboreal or human - than on seasonal celebration. I have always found it one of Andersen's most affecting tales, and cannot read the the scene in which the poor young girl sees a shooting star, and thinks "someone is dying," without feeling a shiver of grief.
This edition of the tale, one of three that I have particularly enjoyed, is illustrated by Rachel Isadora, whose illustrations - even in scenes in which golden light is spilling out of windows - all have a blue undertone. Her art captures the chilly gloom of a wintry night, and the wonder of the little match girl's visions. The scene in which she sits under the imaginary Christmas tree, and in which she is held in her grandmother's arms, are particularly well done.
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LibraryThing member Tcochr1
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,
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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. Show Less
LibraryThing member tterrill
The Little Match Girl is a story about poverty in the early twentieth century. To make ends meet, the girl is sent out into the streets of the city to sell flowers and matches. She curls up in the corner and in an attempt to stay warm, she begins to light the matches. Each time she lights a match
This was an emotional story. The story itself was touching but it was the pictures that took me away. The faces of the people showed the emotions of the times. I could feel the little girls pain by looking in her eyes.
This book could be used in a classroom with older children. It could be used in a lesson on the twentieth century. It would be a great story to open up a conversation about compassion.
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she has a vision of something warm and wonderful: a big stove, a marvelous feast, a lovely Christmas tree, and her grandmother. Her grandmother had passed away and she missed her greatly. The story has a bittersweet ending. As the girl lays frozen in the corner her soul is carried away by her grandmother to a far away place above the earth.This was an emotional story. The story itself was touching but it was the pictures that took me away. The faces of the people showed the emotions of the times. I could feel the little girls pain by looking in her eyes.
This book could be used in a classroom with older children. It could be used in a lesson on the twentieth century. It would be a great story to open up a conversation about compassion.
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LibraryThing member Haidji
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
This story is so sad and heartbreaking.
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
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beautiful, heartbreaking and sad tales I have ever read.This story is so sad and heartbreaking.
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LibraryThing member brittburditt
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
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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. Show Less
LibraryThing member auntieknickers
Just such a sad story I can't give it more stars!
LibraryThing member skayw
The illustrations of this edition are beautiful but the story is just tragic. It’s definitely not a cozy bedtime read.
LibraryThing member thornton37814
Beautifully illustrated, this book tells the story of an abused and impoverished young girl. She was supposed to sell matches and knew if she returned home, she would be beaten for failing to sell any that day. She chose to stay on the streets that night. She saw visions as she tried to light
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matches to keep her warm. The book holds a sad ending. The story may not be for everyone, but there are lessons about death which can be taught. Show Less
Awards
The White Ravens (2001)
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
32 p.; 9.06 inches
ISBN
0698114175 / 9780698114173