The Little Match Girl (Picture Puffin Books)

Updated version but still gets the message across

***CONTAINS SPOILER***A must read for every reader, young or old! This is one of the most beautiful, yet heartbreaking children's books I have ever read. A poor little girl is forced to go out into the bitter-cold morning of New Year's eve to sell paper flowers and matches. She is dressed in rags and shoes that do not fit. As the day wears on, she has sold nothing and cannot return home for fear that her father will beat her for not selling her matches.Finding a corner of a building to shield her from the icy wind, evening approaches and she begins to freeze. Striking the matches one-by-one, she see's beautiful visions. But as the matches burn out, her visions disappear. Finally, her grandmother appears in one of the match-lit visions. Before she can disappear, the little girl strikes all the matches she has and begs her grandmother to take her to Heaven where there is no cold, hunger or cruel fathers.The next morning, the little match girl is discovered dead in the cold corner...wearing a soft, sweet smile on her face.The book takes only about five minutes to read, but I bought this particular hardcover edition because of the exquisite illustrations, they are truly magnificent. This will make a lovely addtion to your library and will become a cherished family heirloom!

Beautiful book! Lush illustrations. However, those of you who know the story, know that it is a sad commentary on poverty and abuse.The religious aspect helps to lighten the load of this story in the end.

This review pertains to the book with artwork by Rachel Isadora only. ISBN: 0-399-21336-8. For some reason, Amazon continues to publish this review under the wrong book, one that does not feature artwork by Rachel Isadora, even though I pointed this out to them.This book is a verbatim retelling of the classic Hans Christian Andersen tale. The story is not embellished or changed in any way. The tale is illustrated with "luminous paintings, capturing the mood of a snowy Victorian winter..." (from the book jacket blurb).Since the tale is only one and a half pages long, that makes for a slim book. The odd pages feature a paragraph of text , about three sentences, while the even pages feature a painting illustrating the text. About 13 paintings.The book is hardcovered with two additional paintings, and you get a paper book cover mirroring those two paintings and the bonus blurb.I can't see reading this story to a child. It's just too dismal. You can't read it without crying. It's an adult topic and an adult treatment. The powerful story is designed to make an adult think and reexamine his behaviour.I rated the paintings with only three stars because they're good enough, but did not blow me away. The cover painting that you see here on the web site is a good example of the quality and style of the paintings.

Andersen's fairy tale "The Little Match Girl" is very good for Christmas time: it is a fairy tale about mercy, about participating in the needs of people, helping those in need. And this little book is especially good because it is very beautiful, warm illustrations that convey the text. These illustrations will help children to present the story more realistically, to feel it, to survive. Recommend. I bought it for my grandchildren to read during Advent.

This simple little story is an old one that I first heard many years ago. The youngster in this book is saddled with several obstacles. Child labor laws are yet to come about - her father sends her out into the world to work. The family deals with poverty and hunger. Improperly clothed, the little girl is sure to succomb to frostbite. She knows that her father will surely abuse her if she comes home empty-handed. With no way out, this youngster turns to her own rich inner life to help her transcend her impossible situation. This is the story of the power of love - the love of her own late grandmother - that sustains her as she slips into her own death. It is a lasting parable about looking within to find the resources that sustain us.

Great story. It is the kind of story that teaches your child the meaning of love.I like reading this story to the kids during the holiday season because Christmas is not all about Christmas presents it is about sacrificial love.A great story your kids they will get the message and if they don’t you can use it as a teaching tool.The illustration is fantastic (Love the illustrator works.)

Ahhh....for the storytellers of yesteryear! I have been reading the classics lately, particularly Dickens. One thing that clearly stands out is the poverty and abuse of children of that era. We have come a long way in protecting the rights of our precious children. The Little Match Girl is a sad tale, so sweetly written. It's conclusion "and now she is with God" sums up the reward awaiting her in grandma's arms in heaven. And for that Mr. Anderson gives eternal hope. Excellent story to share with your child and answer questions about our hope which is in Jesus. I purchased a kindle version and this version for my Aunt.Dawn Kurtz author of the christian novel  Secret of the Mexican Doll  found on kindle.

This is an awesome edition. the illustrations are so beautiful. It is a truly beautiful book to have. A must have for any library.

2005年はアンデルセン生誕200年にあたり、図書館や書店などで彼の作品を多く目にしました。そんな中でも異色の存在なのがパツォウスカーの描いたこの『マッチ売りの少女』。パツォウスカーの手にかかると、馴染みのある話しがこうも新鮮なものになってしまうとは…　本当にため息ものです。彼女の絵は超モダンでカラフル、まるで宇宙人か、100年後の人類の落書きとでも形容できましょうか。それなのに押し付けがましくなくて、ちゃんとストーリーを生かす挿絵になっている。話しを説明する絵ではなく、想像力を刺激する絵になってます。彼女のファンはもとより、一風変わった味付けでアンデルセンを読んでみたい方にもおすすめの作品です。

I made the order paid the money on 8th May, so far no response regarding shipment.

This is a book about a young girl freezing to death on a cold winter's night because she finds death preferable to the beating her father will give her for not selling any matches if she goes home. As she dies she sees her dead grandmother who was the only person ever kind to her. She begs grandmother to go with her and grandmother takes her to paradise aka heaven.This text is for Grade One Readers and for people who are New to English. Since my experience is as a Mother, I am going to talk about that.I am not a Christian. I do not believe in paradise or heaven. I do not want my 6 year old daughters being told it's better to stay out on the street than to go home and face a punishment. If punishment was so severe, I would rather read my child a story where the child in the story goes to someone safe for help, a teacher or police officer etc. Young minds are extremely impressionable. So why would you read an outdated book about horrible things and outdated ideas to young, impressionable children?If I could give this negative stars I would have. Fairy-tales are mostly very old, very violent stories that were meant as cautionary tales but that in this day and age should never be told to children unless they are filtered through Disney first =)♡. Blessed be ☆.

A very sad but important story about hope & love.The cover had been creased a little bit but I still found it to be a good value