One of Andersen’s most heartbreaking stories is about a girl selling matches on New Year’s Eve, freezing in the cold night but choosing not to return home for fear of her abusive father.

Every time the little girl lights a match to keep herself warm, bright visions arise in front of her eyes – a fat, grilled goose on a plate gets up and walk towards her, a Christmas tree with toys, her deceased grandmother who was the only person who cared for the little girl. In the morning, the girl is found frozen with a box of burnt matches, with a smile on her face.

The story is accompanied by illustrations from a talented Italian artist Eleonora Simeoni, whose illustrations soften the tragedy of the story and help young readers get acquainted with the text.