Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author who is best remembered for his fairy tales such as “The Little Mermaid,” “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” and “Thumbelina.” Besides fairy tales, he wrote a number of plays, novels, and poems. This short story, set in Denmark on New Year’s Eve, describes what happens to a little girl on a very cold night. This short story is for grade 5 readers. “The Little Match Girl” (1845) is in the public domain.
