Jean Besré

Three-time Caldecott Honor artist Jerry Pinkney brings new relevance to the classic Hans Christian Andersen story The wintry streets of an American city are thronged with shoppers, in preparation for New Year's Eve. But no one is interested in buying the matches and artificial flowers offered by one little girl. Wishing to avoid the cold welcome awaiting her at home, she lights her matches for what little heat they can provide. The visions that she sees in their flickering glow warm her spirit, even as the brutal cold of night destroys her body.

Friendship between two old men becomes love. Slightly-unkempt, tired, and frail, Philippe Lanctot moves into a rest home. The administrator says she wants him to be happy, but that seems far from his mind: he's waiting to die. Then, into his room, unannounced, rolls the voluble Victor Laprade, who draws out Philippe over the next few months. Victor gives Philippe the gift of experiencing the moment. In return, the well-heeled Philippe organises field trips to dinner and to a botanical garden, and, unknown to Victor, becomes the man's benefactor when Victor's children get stingy. The openly-gay Victor also pushes Philippe to acknowledge feelings he's always kept suppressed.

The lives of two families in Montreal.

Industrial pollution causes water poisoning and generalized sickness in a nearby city and is the start of a major news scandal.