The best Christmas pageant ever

by Barbara Robinson

Paper Book, 1972

Status

Available

Call number

copy 1

Collection

Chapter Books

Description

The six mean Herdman kids lie, steal, smoke cigars (even the girls) and then become involved in the community Christmas pageant.

Series

The Herdmans (1)

Subjects

Christmas Fiction

User reviews

LibraryThing member elainevbernal

The Herdman children were notorious for being the terror of their town - all the children were known to beat up on other children, set fires, and cause ruckus among their neighborhood. The children smoked cigars and stole from others. Even their mother constantly works overtime just so she could

avoid them. As a twist, it was to everyone's surprise that the Herdman children decide to participate in the annual church's Christmas Pageant. It turned out that one of the children, Leroy, learns that the church offers free food and refreshments at their services, and when all the Herdman children come to church and learn about the Nativity story - they were completely amazed, wanted to learn more, and be in the Christmas Pageant. The narrator's mother, who was in charge of the pageant for the first time was motivated to run the pageant and was willing and patient enough to work with the Herdman children, as many had doubted her and how the Herdmans would turn out.

To some, the pageant turned out less than ideal, with the oldest, Imogene, wearing big golden hoop earrings, looking haggard, and carrying baby Jesus over her shoulder; her little sister Gladys yelling, "Hey! Onto you Christ is born;" and one of the Herdman boys, Ralph, playing one of the three wise men and bringing a gift of ham instead of myrrh. However, to the narrator, a young girl in Imogene's class, the pageant is more real than ever, as the Herdman children, "had improved the pageant a lot, just by doing what came naturally--like burping the baby...or thinking a ham would make a better present than a lot of perfumed oil."

The book, although humorous for the most part, sends a clear message about the sad reality of neglected children - how people can be judgmental and dismissive of the children's needs, and that most of the time, what children in neglected environments require is for people to be emphatic, understanding, and patient with them, as the narrator and her family were to the Herdmans.

This book is a great read for children ages 9-12 and teaches an effective lesson about the experiences of children in challenging family situations. Great read for the holidays as well, as it begs the question about the "true" meaning of Christmas.

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LibraryThing member innermurk

This is one of those stories that sticks with you long after the pages are closed. It allows a widened perspective on a holiday that may have been taken for granted for a long time. The most enjoyable part of the story is discovering for yourself, along with the Herdmans just what Christmas is all

about. Filled with humor, and never preachy, the story revolves around a bunch of troublemaking kids that terrorize the town, told from the perspective of one child of a differing family that just tries to be good and fit in.

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LibraryThing member kmari03

This book is a modern-day classic. It's the story of what happens when the Herdmans, the worst family in the neighborhood, take over the Christmas Pageant by less-than-scrupulous means. The book is comical and a fun, easy read. The insightful, relatable and empathatic teen narrator follows their

adventures as the would-be disaster turns into something like the best Christmas Pageant ever.

This is a great book for kids who need a reminder around Christmas time about what is important in a non-preachy way. At a time when the emphasis is (no matter how hard you try) on what people are getting, this book chronicles kids who are aquiring something that cannot be bought--acceptance from their peers and community.

Check the papers around the holidays--chances are you can read the book and then go see the stage version. It's a community theatre favorite persented in two short acts, probably good for kids 7+.

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LibraryThing member tututhefirst

A hilarious uproarious story set in the Carolinas, time indeterminate. When the town bullies, who've never been to Church, or Sunday School, and who know nothing about the Christmas Story, decide to take over the annual Sunday school church pageant, the story of Jesus is presented in quite a

different format. A quick read, but one that is quite profound in its message.

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LibraryThing member LudieGrace

I love this book. I was introduced to it when Mrs. Stewart read it to my second grade class, and I've adored it ever since, though only recently, during an episode of insomnia, did I fully rediscover its goodness. I love how it brings out the earthiness, messiness, mystery, and beauty of the

Incarnation in a totally non-preachy way. Theological without trying too hard to be; funny and touching.

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LibraryThing member Daceymay

I like it and you will like it too.

LibraryThing member mrsarey

This is the classic story of the Herdmans and how they stirred up the local nativity pageant. This is a must read!

LibraryThing member booksandwine

Read this in fifth grade, what a silly wonderful fantastic holiday read.

LibraryThing member brekimlov

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, by Barbara Robinson is a great read for any child and adult in search of a funny book! This book centers around the infamous Herdman children. The Narration in this book will have you believing that this crazy herd of children really does exist!

I first read the 1972

version of this book in the 5th grade. I picked it up by accident and have never regreted doing so. Though a chapter book my mother and I read it together and laughed about the book the whole time.

I would recommend reading this book for a little clean comic relief. This is the kind of book that can be read to a class at the end of the day as sort of a winding down tool. This is also a great way to get kids interested in reading.

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LibraryThing member rfewell

I'll be reading this with the kids -- so funny! They loved it :-) It might have to be a tradition...

LibraryThing member SirRoger

Classic children's book. Gread for reading aloud. Brings tears, laughter, and reflection, like any good kids book should.

LibraryThing member library_girl27

Everything during the Christmas Pageant goes wrong, yet that just makes it right. I loved this book. I adored it! Robinson crafts a story that really brings the spirit of Christmas.

LibraryThing member auntieknickers

Although this book(and the play based on it) may have become almost as much a Christmas cliche as Dickens' A Christmas Carol or It's A Wonderful Life, it's still worth having and re-reading or seeing on stage at least every few years. Anyone who spends much time in church will recognize the

character traits of the "church ladies," and probably also will have heard sermon illustrations of children who, in their childish innocence, see the real meaning of Christmas. The Herdmans are hardly childish innocents, but in them and their story, Barbara Robinson has taken a sermon illustration and turned it into a good story with a moral from which we can all profit.

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LibraryThing member bookgirl_Isaacson

This is a very fun and quick holiday read. I first read it in elementary school and liked it then. I remember my mom taking me to a children's theater production of the book and enjoying that. So I thought it would be fun to reread it. And I will be sharing it with my daughters when they get a

little older as well.

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LibraryThing member readinggeek451

This is a must-read-at-Christmas book for me. Plus in between when I feel like laughing hysterically. It's really short and loads of fun; if you've never read it, GO READ IT!

LibraryThing member msbunk

The Herdmans were the kids that everyone feared and did not like in the neighborhood. They lie, cheat, steal, smoke, and hurt other kids on a daily basis. Their own mother works so many hours just so she doesn't have to deal with the kids. There were six kids in all, Leroy, Claude, Gladys, Imogene,

Ralph, and Ollie. When they heard about the Christmas pageant, they all wanted to be a part of it, even though they had no idea what Christmas was all about. They threatened the other children, so no one would volunteer for the main parts except for the Herdmans. When they took over the entire pageant, everyone knew it would be a disaster. By the time the pageant was over, everyone said there was something different about the pageant, but they couldn't figure out what it was. The truth was, the Herdmans put their own little touches in the pageant and made it a success.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was very comical and easy to read. I think a lot of my students would benefit from reading this book because it deals with bullying.

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LibraryThing member Hamburgerclan

One problem with getting old is that you get jaded. You start taking things for granted and lose that sense of wonder that seems to come with childhood. Take the Bible, for example. "The Greatest Story Ever Told", right? Well, after years of reading it, the temptation is to blip over all those

stories you've heard so many times. So how does one combat such creeping boredom? Well, one way is to share the story, event or what have you with someone who is experiencing it for the first time. That's what Ms. Robinson does in this book. It's November and the annual Christmas pageant is coming up. Folks start getting ready to dive into the Christmas routine when the Herdman kids show up. The Herdmans are a pack of hellions--the six wildest, meanest, most exasperating set of young'uns ever to plague an elementary school. Someone told them about the free snacks they get in Sunday School and they show up, just in time to hear about the Christmas Pageant. Well, everyone wants to be a star and the Herdmans are no exception. They cause all sorts of mischief with their uncouth and uncharitable ways, but they also put a new light on the Christmas story for the church members and the reader. Or should I say they put on an old light that I had forgotten about? Check it out.
--J.

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LibraryThing member Redbud

This is a heart-warming, humorous Christmas read worth revisiting each Christmas season.

LibraryThing member prkcs

Called one of America's favorite Christmas stories, and now a classic television movie, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever has been a favorite of young readers the world over since 1972. Funny, memorable, and outrageous, it is the story of a family of incorrigible children who discover the Christmas

story for the first time and help everyone else rediscover its true meaning.

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LibraryThing member nittnut

A heart-warming story about a bunch of wild kids who come to church and get involved with the Christmas pageant. It changes their lives and it changes their community.

LibraryThing member Stsmurphy

It is a funny, playful story about a Christmas Pageant that happens in a community every year. This year the pageant was a little different after being taken over by the 6 wild hellions in the Herdman family. It is a reminder about the wonderment of the Christmas miracle that some of us may take

for granted. I enjoyed this quick read and will look forward to reading it with my kids next year.

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LibraryThing member Katya0133

A very funny classic.

LibraryThing member foggidawn

The Herdmans are pretty much the worst bunch of kids you can imagine -- so when they show up at church and decide to take over the annual Nativity pageant, everyone braces for disaster. However, when you take away the routines and expectations surrounding that stale annual event and replace them

with the unexpected, the result is surprisingly touching. In fact, you might just end up with the best Christmas pageant ever.

This is a sweet and funny story, and a quick read. Despite showing its age in spots (mostly when it mentions prices of certain items), it's still a perennial favorite.

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LibraryThing member erineell

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is funny and at the heart of it has a good message in acceptance and kindness. Young readers will be engaged throughout the entire story by the wild antics of the Herdman kids and how they take over a church Christmas pageant. The Herdman children are liars,

stealers, cheaters, bullies and are known for causing mischief in their community. When they decided to attend Sunday School for the refreshments, they learn of the Christmas pageant and are determined to star in the play, even if that means bullying their way to the lead parts. The church community is rattled by the presences of the children and are sure that they will ruin the annual Christmas play. In the end, the pageant turns out to be the best one ever, largely impart because of the Herdmans who learn the Christmas story for the first time. Barbara Robinson's writing flows through event after event in a straight forward way, making this realistic fiction book an easy read. The characters are identifiable and everyone has encountered a Herdman in their life. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is considered a classic in its own right. The story is timeless and would make for a great read during the month of December. I would caution that this story does outline the birth of Jesus through the Christian viewpoint.

Age Appropriate: 3rd to 5th Grade

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LibraryThing member BryanThomasS

A true classic -- funny, great characters, great message and heartwarming. One to read again and again every year. Read it to your kids and enjoy it yourself. Highly recommended.

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