The best Christmas ever!

My wife went to the local library and brought home "The best Christmas Pageant Ever" by Barbara Robinson. This is a very funny and touching story. When my wife read it, the kids loved it, and we parents did too. This is a great story about some kids from who are from the wrong side of the tracks who get into (and take over) Christmas play unexpectedly. This story helps us focus on the story of Christmas in a different way. It helps us to view these "bad" kids with better perspective and puts a mirror to some of us "dignified and respectable" church goers. This is fun all the way through. I think I may be buying a copy to be read for many Christmas' to come.


Here is a review from someone on Amazon.

Here's a simple, enchanting tale. It's warm and funny and thoroughly unpredictable. It's published in a short and skinny book in large type and, assuming you can tear yourself away from the story, it can be read in small spurts.

The Herdmans are absolutely and without question the worst kids "in the entire history of the world." They are guilty of every unmentionable childhood crime and have thought of more than a few original ones. When they take over the church Christmas pageant (although none of them has ever attended church, much less heard the Christmas story before), the first Christmas becomes new and real in some pretty surprising ways.

Never mind that the publishers call this a children's story. It isn't. The vision it has to offer is hilarious yet deeply touching in a profound yet innocent way.

Stock up on copies for Christmas gifts to teachers and friends. I'd give one to the friend who wails that Christmas has become too commercial or to the harried mother of a lively brood or to someone who dreads the holiday. And keep one for yourself because it's almost as much fun each time you read it.