Customer Reviews

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever CD

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If your Christmas plans include travel, slip Barbara Robinson's beloved The Best Christmas Pageant Ever into the CD player in your car during the journey for family enjoyment. Told from a child's point of view, this hilarious story (first published in 1972) reveals what happens when "the worst kids in the history of the world" hijack a Sunday School program. The six Herdman children show up unexpectedly at church only because they've heard there's cake. They've never before heard the Christmas story, and their indignant reactions underscore just how shocking it really is.
This new audio tape of Robinson's classic story is narrated by Elaine Stritch with a freshness and intimacy that make the tale her own.

The book was fabulous...but the audio version is hilarious!!! Elaine Stritch brings the story to life as it is meant to be told...great for the whole family! Add this to your annual traditions!

I read the book to my daughter when it first came out. I purchased the book for my oldest granddaughter to read and she loved it. I purchased the CD so my husband and I could refresh our memories on this timeless classic before we went to visit our grandchildren for Christmas. Also our 5 year old granddaughter is just learning to read and she likes listening to the CD and following along in the book. A few days before Christmas and after several members of our family had either read or listened to the book this Christmas we had a great family book club discussion about the book and how true the story is today. My oldest granddaughter even commented about knowing children in her class who were just like the children in the book and had never heard of Jesus. We talked about how things had not changed much since I was a child in the l950's. This CD would make a great gift to any family. It definitly creates a discussion among the children. They associate with the family in the book and children they know. As an adult you can associate with people you know who are like the family in the book. My husband and I have seen this book performed at a local theater as a play and it was wonderful. At the first it was hilarious; then it got quite serious and as we walked out of the theater I noticed most people had tears in their eyes. I thought the author did an excellent job creating interesting characters, yet believeable and ones we could all associate with.

I am so glad this book is still in print. I read it to my children, my students, and now wanted it for my grandchildren. I was pleasantly surprised it was still available. Thanks.

This is an awesome story and the narration was incredible. The raspy voice of the narrator made all of the characters come alive. She did a great job changing her tones and voices to make the characters fun. We listened in the car on a long trip to San Diego over the holidays to visit family and it was the fastest 1.5 hours of the trip for us! It has a wonderful story about children and the true Christmas story. My family would recommend this to anyone, great entertainment, great story!

Love, love, love, this book! However, not so crazy about the narrator of the audio version, Elaine Stitch. Her voice is harsh and craggly, like an octogenarian chain smoker. Nonetheless, this was a wonderful way to spend a short car drive.