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The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Paperback – April 12, 2005

by Barbara Robinson (Author)

738 customer reviews

Book 1 of 3 in the Herdmans Series

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Laughs abound in this bestselling Christmas classic by Barbara Robinson! The Best Christmas Pageant Ever follows the outrageous shenanigans of the Herdman siblings, or “the worst kids in the history of the world.” The siblings take over the annual Christmas pageant in a hilarious yet heartwarming tale involving the Three Wise Men, a ham, scared shepherds, and six rowdy kids.

Ralph, Imogene, Leroy, Claude, Ollie, and Gladys Herdman are an awful bunch. They set fire to Fred Shoemaker’s toolshed, blackmailed Wanda Pierce to get her charm bracelet, and smacked Alice Wendelken across the head. And that’s just the start! When the Herdmans show up at church for the free snacks and suddenly take over the Christmas pageant, the other kids are shocked. It’s obvious that they’re up to no good. But Christmas magic is all around and the Herdmans, who have never heard the Christmas story before, start to reimagine it in their own way.

This year’s pageant is definitely like no other, but maybe that’s exactly what makes it so special.

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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2–6—Barbara Robinson's classic (Joanna Cotler, 1972) just gets better with this new reading. Elaine Stritch's slightly raspy, mature voice lends a convincing, grandmotherly element to this holiday favorite. The Herdman's—Ralph, Imogene, Leroy, Claude, Ollie, and Gladys—are the town bullies who steal and smoke cigars. When they show up for the church Christmas pageant try-outs, no one is able to discourage them from participating. To the protests of children who think they can do better, the Herdmans land the starring roles in the Christmas play. Their unique interpretation of a story they've never heard before surprises even the most regular of church-goers. A humorous retelling of the birth of Christ, this title will be a welcome addition to general listening holiday collections.—Kirsten Martindale, formerly Menomonie Public Library, WI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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"One of the best Christmas books ever."-- "Publishers Weekly"

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Product details

Age Range: 8 - 12 years
Grade Level: 3 - 7
Lexile Measure: 930L (What's this?)

Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins; Reprint edition (April 12, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0064402754
ISBN-13: 978-0064402750
Product Dimensions: 0.2 x 5.2 x 7.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 738 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,340 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #13 in Books > Children's Books > Holidays & Celebrations > Christmas
- #161 in Books > Children's Books > Classics
- #461 in Books > Children's Books > Humor

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738

4.7 out of 5 stars

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Top customer reviews

Great for kids but interesting reread as an adult

BySara Kon April 21, 2014

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I was sitting in class (seminary) one day and we were discussing the angle of the Lord. I couldn't help but shout out, SHAZAM! People around me looked like I was nuts, until I explained that it was from a great children's book. Since then, I have had to buy a couple copies to give to friends- for them to read, enjoy, and give away or read to the children in their lives. The theology isn't perfect but when is a child's theology perfect? It is interesting to see Christmas to children who have never heard of the story/birth of Jesus. There are things that I too wondered as a kid but was too afraid to ask. Great book to use as discussion about many topics with kids and not just about religion. With so much talk about bullying, this book can lead to many open discussions about the bullies in our lives.

0Comment 3 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

If you know anything at all about how things are usually done in churches, you'll howl over this.

ByD. MckinzieVINE VOICEon February 14, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This book has been out for years and I still reread it every few years. It's told from the prospective of a young girl, about 10 or 12 years old. Her church has a busybody who runs everything. When the woman gets hurt, they farm out all the things she's got going (the Potluck Supper, etc) to various other ladies. The mother of the girl who's telling the story gets stuck with the Christmas Pageant. Things are going as usual until the Herdmans show up. The Herdmans are the worst kids in the whole history of the world. Things go downhill from there, with hilarious results. But, in the end, everyone is shown a deeper meaning to the Christmas Story; one that they had forgotten in the bustle of busyness. It makes a good book to read and it also makes a good movie to watch. The movie stars Loretta Swit (of M*A*S*H) who plays the part of the woman forced to run a Christmas Pageant perfectly. Both book and movie are classics and old favorites in my family.

0Comment 2 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

My Favorite Christmas Tradition

ByE. Joneson December 29, 2014

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This is a wonderful chapter book we read as a family (kids aged 13, 11, 6, 4, and 2)each Christmas. It's only 7 chapters though they are fairly long. It tells the story of the horrible Herdman children and how they learn about the story of Christmas and help others feel the real spirit of the season by participating in the local church's Christmas pagent. We all find ourselves laughing out loud throughout the story and I (being Mom) always cry at the end though there is still plenty of laughs. Despite the use of the taking of the Lord's name in vain twice (by the Herdmans and immediently frowned upon by the others), I don't think there is another book so funny and enjoyable that teaches so many wonderful life lessons and brings in the real meaning of Christmas than The Best Christmas Pagent Ever.

0Comment One person found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Laughed Myself to Tears

ByRebecca Aon December 30, 2013

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I first read this book about 20 years ago when I read it aloud to my class of seventh grade students (I taught in a Church-run school). It is hilarious! I had to stop reading several times because the visual images it gave me were just too funny and I was laughing so hard I couldn't speak coherently. It is a memory I cherish. I was so glad to find a copy of it on Amazon. I read it again and the humor is still there.

The story is told from the point-of-view of a young girl remembering a year her mother reluctanly took the responsibility for the church's children's Christmas program when a group of neighborhood brothers and sisters without much parental guidance, without soap, without manners manages to take over the main roles of the holy family. These kids just do not fit the traditional mold. Anyone who has worked with a children's church program has encountered their own "Herdman" kids and will nearly die with laughter. If you've never read it before (or seen the poorly made-for-tv movie version of it) this is fall-on-the-floor funny.

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Herd mans are very bad kids who smoked and said bad words

ByDanielon January 22, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Ronan O'Connell
the book takes place at the herd mans house and the church. the book is about a Christmas pageant at the
church. Herd mans are very bad kids who smoked and said bad words. the only reason that the herd mans were even interested in church is because one of them herd that you get food there like chocolate cake but they do not get snacks at ccd the kid was just lying to sound cool to the herd mans witch did not work because the herd mans wanted to join the church so they did then they were in the Christmas pageant and the problem was that all the kids and adults thought that they were going to ruin the Christmas pageant. But in the end they did not ruin it and it turned out to be okay. overall I really liked the book and I would recommend it.

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This story just never gets old!

ByLoni Geeon December 12, 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I read this entertaining book every year during the Christmas season. And, I never get tired of it. It's funny, but so poignant and heart warming also. Because of the Herdmans just discovering the story of the birth of Christ, you see the whole story through fresh eyes and it is quite an experience. Great writing by Robinson and a delightful Christmas story worth reading over and over again!

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Wonderful Chrustmas story. Buy this book!

ByNoinod5on February 7, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This is a timeless Christmas story. My mom read it to me when I was young, and I have read it to my kids a couple times. It is a wonderful story about the meaning of Christmas. It is really beautiful. The end of the story brings a little tear to my eye every time. If you have kids or grandkids, but this book and read it at Christmas-time. It's fairly short... We read it in about a week, reading a chapter or so every night. You won't be disappointed. (I bought this copy for a friend's family.)

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This is a definite must-read for children both young and those young at heart.

ByJSEWon January 27, 2017

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

We LOVE this book! It's a funny story about the town's yearly Christmas Pageant and what happens when the terrible Herdman children try out to be in the pageant. This hardcover version is very nice. This is a definite must-read for children both young and those young at heart. A Christmas classic- everyone needs to make reading this a holiday tradition!

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Most recent customer reviews

Five Stars

Great book for kids (and adults!)

Published 6 days ago by suzie gaddis

Five Stars

Great read

Published 14 days ago by Monica L. Horn

Good books!

Daughter loves Barbara Robinson books. She said she enjoyed reading this one.

Published 1 month ago by Mr Richardson

The herdmans adventure

I really loved the humor,it has a really complex subject
It's so entertaining i just love it so so much

Published 1 month ago by DM Wagner

At that time, the special effects of the film were good.

The special effects of the film are really good. The ending was good and I felt the next one. I watched it with my other half. This film looks fine.Read more

Published 2 months ago by Rebecca Sonmerfield

My favorite Christmas story outside of the Bible!!

I originally read this in McCalls magazine. They used to have short Christmas stories in most women's magazines every year. I couldn't put this one down.Read more

Published 3 months ago by Katydid

Cute

Cute story, needed it for school

Published 3 months ago by dave

Then it end up being a great paget after all

It was realistic fiction.The Herdmans and Charlie are the main charters.Herdmans and Charlie are the main people.Charlie wanted for the Herdmans to not go to sunday school.Read more

Published 4 months ago by A. T.

Five Stars

Love it!

Published 4 months ago by Amazon Customer

Good story for eight year old granddaughter

Had heard this book was very funny so I purchased it as a gift for my eight year old granddaughter. She loves to read and I'm hoping she will enjoy it.Read more

Published 4 months ago by Geraldine

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