The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Author: Barbara Robinson
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Copyright: 1972
Pages: 108
Reading Level: 4
Genre: Children’s Chapter Book
Rating: *****

Summary:
The Herdmans are the worst kids, in the history of ever. They cuss, they smoke cigars, are always lighting something on fire, and beating each other or someone else black and blue. There were six of the Hermands: Ralph, Imogene, Leroy, Claude, Ollie, and Gladys. There was one of each of them in every grade and for the reason, not one of them ever got held back even though they never did their hw, or learned to read and more, because no teacher was willing to take on two Herdmans at once. Every year the church put on a Christmas pageant, but this year Mrs. Armstrong who ran just the pageant had broken her leg and Beth (the narrator of the story) mother is now in charge. So as I said, there is a Herman in every grade, well Beth’s younger brother Charlie has Leroy Herdman in his class, always stealing his lunch money and picking on him, he asks one day where Charlie always got his treats. Well Charlie made the mistake of telling him at church, and from the on the Herdmans came to church, the one place they had never stepped food. The Sunday they show up, everyone is informed that sign ups for the Christmas Pageant will be next Sunday. Well no one would have guessed it but the Herdmans want to be in it. Threatening to beat anyone up that volunteered for the main parts, the Herdmans become the stars of the pageant. The thing is though, things don’t turn out as awful as every predicts they will and has made such a fuss over. In fact, the Herdman’s make everyone think more about the Christmas story than anyone ever has. This goes about when they are told the Christmas story for the first time, and are shocked by how people treated Jesus. They are even so appalled with Herod the King that they go to the library the next day to find out how he dies. The Herdmans make it the best Christmas pageant ever, with their tattered clothes, black eyes and way of saying things. Because as Ollie Herdman the angel and soul line of the play says “Hey! Unto you a child is born!”…and everyone walks out with a whole new meaning of the Christmas story, the true meaning.

Who would benefit from reading this?
This is a great book for elementary, and even into middle school. The Herdmans will make you not want to put the book down. Kids will be laughing along with all the crazy things the Herdmans do as well as learn with them the true meaning of Christmas.

Potential problems/conflicts:
The Herdmans can have foul mouths (they say the "G" word once or twice) and are rather violent. If you are apprehensive for kids to be reading things like this I would suggest you read the book yourself first.

My reaction:
I forgot how funny this book was! From page one, chapter one I was laughing literally out loud. The Herdmans are that family, that you wonder how they are still alive after all they do to eachother, but entertaining none the less. The thing I enjoyed most about this book though, was how much the Herdmans put the Christmas story into perspective, how many of us have just read the Christmas story over and over, but never really thought about it. Well the Herdmans make you think, and I am greatful they did. It is funny to think how much I am learning from these second and third grade stories that I seemed to miss the first time I read them. A terrific story! A great read aloud, especially during the holiday season.