Book Report: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Some pieces of literature become yearly events at the Prichard home: Dickens's A Christmas Carol, O. Henry's Gift of the Magi, and Barbara Robinson's The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (TBCPE). We've just finished TBCPE amidst fresh giggles and pleas for "just one more chapter."


A synopsis from the back cover:
The Herdmans are absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world. They lie and steal and smoke cigars (even the girls). They talk dirty, hit little kids, cuss their teachers, set fire to Fred Shoemaker's old broken-down toolhouse, and take the name of the Lord in vain. So no one is prepared when the Herdmans invade church one Sunday-and decide to take over the annual Christmas pageant.

None of them has ever heard the Christmas story before. Their interpretation — the Wise Men are a bunch of dirty spies and Herod needs a good beating-- has a lot of people up in arms. But the actual pageant is full of surprises for everyone, starting with the Herdmans themselves.

I've wondered why this book is such a hit. I "Googled" the title and came up with page after page of community theaters performing this as a play. (My oldest daughter performed in the Northfield Arts Guild production almost 10 years ago.) How can we read this book year after year, knowing the stunts and dialogue by heart, and still anticipate next year's reading?

Here's what I think. Firstly, we're a bit fascinated by those Herdmans. Who doesn't like to sneak a peak (from a distance, of course) of these truly naughty children? I grew up down the street from a family of bullies and remember being both terrified and in awe of these boys. They were famous and infamous.

Ms. Robinson's style lends itself so well to reading out loud. Plenty of dialogue and clear narration make the chapters progress quickly and smoothly. There's no need to explain unusual vocabulary or to meander through convoluted sentences. She sketches out her characters so that your imagination can fill in the blanks... possibly with someone we already know. Interestingly enough, the young girl who narrates is almost non-descript, possibly so that we can put ourselves in her place and thoughts more easily.

This year my daughter was especially annoyed with Alice Wendlekin. Using my most "snotty" reading voice, she came across as an obnoxious tattle tale. By the end of the book, I think my daughter would have slugged Alice and hugged Imogene.

One section we re-read 3 times: (Mother is explaining the Christmas story)

"And, lo, the Angel of the lord came upon the," Mother went on, "and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and --"

"Shazam!" Gladys yelled, flinging her arms out and smacking the kid next to her.

"What?" Mother said. Mother never read "Amazing Comics."

"Out of the black night with horrible vengeance, the Mighty Marvo --"

"I don't know what you're talking about, Gladys," Mother said. "This is the angel of the Lord who comes to the shepherds in the fields, and ---"

"Out of nowhere, right? Gladys said. "In the black night, right?"

"Well ..." Mother looked unhappy. "In a way."

So Gladys sat back down, looking very satisfied, as if this was at least one part of the Christmas story that made sense to her.

Each year, as we end our reading, our eyes are a little moist because our hearts have been touched by the Herdmans and by a fresh telling of Jesus's birth.