The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robertson

Co-owner and Editor Tracey Koach shares:

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robertson

For over a month I have been a volunteer at a local elementary school reading with third-grade students. I enjoy sharing my love of reading books with everyone, especially young readers.

Last week, one of the other volunteers, a retired teacher named Mrs. H, asked if she could read aloud the next few pages of the book that was currently being read by the teacher, Mrs. B. It was one of her favorites. So while I assembled math packets in the back of class, Mrs. H read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.

After she finished reading the few pages, Mrs. H joined Mrs. B and me at the back of the classroom. I asked her, how does it end? What happened next? I was serious. I had never read the book. It was first published in 1972. I was in high school by then. It has been reprinted several times and made into a TV movie. They gave me a copy to read and now I am telling you that The Best Christmas Pageant Ever should be under your reading lamp.

The plot is simply that the worst kids living in a small town (the Herdsman family) decide to get involved with the annual Christmas pageant at the local church by taking over all the lead roles. These children unintentionally make the play the best ever. If you have never read it, pick it up and share it with a young reader you know. Reading with children for just twenty minutes improves their vocabulary and helps their speech. You will probably enjoy it too.