The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson is a hilarious and heartwarming story about what happens when the wildest, most unruly kids in town—the Herdmans—take over the annual Christmas pageant. The Herdman kids, known for their bad behavior and causing chaos wherever they go, somehow end up in all the starring roles for the church’s Nativity play. Spoiler: they've never even heard of the Christmas story!

Chaotic Pageant

The whole town expects a disaster, especially since the Herdmans aren’t exactly known for being angels. But as the Herdmans learn about the Christmas story for the first time, they bring their own wild (and sometimes hilarious) interpretation of what happened. The result is a chaotic, unpredictable, and unexpectedly touching pageant that shows the true meaning of Christmas in a way no one could have predicted. Along the way, everyone—including the Herdmans—learns valuable lessons about compassion, kindness, and seeing things from a fresh perspective.

Fun Trivia

Trivial tidbit: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever was published in 1971 and has been a holiday favorite ever since, even inspiring a popular TV movie in 1983. Interestingly, author Barbara Robinson based the Herdmans on some of the kids she remembered growing up with! The book’s mix of humor and heart has made it a classic, especially for families and school holiday performances.

With its laugh-out-loud moments and sweet message, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is a fun reminder that sometimes the most unexpected people can bring out the best in us—and Christmas can be full of surprises!